Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau
Understanding the variations in soil and plants with stand aging is important for improving management measures to promote the sustainable development of plantations. However, few studies have been conducted on the dynamics of stoichiometric traits and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) po...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/12/1346 |
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| author | Jixin Cao Hong Pan Zhan Chen He Shang |
| author_facet | Jixin Cao Hong Pan Zhan Chen He Shang |
| author_sort | Jixin Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the variations in soil and plants with stand aging is important for improving management measures to promote the sustainable development of plantations. However, few studies have been conducted on the dynamics of stoichiometric traits and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) pools across <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast plantations of different ages in subalpine regions. In the present study, we examined the stoichiometric traits and C, N, and P stocks in different components of three different aged (22-, 32-, and 42-year-old) <i>P. asperata</i> plantations by plot-level inventories. We hypothesized that the stoichiometric traits in mineral soil could shape the corresponding stoichiometric traits in soil microbes, tree roots and foliage, and the C, N, and P stocks of the total <i>P. asperata</i> plantation ecosystem would increase with increasing stand age. Our results show that the N:P ratio in mineral soil was significantly correlated with that in tree foliage and herbs. Additionally, the C:N ratio and C:P ratio in mineral soil only correlated with the corresponding stoichiometric traits in soil microbes and forest floor, respectively. Both the fractions of microbial biomass C in soil organic C and microbial biomass N in soil total N decreased with increasing stand age. The C, N, and P stocks of the total ecosystem did not continuously increase across stand development. In particular, the P stock of the total ecosystem exhibited a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The aboveground tree biomass C accounted for more than 55% of the total ecosystem C stock regardless of stand age. In contrast, mineral soil and forest floor were the major contributors to the total ecosystem N and P stocks in all stands. This study suggested that all three different stands were N limited, and the stoichiometric homeostasis in the roots of <i>P. asperata</i> was more stable than that in the foliage. In addition, the soil microbial community assembly may change with increasing stand age for <i>P. asperata</i> plantations in the subalpine region. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-fec26c392f02454c97df1c05495d2a472023-11-21T01:12:18ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-12-011112134610.3390/f11121346Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet PlateauJixin Cao0Hong Pan1Zhan Chen2He Shang3Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, ChinaUnderstanding the variations in soil and plants with stand aging is important for improving management measures to promote the sustainable development of plantations. However, few studies have been conducted on the dynamics of stoichiometric traits and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) pools across <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast plantations of different ages in subalpine regions. In the present study, we examined the stoichiometric traits and C, N, and P stocks in different components of three different aged (22-, 32-, and 42-year-old) <i>P. asperata</i> plantations by plot-level inventories. We hypothesized that the stoichiometric traits in mineral soil could shape the corresponding stoichiometric traits in soil microbes, tree roots and foliage, and the C, N, and P stocks of the total <i>P. asperata</i> plantation ecosystem would increase with increasing stand age. Our results show that the N:P ratio in mineral soil was significantly correlated with that in tree foliage and herbs. Additionally, the C:N ratio and C:P ratio in mineral soil only correlated with the corresponding stoichiometric traits in soil microbes and forest floor, respectively. Both the fractions of microbial biomass C in soil organic C and microbial biomass N in soil total N decreased with increasing stand age. The C, N, and P stocks of the total ecosystem did not continuously increase across stand development. In particular, the P stock of the total ecosystem exhibited a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The aboveground tree biomass C accounted for more than 55% of the total ecosystem C stock regardless of stand age. In contrast, mineral soil and forest floor were the major contributors to the total ecosystem N and P stocks in all stands. This study suggested that all three different stands were N limited, and the stoichiometric homeostasis in the roots of <i>P. asperata</i> was more stable than that in the foliage. In addition, the soil microbial community assembly may change with increasing stand age for <i>P. asperata</i> plantations in the subalpine region.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/12/1346stoichiometric traitselemental stocks and allocation<i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. plantationscutoverssubalpine areas |
| spellingShingle | Jixin Cao Hong Pan Zhan Chen He Shang Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau Forests stoichiometric traits elemental stocks and allocation <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. plantations cutovers subalpine areas |
| title | Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau |
| title_full | Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau |
| title_short | Dynamics in Stoichiometric Traits and Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Pools across Three Different-Aged <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. Plantations on the Eastern Tibet Plateau |
| title_sort | dynamics in stoichiometric traits and carbon nitrogen and phosphorus pools across three different aged i picea asperata i mast plantations on the eastern tibet plateau |
| topic | stoichiometric traits elemental stocks and allocation <i>Picea asperata</i> Mast. plantations cutovers subalpine areas |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/12/1346 |
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