Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China
We examined how afforestation patterns impact carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system. Plant leaf, branch, stem, and root, litter, and soil samples were collected from mixed-species plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia with Amygdalus davidiana (RPAD)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Forest Ecosystems |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2197562023000544 |
| _version_ | 1797382894358888448 |
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| author | Senbao Lu Yunming Chen Jordi Sardans Josep Peñuelas |
| author_facet | Senbao Lu Yunming Chen Jordi Sardans Josep Peñuelas |
| author_sort | Senbao Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We examined how afforestation patterns impact carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system. Plant leaf, branch, stem, and root, litter, and soil samples were collected from mixed-species plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia with Amygdalus davidiana (RPAD), R. pseudoacacia with Armeniaca sibirica (RPAS), and monocultures of R. pseudoacacia (RP), A. davidiana (AD), and A. sibirica (AS) in the Loess Hilly Region. The results showed that in mixed-species plantations, R. pseudoacacia had lower leaf N and P concentrations than in monocultures, while both A. davidiana and A. sibirica had higher leaf N and P concentrations. Soil P limited tree growth in both afforestation models. Mixing R. pseudoacacia with A. davidiana or A. sibirica reduced N-limitation during litter decomposition. Average soil total N and P concentrations were higher in RPAS than in RPAD, and both were higher than the corresponding monocultures. The average soil C:N ratio was the smallest in RPAS, while the average soil C:P ratio was larger in RPAS than in RP. A positive correlation between N and P concentrations, and between C:N and C:P ratios, was found in litter and all plant organs of mono- and mixed-stands. Alternatively, for N concentration and C:N ratio, the correlations between plant (i.e., leaf, branch, root) and litter and between plant and soil were inverse between plantation types. RPAD has an increased litter decomposition rate to release N and P, while RPAS has a faster rate of soil N mineralization. RPAD was the best plantation (mixed) to improve biogeochemical cycling, as soil nutrient restrictions, particularly for P-limitation, on trees growth were alleviated. This study thus provides insights into suitable tree selection and management by revealing C:N:P stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system under different afforestation patterns. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0dc778001acc4111959655bb7c375546 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-5620 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:12:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forest Ecosystems |
| spelling | doaj.art-0dc778001acc4111959655bb7c3755462023-12-22T05:32:35ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Forest Ecosystems2197-56202023-01-0110100123Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of ChinaSenbao Lu0Yunming Chen1Jordi Sardans2Josep Peñuelas3State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, China.CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, SpainCSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Catalonia, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Catalonia, SpainWe examined how afforestation patterns impact carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system. Plant leaf, branch, stem, and root, litter, and soil samples were collected from mixed-species plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia with Amygdalus davidiana (RPAD), R. pseudoacacia with Armeniaca sibirica (RPAS), and monocultures of R. pseudoacacia (RP), A. davidiana (AD), and A. sibirica (AS) in the Loess Hilly Region. The results showed that in mixed-species plantations, R. pseudoacacia had lower leaf N and P concentrations than in monocultures, while both A. davidiana and A. sibirica had higher leaf N and P concentrations. Soil P limited tree growth in both afforestation models. Mixing R. pseudoacacia with A. davidiana or A. sibirica reduced N-limitation during litter decomposition. Average soil total N and P concentrations were higher in RPAS than in RPAD, and both were higher than the corresponding monocultures. The average soil C:N ratio was the smallest in RPAS, while the average soil C:P ratio was larger in RPAS than in RP. A positive correlation between N and P concentrations, and between C:N and C:P ratios, was found in litter and all plant organs of mono- and mixed-stands. Alternatively, for N concentration and C:N ratio, the correlations between plant (i.e., leaf, branch, root) and litter and between plant and soil were inverse between plantation types. RPAD has an increased litter decomposition rate to release N and P, while RPAS has a faster rate of soil N mineralization. RPAD was the best plantation (mixed) to improve biogeochemical cycling, as soil nutrient restrictions, particularly for P-limitation, on trees growth were alleviated. This study thus provides insights into suitable tree selection and management by revealing C:N:P stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system under different afforestation patterns.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2197562023000544StoichiometryPlantLitterSoilTree mixtureLoess Plateau |
| spellingShingle | Senbao Lu Yunming Chen Jordi Sardans Josep Peñuelas Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China Forest Ecosystems Stoichiometry Plant Litter Soil Tree mixture Loess Plateau |
| title | Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China |
| title_full | Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China |
| title_fullStr | Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China |
| title_short | Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia, Amygdalus davidiana, and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China |
| title_sort | ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant litter soil system in mixed species and monoculture plantations of robinia pseudoacacia amygdalus davidiana and armeniaca sibirica in the loess hilly region of china |
| topic | Stoichiometry Plant Litter Soil Tree mixture Loess Plateau |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2197562023000544 |
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