Interactive effects of soil nitrogen and water availability on leaf mass loss in a temperate steppe

• Published in: Plant and soil 2010-06, Vol.331 (1-2), p.497-504
• Main Authors: Lü, Xiao-Tao, Wei, Cun-Zheng, Cui, Qiang, Zhang, Yun-Hai, Han, Xing-Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Average linear density; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecology; Ecosystem assessment; Ecosystems; Forbs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Graminoids; Grassland soils; grasslands; Leaf senescence; Leaves; Life Sciences; Mass loss; Nitrogen; Nitrogen and water addition; Nutrient loss; Nutrient resorption; Nutrient use efficiency; Plant biology; Plant nutrition; Plant Physiology; Plant populations; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plants; Regular Article; Soil fertility; Soil plant interactions; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Species; Steppes; Terrestrial ecosystems; Underestimation; Water; Water availability
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-009-0270-0

Although the link between leaf mass loss and assessment of ecosystem nutrient use efficiency and plant nutrient resorption efficiency has received considerable attention in various ecosystems, there has been relatively little effort to assess plant leaf mass loss during senescence, especially for herbaceous species. We conducted experimental studies to assess leaf mass loss during senescence in five dominant herbaceous species and examined the effects of increasing nitrogen (N) and water availability on leaf mass loss of four species in a temperate steppe in northern China. We nondestructively estimated mature leaf mass based on leaf length and width. Leaf mass loss varied substantially among species, ranging from 20–50%. On average across all species, N and water addition increased leaf mass loss by 30% and 19%, respectively. N and water addition interacted to affect leaf mass loss, as water addition had a significant positive effect on leaf mass loss under enriched N conditions but showed no effect under ambient N levels. We conclude that leaf mass loss of herbaceous plants was considerable and can potentially be more pronounced with increasing N and water availability. It is notable that the responses of plant species to N and water addition were variable. We suggest that leaf mass loss during senescence should be given full consideration in assessing nutrient use and resorption efficiency in semi-arid areas.