The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China
Background Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric ratios are important indicators of ecosystem function and productivity. However, few studies have assessed the nutrient relationship between plant, litter and soil, and the nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types....
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PeerJ Inc.
2020-06-01
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| author | Yue Pang Jing Tian Xuan Zhao Zhi Chao Yuchao Wang Xinping Zhang Dexiang Wang |
| author_facet | Yue Pang Jing Tian Xuan Zhao Zhi Chao Yuchao Wang Xinping Zhang Dexiang Wang |
| author_sort | Yue Pang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric ratios are important indicators of ecosystem function and productivity. However, few studies have assessed the nutrient relationship between plant, litter and soil, and the nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types. Methods We investigated the C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios in trees, understory plants, litter and soil layers in three different secondary mixed forest types (broadleaf mixed forests (BM), broadleaf-conifer mixed forests (BCM) and coniferous mixed forests (CM)) in the Qinling Mountains. Results The results showed that significant differences in C:N:P stoichiometry were detected in multiple organs in the vegetation layers in the different forest types. Trees, shrubs and herbs all allocated more N and P in leaves and had a higher N:P ratio in leaves than in other organs. The C concentrations, C:N ratios and C:P ratios of all tree organs showed a decreasing order: BM < BCM < CM, while the N and P concentrations showed an increasing order: BM > BCM > CM. For litter and soil, BM had generally higher N and P concentrations than those of BCM and CM. The highest N and P stock was in tree branches-not in the stem, which had the highest biomass (except for P in CM). Compared with other forest types, CM stored more nutrients in the labile litter layer, while BM stored more nutrients in the stable soil layer. The net ecosystem nutrient element stock in BM was generally higher than that in BCM and CM. The C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometry in the plant organs, litter and soil were significantly correlated. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that nutrient concentrations in plant organs, litter and soil are tightly linked in secondary mixed forests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:38:00Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:38:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-2cf8d31142254f22b2df2babfb33a6b32023-12-03T10:55:26ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-06-018e927410.7717/peerj.9274The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, ChinaYue Pang0Jing Tian1Xuan Zhao2Zhi Chao3Yuchao Wang4Xinping Zhang5Dexiang Wang6College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaInstitute of Botany of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, ChinaSchool of Art and Design, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaBackground Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric ratios are important indicators of ecosystem function and productivity. However, few studies have assessed the nutrient relationship between plant, litter and soil, and the nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types. Methods We investigated the C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios in trees, understory plants, litter and soil layers in three different secondary mixed forest types (broadleaf mixed forests (BM), broadleaf-conifer mixed forests (BCM) and coniferous mixed forests (CM)) in the Qinling Mountains. Results The results showed that significant differences in C:N:P stoichiometry were detected in multiple organs in the vegetation layers in the different forest types. Trees, shrubs and herbs all allocated more N and P in leaves and had a higher N:P ratio in leaves than in other organs. The C concentrations, C:N ratios and C:P ratios of all tree organs showed a decreasing order: BM < BCM < CM, while the N and P concentrations showed an increasing order: BM > BCM > CM. For litter and soil, BM had generally higher N and P concentrations than those of BCM and CM. The highest N and P stock was in tree branches-not in the stem, which had the highest biomass (except for P in CM). Compared with other forest types, CM stored more nutrients in the labile litter layer, while BM stored more nutrients in the stable soil layer. The net ecosystem nutrient element stock in BM was generally higher than that in BCM and CM. The C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometry in the plant organs, litter and soil were significantly correlated. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that nutrient concentrations in plant organs, litter and soil are tightly linked in secondary mixed forests.https://peerj.com/articles/9274.pdfC:N:P stoichiometryNutrient stockMultiple organsNutrient element correlationSecondary mixed forest ecosystem |
| spellingShingle | Yue Pang Jing Tian Xuan Zhao Zhi Chao Yuchao Wang Xinping Zhang Dexiang Wang The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China PeerJ C:N:P stoichiometry Nutrient stock Multiple organs Nutrient element correlation Secondary mixed forest ecosystem |
| title | The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_full | The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_fullStr | The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_short | The linkages of plant, litter and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the Qinling Mountains, China |
| title_sort | linkages of plant litter and soil c n p stoichiometry and nutrient stock in different secondary mixed forest types in the qinling mountains china |
| topic | C:N:P stoichiometry Nutrient stock Multiple organs Nutrient element correlation Secondary mixed forest ecosystem |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/9274.pdf |
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