Global resorption efficiencies and concentrations of carbon and nutrients in leaves of terrestrial plants

Vergütz, Leonardus; Manzoni, Stefano; Porporato, Amilcare; Novais, Roberto Ferreira; Jackson, Robert B.

doi:10.1890/11-0416.1

Cited by 551 publications

(773 citation statements)

References 97 publications

(121 reference statements)

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“…Diverse results have been reported in studies comparing the resorption efficiency (RE) for N, P and K. A number of different REs have been observed by researchers: N = P < K (van den Driessche, 1985;Nieminen & Helmisaari, 1996;Sardans et al, 2005), P < N = K (Ozbucak et al, 2008), N < K = P (Chuyong et al, 2000), N > K > P (Yin et al, 2009), P > K > N ( Salehi et al, 2013), K <N = P (Helmisaari, 1992;Duchesne et al, 2001;Tartachnyk & Blanke, 2004;Hagen-Thorn et al, 2006) and N = P = K (Gallardo et al, 1999;Trémolières et al, 1999). A recent review of a global dataset has observed that the RE for K on a global scale (70.1%) seems to be higher than the RE for N (62.1%) and P (64.9%) (Vergutz et al, 2012), although most of the studies reviewed by these authors did not take into account the role of leaf leaching when calculating RE. In fact, K leaches more easily from leaves than N and P; hence it is difficult Marchi et al (2012), Silva et al (2008) and Da Silva et al (2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Potassium: a neglected nutrient in global change

Sardans

Peñuelas

2015

Global Ecology and Biogeography

370

263

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Aim Potassium (K) is the second most abundant nutrient in plant photosynthetic tissues after nitrogen (N). Thousands of physiological and metabolic studies in recent decades have established the fundamental role of K in plant function, especially in water-use efficiency and economy, and yet macroecological studies have mostly overlooked this nutrient. MethodsWe have reviewed available studies on the content, stoichiometry and roles of K in the soil-plant system and in terrestrial ecosystems. We have also reviewed the impacts of global change drivers on K content, stoichiometry and roles. ConclusionsThe current literature indicates that K, at a global level, is as limiting as N and phosphorus (P) for plant productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Some degree of K limitation has been seen in up to 70% of all studied terrestrial ecosystems. However, in some areas atmospheric K deposition from human activities is greater than that from natural sources. We are far from understanding the K fluxes between the atmosphere and land, and the role of anthropogenic activities in these fluxes. The increasing aridity expected in wide areas of the world makes K more critical through its role in water-use efficiency. N deposition exerts a strong impact on the ecosystem K cycle, decreasing K availability and increasing K limitation. Plant invasive success is enhanced by higher soil K availability, especially in environments without strong abiotic stresses. The impacts of other drivers of global change, such as increasing atmospheric CO2 or changes in land use, remain to be elucidated. Current models of the responses of ecosystems and carbon storage to projected global climatic and atmospheric changes are now starting to consider N and P, but they should also consider K, mostly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.

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confidence: 99%

Potassium: a neglected nutrient in global change

Sardans

Peñuelas

2015

Global Ecology and Biogeography

370

263

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“…T hrough symbioses with diazotrophic bacteria, legumes and other N 2 -fixing plants (N 2 FP) acquire atmospheric dinitrogen (N 2 ) and are widely expected to maintain greater leaf nitrogen than nonfixing or other plants (OP) (1). N 2 FP can profoundly influence both ecosystem development and responses to changing climate by alleviating nitrogen shortages that limit capacity of ecosystems to fix and sequester CO 2 (2)(3)(4).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leaf nitrogen is among the most significant and widely explored of plant traits. For example, it is frequently observed that leaf nitrogen is greater per unit mass or area for N 2 FP than for OP (1). Leaf nitrogen has been a Significance Leaf traits are used to drive models of global carbon fluxes and understand plant evolution.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Legumes are different: Leaf nitrogen, photosynthesis, and water use efficiency

Adams

Turnbull

Sprent

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

182

169

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Using robust, pairwise comparisons and a global dataset, we show that nitrogen concentration per unit leaf mass for nitrogen-fixing plants (N 2 FP; mainly legumes plus some actinorhizal species) in nonagricultural ecosystems is universally greater (43-100%) than that for other plants (OP). This difference is maintained across Koppen climate zones and growth forms and strongest in the wet tropics and within deciduous angiosperms. N 2 FP mostly show a similar advantage over OP in nitrogen per leaf area (N area ), even in arid climates, despite diazotrophy being sensitive to drought. We also show that, for most N 2 FP, carbon fixation by photosynthesis (A sat ) and stomatal conductance (g s ) are not related to N area -in distinct challenge to current theories that place the leaf nitrogen-A sat relationship at the center of explanations of plant fitness and competitive ability. Among N 2 FP, only forbs displayed an N area -g s relationship similar to that for OP, whereas intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE i ; A sat /g s ) was positively related to N area for woody N 2 FP. Enhanced foliar nitrogen (relative to OP) contributes strongly to other evolutionarily advantageous attributes of legumes, such as seed nitrogen and herbivore defense. These alternate explanations of clear differences in leaf N between N 2 FP and OP have significant implications (e.g., for global models of carbon fluxes based on relationships between leaf N and A sat ). Combined, greater WUE and leaf nitrogen-in a variety of forms-enhance fitness and survival of genomes of N 2 FP, particularly in arid and semiarid climates.legume | actinorhizal species | nitrogen | photosynthesis | water use efficiency T hrough symbioses with diazotrophic bacteria, legumes and other N 2 -fixing plants (N 2 FP) acquire atmospheric dinitrogen (N 2 ) and are widely expected to maintain greater leaf nitrogen than nonfixing or other plants (OP) (1). N 2 FP can profoundly influence both ecosystem development and responses to changing climate by alleviating nitrogen shortages that limit capacity of ecosystems to fix and sequester CO 2 (2-4). A central tenet of traitbased ecology (5, 6) is that carbon fixation and transpiration are directly related to leaf nitrogen; in turn, leaf nitrogen is used to drive global models of carbon (and water) exchanges between plants and the atmosphere (7).The distribution, abundance, and activity of N 2 FP in terrestrial ecosystems have remained unexplained, even "paradoxical" (8, 9), especially in relation to local and global nitrogen cycles. For the northern hemisphere, one recent explanation of the distribution of N 2 FP (2) and their dominance in wet tropical forests relied on their greater ability to acquire phosphorus from old tropical soils and temperature maxima for N 2 fixation of around 25°C (i.e., similar to prevailing temperatures in the tropics). Menge et al. (8) subsequently noted that the diazotrophic symbioses are typically rhizobial and facultative toward the tropics but actinorhizal and obligate north of about 35°N. Fac...

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“…Prior to complete end-season senescence, resorption (i.e., nutrient translocation to belowground storage tissues) is often indicated as the main driver of nutrient loss from aboveground perennial grass biomass [19][20][21]. Here, we use the term Bend-season resorptiont o connect bioenergy research with more recent ecology literature, thus advancing a more nuanced understanding of the differences between resorption and the broader term translocation [20,[22][23][24].…”

Section: Nutrient Movement and Loss Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

All Washed Out? Foliar Nutrient Resorption and Leaching in Senescing Switchgrass

et al. 2017

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Ideal bioenergy feedstocks are low in nutrients that act as anti-quality factors during conversion processes. Research has shown that delaying harvest of temperate perennial grasses until late winter reduces nutrient content, primarily due to end-season resorption, but also indicates a role for foliar nutrient leaching. While end-season resorption has been estimated, foliar nutrient leaching has not, and is a factor that could refine harvest recommendations. Additionally, establishing a baseline of mineral loss during switchgrass senescence will improve our understanding of leaf-level nutrient resorption. Therefore, we applied simulated rainfall to replicated (n = 5) plots within a previously established switchgrass stand to determine if heavy precipitation can induce nutrient leaching in senescing, unharvested foliage. Hour-long simulated rainfalls of ∼120 mm were applied every 2 weeks from early September to a killing frost in 2014 and 2015. Leaf samples were taken from the upper and lower canopy before and after simulated rainfalls and from no-rain controls and analyzed for elemental N, P, K, S, Mg, and Ca. Nutrient resorption estimates ranged from 33 to 82% in control plots.Comparison of rainfall plots to controls indicated that lower canopy leaves, upon reaching ≥50% senescence, were slightly susceptible to foliar nutrient leaching, with losses ranging from 0.3 to 2.8 g kg−1dry matter for K, P, and Mg. Nitrogen, Ca, and S were not susceptible to foliar leaching. Although statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05), these values suggested that foliar leaching was not a strong driver of nutrient loss during senescence. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. Abstract Ideal bioenergy feedstocks are low in nutrients that act as anti-quality factors during conversion processes. Research has shown that delaying harvest of temperate perennial grasses until late winter reduces nutrient content, primarily due to end-season resorption, but also indicates a role for foliar nutrient leaching. While end-season resorption has been estimated, foliar nutrient leaching has not, and is a factor that could refine harvest recommendations. Additionally, establishing a baseline of mineral loss during switchgrass senescence will improve our understanding of leaf-level nutrient resorption. Therefore, we applied simulated rainfall to replicated (n = 5) plots within a previously established switchgrass stand to determine if heavy precipitation can induce nutrient leaching in senescing, unharvested foliage. Hour-long simulated rainfalls of ∼120 mm were applied every 2 weeks from early September to a killing frost in 2014 and 2015. Leaf samples were taken from the upper and lower canopy before and after simulated rainfalls and from no-rain controls and analyzed for elemental N, P, K, S, Mg, and Ca. Nutrient resorption estimates ranged from 33 to 82% in control plots. Comparison of rainfall plots to c...

show abstract

Global resorption efficiencies and concentrations of carbon and nutrients in leaves of terrestrial plants

Cited by 551 publications

References 97 publications

Potassium: a neglected nutrient in global change

Potassium: a neglected nutrient in global change

Legumes are different: Leaf nitrogen, photosynthesis, and water use efficiency

All Washed Out? Foliar Nutrient Resorption and Leaching in Senescing Switchgrass

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