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Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on leaf nutrient characteristics in a subtropical forest

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Abstract

Key message

P deposition can alleviate P limitation in subtropical forests and P deposited in conjunction with high quantities of N does not enhance P limitation.

Abstract

Increasing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition could influence plant growth and survival to varying extents. N and P deposition is essential for subtropical forests where plant growth is limited by lower soil P availability in highly weathered soils. However, whether N and P deposition can increase leaf P concentration and alleviate P limitation is unclear. We investigated changes in N and P concentrations, N:P ratios, and resorption for six dominant species (two tree species and four understory species), following 2 years of N and P additions in a subtropical forest in southern China. P addition either alone or together with the addition of N increased green leaf P concentrations (except in Schima superba) and senesced leaf P and decreased N:P ratios (except in Pinus massoniana), but had no influence on P resorption. N addition had no apparent influence on leaf N concentrations, N:P ratios, or N resorption in all species. The considerable influence of P addition can be explained by rising soil P availability. Our results suggest that subtropical forests are P limited and that increasing P deposition can moderately alleviate the limitation of P. Furthermore, P deposited in conjunction with high quantities of N does not enhance P limitation, as it is insensitive to elevated N input.

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Acknowledgements

This research is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31290221) and the National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFC0503706).

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  1. Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Hao Yang

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  1. Hao Yang
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Correspondence to Hao Yang.

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Communicated by T. Koike.

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Yang, H. Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on leaf nutrient characteristics in a subtropical forest. Trees 32, 383–391 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1636-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1636-1

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