Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests
Ecological stoichiometry is crucial in understanding nutrient dynamics and its impact on plant growth and development at various ecological scales. Among the different nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have been widely recognized as key elements regulating substance transport, energy utiliz...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/8/1685 |
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| author | Juan Cao Wende Yan Taimoor Hassan Farooq Xiaoyong Chen Jun Wang Chenglin Yuan Yaqin Qi Khalid Ali Khan |
| author_facet | Juan Cao Wende Yan Taimoor Hassan Farooq Xiaoyong Chen Jun Wang Chenglin Yuan Yaqin Qi Khalid Ali Khan |
| author_sort | Juan Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ecological stoichiometry is crucial in understanding nutrient dynamics and its impact on plant growth and development at various ecological scales. Among the different nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have been widely recognized as key elements regulating substance transport, energy utilization, and ecosystem conversion. The N:P ratio in plants serves as a sensitive indicator of ecological processes, reflecting the availability and balance of these nutrients. Therefore, studying the ecological stoichiometry of N and P is essential for accurately assessing soil fertility and site productivity, particularly in forest ecosystems with low-fertility soils. In this study conducted in Huitong, Hunan province, southern China, the contents of N and P, as well as the N:P ratios, were investigated in plant-soil systems across four different aged stands of Chinese fir forests (3-, 8-, 18-, and 26-year-old stands). The results revealed varying concentrations of N and P in soils and foliage across the different plantations. Soil N concentrations increased by approximately 4%, 30%, and 22% in 8-, 18-, and 26-year-old plantations compared to the 3-year-old plantation. Soil P concentration was significantly higher in 8-, 18-, and 26-year-old plantations compared to the 3-year-old plantation. The average soil N:P ratio followed the order of 3-year-old plantation > 18-year-old plantation > 26-year-old plantation > 8-year-old plantation. Regarding foliage, both N and P contents exhibited a similar pattern across the different aged leaves, with current-year-old leaves having higher concentrations than 1-year-old, 2-year-old, and 3-year-old leaves in all four Chinese fir plantations. The study further established relationships between soil and foliage nutrient ratios. Soil N:P ratio was positively correlated with soil N content but negatively associated with soil P content. The foliage N:P ratio also showed a significant negative correlation between leaf N and foliage P content. These findings suggest that soil nutrient conditions improved with the aging of Chinese fir plantations, mainly due to increased inputs of above- and below-ground litter. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the ecological stoichiometry of N and P in Chinese fir plantations, offering a scientific basis for sustainable forest management practices in southern China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:55:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48f294e573214a209b9f9d0c15cad99f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:55:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-48f294e573214a209b9f9d0c15cad99f2023-11-19T01:10:36ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-08-01148168510.3390/f14081685Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation ForestsJuan Cao0Wende Yan1Taimoor Hassan Farooq2Xiaoyong Chen3Jun Wang4Chenglin Yuan5Yaqin Qi6Khalid Ali Khan7College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Applied Technology of Forestry and Ecology in Southern China, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaCollege of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS), Beijing 100101, ChinaUnit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi ArabiaEcological stoichiometry is crucial in understanding nutrient dynamics and its impact on plant growth and development at various ecological scales. Among the different nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) have been widely recognized as key elements regulating substance transport, energy utilization, and ecosystem conversion. The N:P ratio in plants serves as a sensitive indicator of ecological processes, reflecting the availability and balance of these nutrients. Therefore, studying the ecological stoichiometry of N and P is essential for accurately assessing soil fertility and site productivity, particularly in forest ecosystems with low-fertility soils. In this study conducted in Huitong, Hunan province, southern China, the contents of N and P, as well as the N:P ratios, were investigated in plant-soil systems across four different aged stands of Chinese fir forests (3-, 8-, 18-, and 26-year-old stands). The results revealed varying concentrations of N and P in soils and foliage across the different plantations. Soil N concentrations increased by approximately 4%, 30%, and 22% in 8-, 18-, and 26-year-old plantations compared to the 3-year-old plantation. Soil P concentration was significantly higher in 8-, 18-, and 26-year-old plantations compared to the 3-year-old plantation. The average soil N:P ratio followed the order of 3-year-old plantation > 18-year-old plantation > 26-year-old plantation > 8-year-old plantation. Regarding foliage, both N and P contents exhibited a similar pattern across the different aged leaves, with current-year-old leaves having higher concentrations than 1-year-old, 2-year-old, and 3-year-old leaves in all four Chinese fir plantations. The study further established relationships between soil and foliage nutrient ratios. Soil N:P ratio was positively correlated with soil N content but negatively associated with soil P content. The foliage N:P ratio also showed a significant negative correlation between leaf N and foliage P content. These findings suggest that soil nutrient conditions improved with the aging of Chinese fir plantations, mainly due to increased inputs of above- and below-ground litter. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the ecological stoichiometry of N and P in Chinese fir plantations, offering a scientific basis for sustainable forest management practices in southern China.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/8/1685<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>plantationsage sequencemacronutrientssubstance transportstoichiometry |
| spellingShingle | Juan Cao Wende Yan Taimoor Hassan Farooq Xiaoyong Chen Jun Wang Chenglin Yuan Yaqin Qi Khalid Ali Khan Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests Forests <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> plantations age sequence macronutrients substance transport stoichiometry |
| title | Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests |
| title_full | Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests |
| title_fullStr | Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests |
| title_short | Ecological Stoichiometry of N and P across a Chronosequence of Chinese Fir Plantation Forests |
| title_sort | ecological stoichiometry of n and p across a chronosequence of chinese fir plantation forests |
| topic | <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> plantations age sequence macronutrients substance transport stoichiometry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/8/1685 |
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