Linkages of plant and soil C:N:P stoichiometry and their relationships to forest growth in subtropical plantations

Background and aims Ecological stoichiometry plays important roles in ecosystem dynamics and functioning, but relationships between above- and belowground stoichiometry and stoichiometric effects on the growth of different plant functional groups in forests remain poorly understood. Methods In an ag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 2015-07, Vol.392 (1/2), p.127-138
Main Authors: Fan, Houbao, Wu, Jianping, Liu, Wenfei, Yuan, Yinghong, Hu, Liang, Cai, Qiankun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Biogeochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ecology
Ecosystem dynamics
Eucalyptus
Forest ecology
Forest soils
Forests
Leaves
Life Sciences
Nutrient concentrations
Plant growth
Plant Physiology
Plant populations
Plant Sciences
Plant-soil relationships
Plantations
Plants
Regular Article
Social aspects
Soil Science & Conservation
Soils
Stoichiometry
Understory
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Summary:Background and aims Ecological stoichiometry plays important roles in ecosystem dynamics and functioning, but relationships between above- and belowground stoichiometry and stoichiometric effects on the growth of different plant functional groups in forests remain poorly understood. Methods In an age sequence of 2-, 4- and 6-year-old Eucalyptus plantations in subtropical China, we examined C, N and P concentrations and their ratios in the soil and leaves. Each plantation was divided into overstory and understory plant functional groups. The relationships between stoichiometric characteristics and forest growth were analyzed. Results Soil C and P decreased in the Eucalyptus age sequence, which led to changes in soil stoichiometric characteristics. Leaf C:P and N:P ratios were higher for Eucalyptus trees than for understory plants because of the low P concentrations in Eucalyptus leaves. Soil and plant N:P ratios were strongly related. Understory biomass was positively related to N:P ratios, while overstory growth was negatively related to N:P ratios. Conclusions Our results suggest that nutrient concentrations in soil and plants are tightly linked in Eucalyptus plantations and that P limitation increases with stand age. Stoichiometric characteristics appear to mediate forest properties and functions under nutrient limitation in subtropical regions.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-015-2444-2