Nutrient resorption in wetland macrophytes: comparison across several regions of different nutrient status

This study explored patterns of nutrient resorption in wetland macrophytes to test the prediction that plants from regions with a strong nutrient limitation will show higher resorption of the limiting nutrient. Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption was assessed in macrophytes from marshes of different nutrient status in tropical and temperate regions, and expressed as resorption efficiency (NRE, PRE) and proficiency (NRP, PRP). Macrophytes were grouped into three categories: Typha, graminoids and broadleaved plants. Nitrogen was less limiting than P, consequently N availability varied less than P availability, NRP and NRE were lower, and N resorption was mostly incomplete. NRP was determined more by growth form than by local conditions. The large range of soil P concentrations allowed an exploration of relationships between P availability and resorption along a wide gradient. P-limited macrophytes (N : P > 16) had significantly higher PRP and PRE. Resorption proficiency was found to be a more sensitive indicator of changes in nutrient availability than resorption efficiency. The results confirmed that resorption in wetland macrophytes depends on nutrient availability, and is higher at nutrient-limited sites. A particularly strong relationship was found between resorption indicators and P limitation expressed either as live tissue N : P or soil P.     

Water Supply Changes N and P Conservation in a Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis

Changes in precipitation can influence soil water and nutrient availability, and thus affect plant nutrient conservation strategies. Better understanding of how nutrient conservation changes with variations in water availability is crucial for predicting the potential influence of global climate change on plant nutrient-use strategy. Here, green-leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, N- and P-resorption proficiency (the terminal N and P concentration in senescent leaves, NRP and PRP, respectively), and N- and P-resorption efficiency (the proportional N and P withdrawn from senescent leaves prior to abscission, NRE and PRE, respectively) of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a typical perennial grass species in northern China, were examined along a water supply gradient to explore how plant nutrient conservation responds to water change. Increasing water supply at low levels (< 9000 mL/year) increased NRP, PRP and PRE, but decreased green-leaf N concentration. It did not significantly affect green-leaf P concentration or NRE. By contrast, all N and P conservation indicators were not significantly influenced at high water supply levels (> 9000 mL/year). These results indicated that changes in water availability at low levels could affect leaf-level nutrient characteristics, especially for the species in semiarid ecosystems. Therefore, global changes in precipitation may pose effects on plant nutrient economy, and thus on nutrient cycling in the plant-soil systems.     

Resorption efficiency of leaf nutrients in woody plants on Mt. Dongling of Beijing,North China

Aims To explore resorption efficiency of nitrogen (NRE) and phosphorus (PRE) of woody plants in relation to soil nutrient availability, climate and evolutionary history, in North China.Methods We measured concentrations of nitrogen ([N]) and phosphorus ([P]) in both full expanded mature green and senescent leaves of the same individuals for 88 woody species from 10 sites of Mt. Dongling, Beijing, China. We built a phylogenetic tree for all these species and compared NRE and PRE among life forms (trees, shrubs and woody lianas) and between functional groups (N-fixers and non-N-fixers). We then explored patterns of NRE and PRE along gradients of mean annual temperature (MAT), soil inorganic N and available P, and phylogeny using a general linear model.Important findings Mass-based NRE (NRE m) and PRE (PRE m) averaged 57.4 and 61.4%, respectively, with no significant difference among life forms or functional groups. Neither NRE m nor PRE m exhibited significant phylogenetic signals, indicating that NRE m and PRE m were not phylogenetically conserved. NRE m was not related to [N] in green leaves; PRE m was positively correlated with [P] in green leaves; however, this relationship disappeared for different groups. NRE m decreased with [N] in senescent leaves, PRE m decreased with [P] in senescent leaves, for all species combined and for trees and shrubs. NRE m decreased with soil inorganic N for all species and for shrubs; PRE m did not exhibit a significant trend with soil available P for all species or for different plant groups. Neither NRE m nor PRE m was significantly related to MAT for overall species and for species of different groups.     

Global-scale patterns of nutrient resorption associated with latitude, temperature and precipitation

Aim   Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves is an important mechanism of nutrient conservation in plants, but the patterns of nutrient resorption at the global scale are unknown. Because soil nutrients vary along climatic gradients, we hypothesize that nutrient resorption changes with latitude, temperature and precipitation.
Location   Global.
Methods   We conducted a meta-analysis on a global data set collected from published literature on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption of woody plants.
Results    For all data pooled, both N resorption efficiency (NRE) and P resorption efficiency (PRE) were significantly related to latitude, mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP): NRE increased with latitude but decreased with MAT and MAP. In contrast, PRE decreased with latitude but increased with MAT and MAP. When functional groups (shrub versus tree, coniferous versus broadleaf and evergreen versus deciduous) were examined individually, the patterns of NRE and PRE in relation to latitude, MAT and MAP were generally similar.
Main conclusions   The relationships between N and P resorption and latitude, MAT and MAP indicate the existence of geographical patterns of plant nutrient conservation strategies in relation to temperature and precipitation at the global scale, particularly for PRE, which can be an indicator for P limitation in the tropics and selective pressure shaping the evolution of plant traits. Our results suggest that, although the magnitude of plant nutrient resorption might be regulated by local factors such as substrate, spatial patterns are also controlled by temperature or precipitation.     

Nutrient resorption in tropical savanna forests and woodlands of central Brazil

Nutrient limitation in Brazilian savanna (known as cerrado) presumably causes trees to maximize nutrient resorption from senesced leaves to reduce their dependence on nutrient availability. To assess patterns between nutrient resorption and soil fertility, we measured community-level nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) concentrations in mature and senesced leaves and soil fertility in the upper 50 cm soil layer in structurally diverse cerrado ecosystems in the Cuiaba Basin (CB) and Pantanal (PAN) of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Foliar nutrient concentration data were used to estimate resorption efficiency and proficiency, and correlation was used to determine whether resorption efficiency and proficiency varied across soil fertility gradients. We found that N and P resorption proficiency (NRP and PRP, respectively) and P resorption efficiency (PRE) increased significantly as total soil N (NRP) and extractable P (PRP and PRE) declined. In contrast, K resorption efficiency (KRE) declined as soil sand content and bulk density increased, which was likely due to a reduction in soil water-holding capacity. Leaf N/P ratios indicate potential N limitation and/or N + P co-limitation for ecosystems in the PAN and P limitation and/or N + P co-limitation for ecosystems in the CB, while trends in leaf N/K ratios indicate possible K or K + P co-limitation for the CB only. Our results illustrate that cerrado forests and woodlands have highly variable nutrient resorption capacities that vary predictably across soil fertility or textural gradients and indicate that cerrado communities have flexible nutrient resorption that can reduce their dependence on soil nutrient availability.     

江西阳际峰30种阔叶树叶片氮磷含量及再吸收效率

养分再吸收是植物养分利用的重要策略,体现了植物对养分留存、利用和适应环境的能力。为研究亚热带不同生活型(常绿与落叶)阔叶树养分含量与养分再吸收的关系,以江西阳际峰国家级自然保护区内30种阔叶树为研究对象,测定成熟和衰老叶片氮(N)和磷(P)含量,分析常绿和落叶树种叶片N和P含量及其再吸收效率差异,揭示阔叶树种叶片养分再吸收效率对植物生活型的响应。结果表明: 落叶树种成熟叶片N和P含量显著高于常绿树种,衰老叶片P含量显著高于常绿树种,而两者衰老叶N含量差异不显著;30种阔叶林木叶片的氮再吸收效率(NRE)与磷再吸收效率(PRE)平均值分别为49.6%和50.9%,两种生活型树种间叶片的NRE与PRE无显著差异;落叶和常绿树种叶片的NRE均与衰老叶N含量呈显著负相关,PRE则与衰老叶P含量呈显著负相关,且这种关系在不同生活型之间差异不显著;总物种的PRE-NRE异速生长指数为1.18。江西阳际峰30种不同生活型阔叶树的养分再吸收效率会影响衰老叶片的养分状况,且相较于N,植物偏好从衰老叶中再吸收P。     

羌塘高原降水梯度带紫花针茅叶片氮回收特征及影响因素

植物回收衰老叶片的氮是植物重要的养分保持和环境适应机制,在寒旱贫瘠的生境更是如此。为了理解降水梯度上植物对高寒贫瘠环境的养分适应特征,研究了羌塘高寒草原优势物种紫花针茅叶片氮回收策略及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明,降水梯度带上紫花针茅叶片具有较高的叶氮水平和氮回收能力。生长季盛期紫花针茅绿叶平均氮含量为(23.87±3.92)g/kg,高于中国草地平均水平(20.9 g/kg)及全球平均值(20.1 g/kg);绿叶氮含量与年降水量(MAP)呈显著负相关,干旱端(西部)绿叶中氮含量明显高于湿润端(东部)。枯叶养分回收后的氮水平(NRP)很低,平均为(6.76±1.42)g/kg,叶片平均氮回收效率(NRE)为(71.25±6.46)%,明显高于中国温带草原和全球的平均水平(46.9%—58.5%)。枯叶中氮回收水平对叶片氮回收效率起决定作用,是维持高养分回收效率的物质基础。NRE与MAP、土壤全氮(TN)和土壤无机氮呈显著负相关;NRP与TN相关性不显著,但与土壤无机氮显著负相关。尽管NRE与NRP呈显著负相关,但二者与绿叶氮含量均没有显著相关性。年均气温、海拔对NRE和NRP影响均不显著。因此,紫花针茅叶片极高的NRE和低NRP反映了它对极端干旱贫瘠环境的养分保持能力,通过内部氮循环来降低养分流失。土壤氮的有效性是影响紫花针茅叶片氮回收能力的关键因子,降水通过影响土壤氮的有效性以及绿叶中氮含量间接影响紫花针茅叶片氮回收效率。     

Effects of artificial grassland establishment on soil nutrients and carbon properties in a black-soil-type degraded grassland

Despite a growing knowledge of nutrient limitation for mangrove species and how mangroves adapt to low nutrients, there is scant information about the relative importance of N:P ratio and leaf phenolics variability in determining nutrient conservation. In this study, we evaluated possible nutrient conservation strategies of a mangrove Rhizophora stylosa under nutrient limitation. 1. The leaf nutrient concentrations of R. stylosa changed with season, with the highest N concentration in winter and the highest P concentration in spring for both mature and senescent leaves. Leaf N and P concentrations decreased significantly during leaf senescence. Based on N:P ratios R. stylosa forest was N-limited. Accordingly, the nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE) was significantly higher than phosphorus resorption efficiency (PRE) for the R. stylosa leaves during leaf senescence. The NRE and PRE both reached the highest in the autumn. Average N and P concentrations in the senescent leaves were 0.15% and 0.06% for R. stylosa, respectively, indicating a complete resorption of N and an incomplete resorption of P. There was a significant negative correlation between nitrogen resorption proficiency (NRP) and NRE, meanwhile phosphorus resorption proficiency (PRP) and PRE correlation was also highly significantly. 2. R. stylosa leaves contained relatively high tannin level. Total phenolics, extractable condensed tannins and total condensed tannins contents increased during leaf senescence, and changed between seasons. The lowest concentrations of total phenolics, extractable condensed tannins and total condensed tannins occurred in summer, total phenolics concentrations were inversely related to nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. 3. Our results confirmed that resorption efficiency during leaf senescence depends on the type of nutrient limitation, and NRE was much higher than PRE under N-limited conditions. R. stylosa forest developed several nutrient conservation strategies in the intertidal coastline surroundings, including high nitrogen resorption efficiency, low nutrient losses and high tannins level.     

广西猫儿山不同海拔常绿和落叶树种的营养再吸收模式

土壤养分供给性大小是否影响植物氮和磷再吸收效率仍存在争议。调查了广西猫儿山不同海拔常绿和落叶树种成熟和衰老叶片的氮和磷含量,探讨营养再吸收是否受到叶片习性和海拔的影响。所有树种氮和磷再吸收效率的平均值分别为56.5%和52.1%。常绿树种比落叶树种有显著较高的氮再吸收效率(P0.001)和磷再吸收效率(P0.01),这与前者有较低的衰老叶片氮和磷含量密切相关。随着海拔的上升,氮再吸收效率显著下降(P0.01),磷再吸收效率显著提高(P0.05)。氮再吸收效率与土壤氮:磷比(r=-0.41,P0.05)和成熟叶片氮:磷比(r=-0.37,P0.05)负相关,磷再吸收效率与土壤氮:磷比(r=0.44,P0.05)和成熟叶片氮:磷比(r=0.47,P0.01)正相关,表明了树种对低海拔氮限制的适应逐渐转变为对高海拔磷限制的适应。此外,氮再吸收效率与年均温正相关(r=0.43,P0.05)而磷再吸收效率与年均温负相关(r=-0.45,P0.01),这表明气温也是调节树木营养再吸收格局的重要影响因素。不同海拔树种氮和磷再吸收模式的差异可能是引起广西猫儿山常绿树种沿海拔形成双峰分布的原因之一。     

N limitation increases along a temperate forest succession: evidences from leaf stoichiometry and nutrient resorption

温带森林演替加剧了氮限制：来自叶片化学计量和养分重吸收的证据 森林生产力和碳汇功能在很大程度上取决于土壤氮和磷的有效性。然而,迄今为止,养分限制随森林演替的时间变化仍存在争议。叶片化学计量和养分重吸收是预测植物生长养分限制的重要指标。基于此,本研究测定了温带森林4个演替阶段所有木本植物叶片和凋落叶中氮和磷的含量,并分析了演替过程中非生物因子和生物因子如何影响叶片化学计量和养分重吸收。研究结果表明,在个体尺度上,叶片氮磷含量在演替末期显著增加,而叶片氮磷比无显著变化;氮的重吸收效率随演替显著增加,然而磷的重吸收效率先增加后减少;氮重吸收效率与磷重吸收效率的比值仅在演替末期显著增加。此外,植物氮素循环对土壤养分的响应比磷素循环更弱。在群落尺度上,叶片氮磷含量随森林演替呈现先降低后升高的趋势,主要受香农-维纳多样性指数和物种丰富度的影响;叶片氮磷比随演替而显著变化,主要由胸径的群落加权平均值决定;氮的重吸收效率增加,主要受物种丰富度和胸径的影响,而磷的重吸收效率相对稳定。因此,氮重吸收效率与磷重吸收效率的比值显著增加,表明随着温带森林演替,氮限制加剧。这些结果可能反映了较高生物多样性群落中物种间对有限资源的激烈竞争,强调了生物因子在驱动森林生态系统养分循环中的重要性,为中国温带和北方森林可持续经营的施肥管理提供了参考。     

氮添加对黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇养分再吸收效率的影响

大气氮沉降增加能改变土壤养分可利用性,影响滨海湿地植物的养分再吸收。目前研究多关注氮沉降量对养分再吸收过程的影响,且研究集中于叶片,鲜有研究区分不同形态氮素对植物不同器官养分再吸收过程的影响。通过两年的野外控制实验,研究硝态氮、铵态氮添加对黄河三角洲滨海湿地芦苇(Phragmites australis)叶、茎养分再吸收效率的影响。结果表明：两类氮添加均显著增加叶、茎的氮、磷含量(P<0.001),增幅达32.74%—43.22%(氮)、30.91%—36.51%(磷)。叶片氮的再吸收效率为54.14%—67.66%,茎氮的再吸收效率为50.60%—62.85%。叶片磷的再吸收效率为56.80%—70.38%,茎磷的再吸收效率为77.43%—84.95%。两类氮添加均显著降低氮、磷的再吸收效率(P<0.001),但两类氮添加处理下的养分再吸收效率无差异。叶、茎氮的再吸收效率无差异,但茎磷的再吸收效率明显高于叶(P<0.01)。总之,氮添加降低芦苇对氮、磷的再吸收效率,且茎对养分的再吸收也具有不可忽略的贡献。     

黄土高原子午岭林区典型树种叶片N、P再吸收特征

为揭示黄土高原子午岭林区不同演替阶段和植被类型主要树种养分再吸收特征,研究选取4种次生植被树种(白桦、山杨、辽东栎和油松)和2种人工植被树种(刺槐和侧柏),测定其成熟叶、凋落叶和林下土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,研究了叶片N、P再吸收率及其与养分指标的关系。结果表明:(1)不同树种叶片养分和林下土壤养分含量存在显著差异,土壤C、N含量和C∶N∶P计量比均表现为演替后期林地(辽东栎和油松)演替前期林地(山杨和白桦)人工林(侧柏和刺槐);(2)不同树种叶片N、P再吸收率分别为17.18%—43.34%和27.13%—58.12%,均表现为演替后期林地人工林演替前期林地,且P的再吸收率总体高于N的再吸收率;(3)不同树种叶片N、P再吸收率与叶片养分指标的关系强于土壤,与养分计量比的相关性大于养分含量的相关性。说明子午岭典型植被会通过叶片N、P再吸收来适应养分限制环境,尤其是演替后期植被再吸收能力更强,研究可为黄土高原植被恢复提供理论依据。     

Leaf nutrient dynamics and nutrient resorption: a comparison between larch plantations and adjacent secondary forests in Northeast China

Aims Conversion of secondary forests to pure larch plantations is a common management practice driven by the increasing demand for timber production in Northeast China, resulting in a reduction in soil nutrient availability after a certain number of years following conversion. Nutrient resorption prior to leaf senescence was related to soil fertility, an important nutrient conservation strategy for plants, being especially significant in nutrient-poor habitats. However, the seasonal dynamics of leaf nutrients and nutrient resorption in response to secondary forest conversion to larch plantations is not well understood.Methods A comparative experiment between larch plantations (Larix spp.) and adjacent secondary forests (dominant tree species including Quercus mongolica, Acer mono, Juglans mandshurica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla) was conducted. We examined the variations in leaf nutrient (macronutrients: N, P, K, Ca and Mg; micronutrients: Cu and Zn) concentrations of these tree species during the growing season from May to October in 2013. Nutrient resorption efficiency and proficiency were compared between Larix spp. and the broadleaved species in the secondary forests.Important findings Results show that the seasonal variation of nutrient concentrations in leaves generally exhibited two trends, one was a downward trend for N, P, K, Cu and Zn, and another was an upward trend for Ca and Mg. The variations in foliar nutrient concentrations were mainly controlled by the developmental stage of leaves rather than by tree species. Resorption of the observed seven elements varied among the five tree species during leaf senescence. Nutrient resorption efficiency varied 6–75% of N, P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn, while Ca was not retranslocated in the senescing leaves of all species, and Mg was not retranslocated in Larix spp. Generally, Larix spp. tended to be more efficient and proficient (higher than 6–30% and 2–271% of nutrient resorption efficiency and resorption proficiency, respectively) in resorbing nutrients than the broadleaved species in the secondary forests, indicating that larch plantations had higher leaf nutrient resorption and thus nutrient use efficiency. Compared with Larix spp., more nutrients would remain in the leaf litter of the secondary forests, indicating an advantage of secondary forests in sustaining soil fertility. In contrast, the larch plantation would reuse internal nutrients rather than lose nutrients with litter fall and thus produce a positive feedback to soil nutrient availability. In summary, our results suggest that conversion from secondary forests to pure larch plantations would alter nutrient cycling through a plant-mediated pathway.     

Nutrient resorption and stoichiometric responses of poplar (Populus deltoids) plantations to N addition in a coastal region of eastern China

中国东部沿海杨树人工林养分重吸收和化学计量对氮添加的响应 叶片养分重吸收对土壤养分的变化很敏感。然而,我们尚不清楚氮沉降如何影响植物大量元素重吸收率。杨树(Populus deltoids)是世界上栽培最广泛的阔叶树种之一。本文研究了在氮添加条件下,杨树重吸收率及其化学计量比的规律和主要驱动因素。通过一个4年的氮添加实验,我们探究中国东部沿海两个林分(8和12年)杨树人工林重吸收率及其化学计量比对氮添加的响应。我们测定了在一系列氮添加浓度水平(0、50、100、150、300 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹)下,土壤和叶片(包括绿叶和落叶)中氮、磷、钾、钙、镁的浓度。研究结果表明,除钙元素重吸收率和钙、镁元素重吸收率化学计量比外,氮添加对两个林分大量元素重吸收率及其化学计量比都没有显著影响。氮、磷重吸收率尺度斜率在不同氮添加水平下均小于1,表明氮添加条件下,氮、磷元素重吸收率解耦。养分重吸收率与绿叶中养分含量显著正相关,表明重吸收主要受到绿叶养分调控。我们的研究结果为中国东部沿海地区12年生杨树人工林的生长受氮限制提供了直接证据。     

Foliar nutrient resorption patterns of four functional plants along a precipitation gradient on the Tibetan Changtang Plateau

Nutrient resorption from senesced leaves as a nutrient conservation strategy is important for plants to adapt to nutrient deficiency, particularly in alpine and arid environment. However, the leaf nutrient resorption patterns of different functional plants across environmental gradient remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a transect survey of 12 communities to address foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) resorption strategies of four functional groups along an eastward increasing precipitation gradient in northern Tibetan Changtang Plateau. Soil nutrient availability, leaf nutrient concentration, and N:P ratio in green leaves ([N:P]_g) were linearly correlated with precipitation. Nitrogen resorption efficiency decreased, whereas phosphorus resorption efficiency except for sedge increased with increasing precipitation, indicating a greater nutrient conservation in nutrient‐poor environment. The surveyed alpine plants except for legume had obviously higher N and P resorption efficiencies than the world mean levels. Legumes had higher N concentrations in green and senesced leaves, but lowest resorption efficiency than nonlegumes. Sedge species had much lower P concentration in senesced leaves but highest P resorption efficiency, suggesting highly competitive P conservation. Leaf nutrient resorption efficiencies of N and P were largely controlled by soil and plant nutrient, and indirectly regulated by precipitation. Nutrient resorption efficiencies were more determined by soil nutrient availability, while resorption proficiencies were more controlled by leaf nutrient and N:P of green leaves. Overall, our results suggest strong internal nutrient cycling through foliar nutrient resorption in the alpine nutrient‐poor ecosystems on the Plateau. The patterns of soil nutrient availability and resorption also imply a transit from more N limitation in the west to a more P limitation in the east Changtang. Our findings offer insights into understanding nutrient conservation strategy in the precipitation and its derived soil nutrient availability gradient.     

Combined effects of nitrogen addition and litter manipulation on nutrient resorption of Leymus chinensis in a semi‐arid grassland of northern China

Plant growth in semi‐arid ecosystems is usually severely limited by soil nutrient availability. Alleviation of these resource stresses by fertiliser application and aboveground litter input may affect plant internal nutrient cycling in such regions. We conducted a 4‐year field experiment to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) addition (10 g N·m^?2·year^?1) and plant litter manipulation on nutrient resorption of Leymus chinensis, the dominant native grass in a semi‐arid grassland in northern China. Although N addition had no clear effects on N and phosphorus (P) resorption efficiencies in leaves and culms, N fertilisation generally decreased leaf N resorption proficiency by 54%, culm N resorption proficiency by 65%. Moreover, N fertilisation increased leaf P resorption proficiency by 13%, culm P resorption proficiency by 20%. Under ambient or enriched N conditions, litter addition reduced N and P resorption proficiencies in both leaves and culms. The response of P resorption proficiency to litter manipulation was more sensitive than N resorption proficiency: P resorption proficiency in leaves and culms decreased strongly with increasing litter amount under both ambient and enriched N conditions. In contrast, N resorption proficiency was not significantly affected by litter addition, except for leaf N resorption proficiency under ambient N conditions. Furthermore, although litter addition caused a general decrease of leaf and culm nutrient resorption efficiencies under both ambient and enriched N conditions, litter addition effects on nutrient resorption efficiency were much weaker than the effects of litter addition on nutrient resorption proficiency. Taken together, our results show that leaf and non‐leaf organs of L. chinensis respond consistently to altered soil N availability. Our study confirms the strong effects of N addition on plant nutrient resorption processes and the potential role of aboveground litter, the most important natural fertiliser in terrestrial ecosystems, in influencing plant internal nutrient cycling.     

Increased precipitation modulates the influence of nitrogen and litter inputs on the nutrient resorption proficiency rather than efficiency of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus chinensis</Emphasis>

Resorption of nutrients from senescing organs is an important conservation mechanism that is usually influenced by the supply of soil nutrients and plant growth requirements. Therefore, it is likely that increases in nitrogen (N), precipitation, and litter could lead to changes in nutrient resorption because of changes in nutrients in the soil and accelerated plant growth in response to the alleviation of water limitations in arid and semiarid environments. In the current study, we investigated the effects of water, N, and litter addition on the nutrient resorption efficiency and proficiency of N and phosphorus (P) in leaves and stems of Leymus chinensis in Inner Mongolia, China. Our results showed that N addition significantly decreased the N resorption efficiency in leaves under water addition, and increased P resorption efficiency under ambient precipitation conditions. There was no apparent influence of either litter or water addition on N and P resorption efficiencies. However, N and litter addition significantly altered N and P resorption proficiencies, and these effects were modulated by water availability. Furthermore, changes in resorption proficiencies were mainly associated with alterations in the nutritional status of green organs in response to water, N and litter addition, except for leaf P. Our findings highlight the importance of increased precipitation in modulating the nutrient resorption proficiency of plants under potentially increased nutrient availability in semiarid grasslands. Therefore, global changes in precipitation and N, and corresponding litter changes could result in complex effects on plant nutrient economies and, in turn, could influence the return of nutrients to the soil.     

Correction of leaf nutrient resorption efficiency on the mass basis

植物叶片养分重吸收效率的质量损失校正 养分重吸收是植物保持养分的关键机制，但以往多数研究未考虑叶片衰老过程中的质量损失，低估了植物的叶片养分重吸收效率(NuRE)；或只能基于文献中植物功能群水平的平均质量损失，校正所研究的不同物种的叶片NuRE，从而影响了该参数的精确性。本研究通过采集中国北方地区35种常见木本植物的绿色叶片和凋落叶片样本，测量绿色叶片和凋落叶片的质量，计算了叶片衰老过程中的质量损失，并给出了这些物种凋落叶片的质量损失校正系数(MLCF)。总体而言，植物凋落叶片的质量比成熟绿 色叶片平均损失17%，物种水平质量损失变化范围为1.3%–36.8%，功能群水平为11.7%–19.6%。相 应地，这35种木本植物的凋落叶片的MLCF值平均为0.832，变化范围为0.632–0.987。与校正前相 比，用MLCF校正后的NuRE总体上显著增加。例如，校正后氮和磷的平均NuRE皆增高约9%，即比其校正前(低估)更接近真实值；当植物NuRE较低时，这种校正作用(改善)表现得尤为明显。本研究基于物种水平的野外实测数据，报道了中国北方部分常见木本植物的MLCF参考值，研究结果将有助于更准确地计算此类植物的养分重吸收效率，提升本地区植物-土壤系统中养分流通评估的精准度。     

Resorption of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium from leaves of lucerne stands of different ages

Background and aims

Nutrient resorption from the senesced to the green leaves can help a plant re-use elements, thus improving adaptability and persistence. How the resorption of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) varies among differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands and how they correlate to their stoichiometry in the leaves and soil remain uncertain. This study aimed to analyze the resorption efficiencies (REs) of N, P and K and their possible correlations with stoichiometric ratios in the plant and soil.

Methods

The concentrations of plant N, P and K and soil N, P, K and carbon (C) were measured under lucerne stands established in different years, and stoichiometric ratios and REs were calculated. The relationships of REs with stoichiometric ratios were analyzed.

Results

The nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE) was quite variable among the different stands and tended to rise and then drop with stand age, ranging from 4.6 to 33.7 % with an average of 16.2 %. The phosphorus resorption efficiency (PRE) tended to increase with stand age, ranging from 11.1 to 38.3 % with an average of 27.3 %. The potassium resorption efficiency (KRE) increased with stand age, ranging from 21.0 to 49.8 % with an average of 36.9 %. The KRE was generally highest, followed by the PRE, and the NRE was lowest. Leaf N:P and N:K generally decreased and then increased with stand age, while the K:P increased and then decreased. In the green leaves, total N concentration increased significantly with NRE and PRE, and total P concentration rose significantly with PRE, while in the senesced leaves, total N concentration decreased significantly with NRE and KRE. The N:P in the green leaves decreased significantly with PRE and the K:P in the senesced leaves dropped with NRE. Furthermore, the REs decreased with total soil nutrition status if there was any correlation. The REs increased significantly with soil ammonium N concentration, while the NRE decreased significantly with soil nitrate N concentration. In addition, soil available P concentration at most depths led to significant increases in NRE and KRE. However, the REs were rarely influenced by stoichiometric ratios of soil N, P, K and C.

Conclusions

The NRE rose and then dropped, and the PRE and KRE both increased with stand age. Leaf N:P and N:K generally decreased and then increased with stand age, while K:P increased and then decreased. The concentrations of N, P and K increased in the green leaves and decreased in the senesced leaves with REs if there was any correlation. The REs decreased with total soil nutrition status if there was any correlation. However, the REs hardly changed with stoichiometric ratios in the leaves and soil under differently aged lucerne stands. There appear to be no correlations between REs and element stoichiometries.     

N:P ratios, δN fractionation and nutrient resorption along a nitrogen to phosphorus limitation gradient in an oligotrophic wetland complex

The vegetation N:P ratio is thought to be a diagnostic indicator of the nature of nutrient limitation in wetland vegetation. It should therefore be closely linked to other indicators of nutrient acquisition and conservation, such as nitrogen stable isotope fractionation (δ¹⁵N), nutrient resorption efficiency (RE) and resorption proficiency (RP). However, the interrelationships among these traits and the N:P ratio remain unclear. We compared tissue nutrient concentrations, N:P ratios, δ¹⁵N fractionation, RE, and RP along an N to P limitation gradient in an oligotrophic wetland valley in the South Island of New Zealand. Within the valley, the soil TN:TP ratio increased from 1.3 to 18.0 in three discrete wetlands along the gradient. In pooled data from all vegetation communities within each site, the mass-based vegetation N:P ratio correlated significantly (r² = 0.35, P < 0.01) to soil TN:TP ratios and increased from 10.2 ± 2.7 to 13.5 ± 3.6 along the N to P limitation gradient. This was accompanied by an increase in tissue δ¹⁵N enrichment from 2.05 ± 1.12‰ to 6.27 ± 1.70‰, consistent with more open N cycling and lower N demand. These trends held within all vegetation types, but were particularly strong in a Typha orientalis (C-strategist) community (soil TN:TP vs vegetation N:P correlation r² = 0.78, P < 0.001; δ¹⁵N increase from 1.81 ± 0.44‰ to 7.73 ± 1.79‰). The individual N and P concentrations and retention patterns were more species-specific and less responsive to the nutrient limitation gradient. T. orientalis maximised N resorption as N limitation increased (increasing NRE from 50.8 ± 3.3% to 71.7 ± 7.4%; reducing NRP from 0.70 ± 0.12% to 0.36 ± 0.13%) but did not alter PRE or PRP, whereas the S-strategist Schoenus pauciflorus maximised P resorption as P limitation increased (increasing PRE from 48.0 ± 5.6% to 73.5 ± 10.1%; reducing PRP from 0.053 ± 0.008% to 0.015 ± 0.004%) but did not alter NRE or NRP. These results show that the tissue N:P ratio and its associated δ¹⁵N enrichment are highly responsive indicators of the relative availability of N and P at the site and community level. However, they are not indicators of species-specific physiological requirements for N and P, or of likely responses of individual species to N or P enrichment, which are better interpreted from indicators such as RE and RP that describe nutrient retention behaviour.