Impact of Extra Nitrogen on Ecological Stoichiometry of Alpine Grasslands on Tibetan Plateau: Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The general impact of extra nitrogen on ecological stoichiometry was examined in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Extra nitrogen increased the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P ratio) in leaves and aboveground parts of plants by 43.4% and 32.7%, respectively. In contrast, extra nitrogen reduced the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N ratio) in leaves by 30.6%. Extra nitrogen decreased soil C:N ratio by 9.1% in alpine meadows, but increased soil C:N ratio by 3.4% in alpine steppes. Extra urea had a stronger positive impact on aboveground vegetation N:P ratio than did extra ammonium nitrate. Extra urea rather than ammonium nitrate decreased aboveground vegetation C:N ratio and soil C:N ratio. The impact of extra nitrogen on aboveground vegetation N:P ratio was positively correlated with latitude, mean annual temperature and precipitation, nitrogen application rate and accumulated amount, but negatively correlated with elevation, duration and aboveground vegetation N:P ratio of the control plots. The impact of extra nitrogen on leaves N:P ratio was positively correlated with nitrogen application rate and accumulated amount. The impact of extra nitrogen on leaves C:N ratio was positively correlated with latitude, but negatively correlated with mean annual temperature and precipitation, nitrogen application rate, accumulated amount, duration and leaves C:N ratio of the control plots. Therefore, nitrogen enrichment caused by human activities will most likely alter element balance and alpine plants from nitrogen limitation to phosphorus limitation. This effect may weaken with time, and increase with climatic warming, increased precipitation and nitrogen input rate.