Effects of experimental nitrogen additions on plant diversity in tropical forests of contrasting disturbance regimes in southern China

Lu, Xiankai; Mo, Jiangming; Gilliam, Frank S.; Yu, Guirui; Zhang, Wei; Fang, Yunting; Huang, Juan

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.10.037

Cited by 37 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Our results are consistent with previous studies in which experimental N additions (50, 100 and 150 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) generally did not increase (and in some cases actually decreased) the understory vegetation biomass, litter decomposition rate and soil respiration rate at three (PF, PBM2 and MEB) of the eight study sites [25], [26], [62], [63]. Experimental P addition (150 kg P ha −1 yr −1 ) significantly increased soil microbial biomass C concentration, soil respiration and litterfall production at the old-growth MEB site, and also significantly increased the litterfall production at the other two sites (PF, PBM2) [27].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Annual N deposition rate ranging from 18 to 53 kg N ha −1 yr −1 were reported at several long-term monitoring stations in tropical and subtropical forests [22], comparable to the highest levels of N deposition occurring in Europe [23], [24]. Recent studies found that the understory plants generally showed no or even negative responses to experimental N additions (50, 100 and 150 kg N ha −1 yr −1 ) in three mature and old-growth forests at the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, south China [25], [26]. Nutrients other than N, were proposed as the primary constraint on plant growth at these forest sites with P being the mostly likely candidate [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

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Nutrient Limitation on Ecosystem Productivity and Processes of Mature and Old-Growth Subtropical Forests in China

2012

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Nitrogen (N) is considered the dominant limiting nutrient in temperate regions, while phosphorus (P) limitation frequently occurs in tropical regions, but in subtropical regions nutrient limitation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated N and P contents and N:P ratios of foliage, forest floors, fine roots and mineral soils, and their relationships with community biomass, litterfall C, N and P productions, forest floor turnover rate, and microbial processes in eight mature and old-growth subtropical forests (stand age >80 yr) at Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, China. Average N:P ratios (mass based) in foliage, litter (L) layer and mixture of fermentation and humus (F/H) layer, and fine roots were 28.3, 42.3, 32.0 and 32.7, respectively. These values are higher than the critical N:P ratios for P limitation proposed (16–20 for foliage, ca. 25 for forest floors). The markedly high N:P ratios were mainly attributed to the high N concentrations of these plant materials. Community biomass, litterfall C, N and P productions, forest floor turnover rate and microbial properties were more strongly related to measures of P than N and frequently negatively related to the N:P ratios, suggesting a significant role of P availability in determining ecosystem production and productivity and nutrient cycling at all the study sites except for one prescribed disturbed site where N availability may also be important. We propose that N enrichment is probably a significant driver of the potential P limitation in the study area. Low P parent material may also contribute to the potential P limitation. In general, our results provided strong evidence supporting a significant role for P availability, rather than N availability, in determining ecosystem primary productivity and ecosystem processes in subtropical forests of China.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Nutrient Limitation on Ecosystem Productivity and Processes of Mature and Old-Growth Subtropical Forests in China

2012

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“…According to many studies in temperate and tropical forests, excess N input has altered structure and function of forest ecosystems. For examples, N deposition may inhibit plant growth by breaking the balance of elements, reduce biological diversity by soil acidification, and cause forest degeneration in the most serious situation [11,12]. The ecological and environmental issues aroused by N deposition have received increasing concern.…”

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confidence: 99%

Impacts of nitrogen deposition on soil nitrogen cycle in forest ecosystems: A review

Zhu

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2015

Acta Ecologica Sinica

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“…Researchers have tried to assess the ecophysiological status of subtropical trees over their growing season to reveal the tree response to N addition vegetation photosynthesis (Mo et al 2008), soil respiration (Mo et al 2007) and vegetation growth parameters (Lu et al 2010(Lu et al , 2011. However, these methods based on the site experiments provide little insight into spatial variability such as regional or large scale forest ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Nitrogen Treatment Efficiency in Schima Superba Seedlings Detected Using Hyperspectral Reflectance

Cheng¹,

Jiang²,

Zheng³

et al. 2014

Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci.

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The sharp change in nitrate (N) deposition fluxes due to anthropogenic influences has major consequences for terrestrial plant productivity. Early detection of plants under nitrate stress is important for forest management in the subtropical region. This study used leaf-scale hyperspectral reflectance measurements to detect the seedling growth response of Schima superba (S. superba) under simulated N deposition during a period of two years. Two-year-old S. superba seedlings were planted under natural field conditions and treated with four N treatments at CK, LN-6, MN-10, and HN-24g N m -2 year -1 . The chlorophyll content and leaf reflectance were examined to detect the N addition temporal effects. Results indicated that S. superba responded significantly with differences in chlorophyll content and leaf reflectance to N additional treatment. Compared with the N deficiency (CK) plots, plots with higher N addition rate (HN) reduced the chlorophyll concentration of S. superba seedlings. However, the long-term observed impact of LN and MN treatments increased the S. superba chlorophyll during the two years. Nitrogen additional treatments can be distinguished using the hyperspectral indices (R 700 /R 720 , R 695 /R 420 , and R 695 /R 760 ) retrieved from the differences in leaf reflectance at the green spectrum and the red spectrum. The derivative shift to longer wavelength peaks with increasing N supply, accompanied by the increase in chlorophyll content. Leaf reflectance at 559 nm was negatively correlated with leaf chlorophyll content (R = -0.77). The identified N specific spectral ratios may be used for image interpretation and plant N status diagnosis for site-specific N management.

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Effects of experimental nitrogen additions on plant diversity in tropical forests of contrasting disturbance regimes in southern China

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

Nutrient Limitation on Ecosystem Productivity and Processes of Mature and Old-Growth Subtropical Forests in China

Nutrient Limitation on Ecosystem Productivity and Processes of Mature and Old-Growth Subtropical Forests in China

Impacts of nitrogen deposition on soil nitrogen cycle in forest ecosystems: A review

Assessing Nitrogen Treatment Efficiency in Schima Superba Seedlings Detected Using Hyperspectral Reflectance

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