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Changes in nitrogen and phosphorus cycling suggest a transition to phosphorus limitation with the stand development of larch plantations

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Abstract

Aims

The changes of nutrient limitation status for tree growth across a plantation chronosequence have great implications for plantation management. The underlying mechanisms for such a shift, however, have seldom been addressed. While plant nutrient use strategies would change in response to soil nutrient alteration, they may also create feedback on soil nutrient dynamics and thus plant nutrient limitation status.

Methods

We examined soil and foliar nutrients of larch (Larix kaempferi), the dominant timber species in Northeast China, across a plantation chronosequence.

Results

Total soil N increased but total soil P decreased across the chronosequence. Similarly, N concentrations in the green leaves were positively correlated, and P concentrations were negatively correlated with stand age. Foliar N:P ratios, N and P resorption efficiencies and PRE:NRE were positively correlated with stand age, indicating the shift from N-limitation to P-limitation across the chronosequence. P concentration in senesced leaves decreased and N:P ratios increased across the chronosequence, which has implications for decomposition and nutrient release.

Conclusions

Nutrient resorption, soil pH, biomass P sequestration and imbalanced inputs of N and P would contribute to the occurrence of P-limitation with increased stand age. Furthermore, adaptive fertilization management strategies should consider the shift of nutrient limitation patterns across the chronosequence.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Peng Jiang and Ms. Jing Wang for their laboratory assistance and Dr. Qiaoling Yan and Ms. Huanhuan Song for their helpful suggestions on the earlier versions of this manuscript. This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (grant numbers 2012CB416906 and 2012CB416903).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Tao Yan, Xiao-Tao Lü, Jiao-Jun Zhu, Kai Yang, Li-Zhong Yu & Tian Gao

  2. Qingyuan Forest CERN, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Tao Yan, Jiao-Jun Zhu, Kai Yang, Li-Zhong Yu & Tian Gao

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Tao Yan

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  1. Tao Yan
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  2. Xiao-Tao Lü
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  3. Jiao-Jun Zhu
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  5. Li-Zhong Yu
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Correspondence to Jiao-Jun Zhu.

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Yan, T., Lü, XT., Zhu, JJ. et al. Changes in nitrogen and phosphorus cycling suggest a transition to phosphorus limitation with the stand development of larch plantations. Plant Soil 422, 385–396 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3473-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3473-9

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