Management practices regulate the response of Moso bamboo foliar stoichiometry to nitrogen deposition.

Xinzhang Song,Meng Wang,Quan Li,Guomo Zhou,Honghao Gu

doi:10.1038/srep24107

Xinzhang Song, Meng Wang + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24107

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Abstract

Moso bamboo, well known for its high growth rate, is being subjected to increasing amounts of nitrogen deposition. However, how anthropogenic management practices regulate the effects of N deposition on Moso bamboo stoichiometry remains poorly understood. We observed the effects of two years of simulated N deposition (30, 60 and 90 kg N ha−1yr−1) on the foliar stoichiometry of Moso bamboo plantations under conventional management (CM) and intensive management (IM). Young bamboo had significantly greater foliar N and P concentrations and N:P ratios than mature plants (P < 0.05). IM significantly increased the foliar N concentrations of young bamboo and P concentrations of mature bamboo but decreased mature bamboo foliar N:P ratios (P < 0.05). Nitrogen increased foliar N and P concentrations in IM bamboo plantations, but the positive effects were diminished when the addition rate exceeded 60 kg N ha−1yr−1. Nitrogen increased foliar N concentrations but aggravated P deficiency in CM bamboo plantations. The positive effects of N deposition on foliar stoichiometry were influenced by management practices and bamboo growth stage. The effects of N deposition on foliar stoichiometry combined with anthropogenic management practices can influence ecosystem production, decomposition, and subsequent N and P cycles in Moso bamboo plantations.

Highlights

Being greatly different from the arbor species, the woody rhizomatous plant Moso bamboo is well known for its startlingly high growth rate
The objectives are to examine (1) how foliar N and P stoichiometry responds to management practices, (2) how foliar N and P stoichiometry responds to increasing N deposition, and (3) whether the effects of N deposition on foliar stoichiometry depend on management practices and growth stage
In intensive management (IM) plots, compared with the control, N addition significantly increased the foliar N concentration of young bamboo by 2.33–10.25% (Fig. 1b) but did not affect that of mature bamboo (Fig. 1a). These positive effects on young bamboo foliar N were diminished when the N addition rate was more than 60 kg N ha−1yr−1

Summary

Introduction

Being greatly different from the arbor species, the woody rhizomatous plant Moso bamboo is well known for its startlingly high growth rate. New bamboo begins to grow leaves in May of the current year during which it emerges These initial leaves fall the spring, and new leaves quickly reemerge. The Moso bamboo plantations are unevenly aged forests with a two-year interval. The effects of increasing N deposition on the foliar stoichiometry of managed Moso bamboo plantations would be affected by anthropogenic management practices. Far, a lack of information about these interactions has limited our understanding of the combined effects of N deposition and anthropogenic management practices on the Moso bamboo forest ecosystem. We investigated the variation of foliar N and P concentrations in Moso bamboo at different ages under IM and CM practices after exposure to simulated N deposition for two years. The objectives are to examine (1) how foliar N and P stoichiometry responds to management practices, (2) how foliar N and P stoichiometry responds to increasing N deposition, and (3) whether the effects of N deposition on foliar stoichiometry depend on management practices and growth stage

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