Abstract
Plasticity of plant functional traits plays an important role in plant growth and survival under changing climate. However, knowledge about how leaf functional traits respond to the multi-level N addition rates, multiple N compound and duration of N application remains lacking. This study investigated the effects of 2-year and 7-year N addition on the leaf functional traits of Leymus chinensis and Thermopsis lanceolata in a meadow grassland. The results showed that the type of N compounds had no significant effect on leaf functional traits regardless of duration of N application. N addition significantly increased the leaf total N content (LN) and specific leaf area (SLA), and decreased the leaf total P content (LP) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) of the two species. Compared with short-term N addition, long-term N addition increased LN, LP, SLA, and plant height, but decreased the LDMC. In addition, the traits of the two species were differentially responsive to N addition, LN and LP of T. lanceolata were consistently higher than those of L. chinensis. N addition would make L. chinensis and T. lanceolata tend to “quick investment-return” strategy. Our results provide more robust and comprehensive predictions of the effects of N deposition on leaf traits.
Highlights
Plant functional traits are important for exploring the relationship between plants and the environment, which provide a basis for predicting the response of ecosystems in the context of global change (Wright et al, 2010; Li et al, 2015; Liu et al, 2021b)
The results showed that the N addition rate, species and period had significant effects on the leaf total N content (LN), leaf total P content (LP) and N:P of the two plants (P < 0.01), while N compound type had no significant effect (Table 1)
The N addition rate and period had an interactive effect on the LN, LP and N:P of the two plants (P < 0.01, Table 1)
Summary
Nitrogen (N) deposition in the global atmosphere has increased dramatically as a result of increased human activities, the burning of fossil fuels and the development of intensive agriculture (Galloway et al, 2008; Yu et al, 2019). Previous studies have suggested that plant functional traits are key to elucidating the mechanisms that drive the responses of plant communities and ecosystems to resource addition (McGill et al, 2006; Suding and Goldstein, 2008). Previous studies found that increased N deposition increases the N concentration in green and senesced plant leaf tissue and changes the stoichiometric ratio of plant leaves (Xia and Wan, 2008; Cory et al, 2011). Nitrogen addition changes the specific leaf area, plant height, and dry matter content of leaves (Zheng et al, 2017). These results all show that leaf functional traits are closely related to N deposition. The nutritional status of plants and the response of leaf stoichiometric ratios to N enrichment are essential for elucidating how plants adapt to human disturbances (He et al, 2008; Elser et al, 2010)
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