Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China
Anthropogenic disturbance, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization and mowing, is constantly changing the function and structure of grassland ecosystems during past years and will continue to affect the sustainability of arid and semiarid grassland in the future. However, how and whether the different N...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/7/1481 |
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| author | Jianqiang Yang Huajie Diao Guoliang Li Rui Wang Huili Jia Changhui Wang |
| author_facet | Jianqiang Yang Huajie Diao Guoliang Li Rui Wang Huili Jia Changhui Wang |
| author_sort | Jianqiang Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anthropogenic disturbance, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization and mowing, is constantly changing the function and structure of grassland ecosystems during past years and will continue to affect the sustainability of arid and semiarid grassland in the future. However, how and whether the different N addition levels and the frequency of N addition, as well as the occurrence of mowing, affect the key processes of N cycling is still unclear. We designed a field experiment with five levels of N addition (0, 2, 10, 20, and 50 g N m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>), two types of N addition frequencies (twice a year added in June/November and monthly addition), and mowing treatment in a typical grassland of northern China. The results showed that higher N addition and mowing interactively improved net primary productivity (NPP), including aboveground and belowground biomass, while different N addition frequency had no significant effects on NPP. Different N addition levels significantly improved gross ammonification (GA) and nitrification (GN) rates, which positively correlated to aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). However, the effect of N addition frequency was differentiated with N addition levels, the highest N addition level (50 g N m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>) with lower frequency (twice a year) significantly increased GA and GN rates. Mowing significantly increased the GA rate but decreased the GN rate both under the highest N addition level (50 g N m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>) and lower N addition frequency (twice a year), which could improve N turnover by stimulating plant and microbial activity. However, a long-term study of the effects of N enrichment and mowing on N turnover will be needed for understanding the mechanisms by which nutrient cycling occurs in typical grassland ecosystems under global change scenarios. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:27:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6798a1a5ae504b90b2707022d5a9c315 |
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| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:27:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-6798a1a5ae504b90b2707022d5a9c3152023-11-17T17:23:10ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-03-01127148110.3390/plants12071481Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern ChinaJianqiang Yang0Huajie Diao1Guoliang Li2Rui Wang3Huili Jia4Changhui Wang5College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030810, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecological Protection and Native Grass Germplasm Innovation, College of Grassland Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, ChinaAnthropogenic disturbance, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization and mowing, is constantly changing the function and structure of grassland ecosystems during past years and will continue to affect the sustainability of arid and semiarid grassland in the future. However, how and whether the different N addition levels and the frequency of N addition, as well as the occurrence of mowing, affect the key processes of N cycling is still unclear. We designed a field experiment with five levels of N addition (0, 2, 10, 20, and 50 g N m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>), two types of N addition frequencies (twice a year added in June/November and monthly addition), and mowing treatment in a typical grassland of northern China. The results showed that higher N addition and mowing interactively improved net primary productivity (NPP), including aboveground and belowground biomass, while different N addition frequency had no significant effects on NPP. Different N addition levels significantly improved gross ammonification (GA) and nitrification (GN) rates, which positively correlated to aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP). However, the effect of N addition frequency was differentiated with N addition levels, the highest N addition level (50 g N m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>) with lower frequency (twice a year) significantly increased GA and GN rates. Mowing significantly increased the GA rate but decreased the GN rate both under the highest N addition level (50 g N m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>) and lower N addition frequency (twice a year), which could improve N turnover by stimulating plant and microbial activity. However, a long-term study of the effects of N enrichment and mowing on N turnover will be needed for understanding the mechanisms by which nutrient cycling occurs in typical grassland ecosystems under global change scenarios.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/7/1481gross nitrogen mineralizationmicrobial biomassmowingnitrogen depositionsteppetypical grassland |
| spellingShingle | Jianqiang Yang Huajie Diao Guoliang Li Rui Wang Huili Jia Changhui Wang Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China Plants gross nitrogen mineralization microbial biomass mowing nitrogen deposition steppe typical grassland |
| title | Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China |
| title_full | Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China |
| title_fullStr | Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China |
| title_short | Higher N Addition and Mowing Interactively Improved Net Primary Productivity by Stimulating Gross Nitrification in a Temperate Steppe of Northern China |
| title_sort | higher n addition and mowing interactively improved net primary productivity by stimulating gross nitrification in a temperate steppe of northern china |
| topic | gross nitrogen mineralization microbial biomass mowing nitrogen deposition steppe typical grassland |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/7/1481 |
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