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Influence of nitrogen input and sediment burial on biomass and nitrogen absorption characteristic of Suaeda salsa in the Yellow River estuary

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Abstract

Since 2002, the Water–Sediment Regulation Scheme (WSRS) has been implemented yearly to restore degraded wetlands with altered environmental factors, especially sediment and nutrient levels. However, absorption characteristics of nutrient elements by plants under sediment burial and exogenous nitrogen input caused by WSRS are unknown. This study determined the effects of nitrogen input, sediment burial, and their interaction on biomass and absorption characteristics of typical vegetation in the coastal wetland of the Yellow River estuary using the mesocosm experiment focusing on Suaeda salsa. The results demonstrated that nitrogen input and sediment burial did not significantly affect total, root, stem, and leaf biomass but significantly influenced biomass allocation. S. salsa allocated more biomass to root at deeper sediment burial and lower nitrogen input conditions. Sediment nitrogen content was significantly affected by nitrogen input, and the influence of sediment burial on stem and leaf nitrogen content also reached a significant level, while S. salsa organ nitrogen content could maintain a stable level. Sediment burial and nitrogen input affected S. salsa nitrogen absorption coefficient, and the maximum absorption coefficient values for root, stem, and leaf were observed at N3M2 (9.0 g·m−2 nitrogen input, 6.0 cm sediment burial) treatment. Overall, the sediment burial and exogenous nitrogen input affected nutrient supply status (sediment nitrogen content), biomass allocation, and vegetation organ nitrogen content, ultimately altering the absorption characteristic. Our results pave the way toward data-driven management of WSRS. Nevertheless, the thresholds of nitrogen input and sediment burial warrant future studies.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ZR2021MD003, ZR2021MD105, and ZR2021MD045) and the Project of Introducing and Cultivating Young Talent in the Universities of Shandong Province (No. QC2019YY144).

Funding

Funding was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ZR2021MD003, ZR2021MD105, and ZR2021MD045) and the Project of Introducing and Cultivating Young Talent in the Universities of Shandong Province (No. QC2019YY144).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water and Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection, College of Resources and Environment, Linyi University, Linyi, 276005, Shandong, China

    Hongli Song, Wanni Yu, Lizhi Wang, Wei Jiao & Bin Dong

Authors
  1. Hongli Song
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  2. Wanni Yu
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  3. Lizhi Wang
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  4. Wei Jiao
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  5. Bin Dong
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Hongli Song, Wanni Yu, and Wei Jiao. Hongli Song wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Bin Dong commented on the revised manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hongli Song.

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Song, H., Yu, W., Wang, L. et al. Influence of nitrogen input and sediment burial on biomass and nitrogen absorption characteristic of Suaeda salsa in the Yellow River estuary. Environ Earth Sci 81, 493 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10621-4

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