Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands
Element concentration within a plant which is vital to function maintenance and adaptation to environment, may change with plant growth. However, how carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) vary stoichiometrically with stand growth, i.e. ages or cuts, was still untouched in perennial species. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.01062/full |
| _version_ | 1818032890536001536 |
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| author | Zhennan eWang Jiaoyun eLu Mei eYang Huimin eYang Qingping eZhang |
| author_facet | Zhennan eWang Jiaoyun eLu Mei eYang Huimin eYang Qingping eZhang |
| author_sort | Zhennan eWang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Element concentration within a plant which is vital to function maintenance and adaptation to environment, may change with plant growth. However, how carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) vary stoichiometrically with stand growth, i.e. ages or cuts, was still untouched in perennial species. This study tested the hypothesis that lucerne (Medicago sativa) C:N, C:P and N:P should change with stand age and cut. Leaf C:N, C:P and N:P changed with stand age, showing various trends in different cuts of lucerne. Generally the greatest stoichiometric ratios were measured in 8 year stand and in the 2nd cut. They were affected significantly and negatively by total N and P concentrations of leaf, but not by organic C concentration. There were significantly positive correlations among leaf C:N, C:P and N:P. However, leaf C:N, C:P and N:P were hardly affected by soil features. Conclusively, lucerne C, N and P stoichiometry are age- and cut-specific, and regulated mainly by leaf N, P concentrations and stoichiometry. There are few correlations with soil fertility. To our knowledge, it is the first try to elucidate the stoichiometry in the viewpoint of age and cut with a perennial herbaceous legume. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:14:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29809d03afe8409c84506249f318c344 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:14:34Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-29809d03afe8409c84506249f318c3442022-12-22T01:59:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2015-12-01610.3389/fpls.2015.01062162977Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) standsZhennan eWang0Jiaoyun eLu1Mei eYang2Huimin eYang3Qingping eZhang4State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityElement concentration within a plant which is vital to function maintenance and adaptation to environment, may change with plant growth. However, how carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) vary stoichiometrically with stand growth, i.e. ages or cuts, was still untouched in perennial species. This study tested the hypothesis that lucerne (Medicago sativa) C:N, C:P and N:P should change with stand age and cut. Leaf C:N, C:P and N:P changed with stand age, showing various trends in different cuts of lucerne. Generally the greatest stoichiometric ratios were measured in 8 year stand and in the 2nd cut. They were affected significantly and negatively by total N and P concentrations of leaf, but not by organic C concentration. There were significantly positive correlations among leaf C:N, C:P and N:P. However, leaf C:N, C:P and N:P were hardly affected by soil features. Conclusively, lucerne C, N and P stoichiometry are age- and cut-specific, and regulated mainly by leaf N, P concentrations and stoichiometry. There are few correlations with soil fertility. To our knowledge, it is the first try to elucidate the stoichiometry in the viewpoint of age and cut with a perennial herbaceous legume.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.01062/fullMedicago sativaalfalfaEcological stoichiometryStand ageCut |
| spellingShingle | Zhennan eWang Jiaoyun eLu Mei eYang Huimin eYang Qingping eZhang Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands Frontiers in Plant Science Medicago sativa alfalfa Ecological stoichiometry Stand age Cut |
| title | Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands |
| title_full | Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands |
| title_fullStr | Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands |
| title_short | Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne (Medicago sativa) stands |
| title_sort | stoichiometric characteristics of carbon nitrogen and phosphorus in leaves of differently aged lucerne medicago sativa stands |
| topic | Medicago sativa alfalfa Ecological stoichiometry Stand age Cut |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.01062/full |
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