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Variation in leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in the nitrogen-fixing Chinese sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi) across northern China

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Ecological Research

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and N:P ratios in terrestrial plants and their patterns of change along environmental gradients are important traits for plant adaptation to changes. We determined the leaf N and P concentrations of Chinese sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi), a non-legume species with symbiotic N fixation (SNF), at 37 sites across northern China and explored their geographical patterns in relation to climate and soil factors. (1) The mean leaf N, P, and N:P ratio were 36.5, 2.1 mg g−1, and 17.6, respectively, higher than the mean values of most shrub species in the region. (2) Leaf N was correlated with soil mineral N in cool areas (mean annual temperature MAT <3 °C) but with temperature in warm areas (MAT >3 °C). The high leaf N and divergent leaf N–soil N relationship suggested the importance of SNF in plant N uptake; SNF increases with temperature and is probably the major N source in warm areas. (3) Leaf P was positively related to mean annual precipitation. Leaf N:P ratio was primarily driven by changes in leaf P. The high leaf P reflected the greater requirements of the N-fixing species for P. Our results represent a major advance in understanding the elemental stoichiometry of non-legume N-fixing plants, indicating high P and N requirements and a shift in N source from SNF to soil as temperature declines. This knowledge will help in assessing the habitat suitability for the species and predicting the species dynamics under environmental changes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dahua Yu, Quan Sun, Yuxiang Zhuo, and Kun Ma for technical assistance in the analysis of plant and soil samples. This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, Nos. 31160046 and 31270429).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China

    Xiaowei Li & Kun Sun

  2. Key Laboratory for Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in North-western China, Ningxia University, Ningxia, 750021, China

    Xiaowei Li

  3. AgResearch Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    Frank Yonghong Li

Authors
  1. Xiaowei Li
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  2. Kun Sun
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  3. Frank Yonghong Li
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Correspondence to Kun Sun.

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Li, X., Sun, K. & Li, F.Y. Variation in leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in the nitrogen-fixing Chinese sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi) across northern China. Ecol Res 29, 723–731 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1165-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1165-y

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