Response of root dynamics to nitrogen addition and the influencing factors in a Tibetan alpine steppe, China

Abstract

A field manipulative experiment was carried out during 2015 and 2016 to examine the changes and influencing factors of root production, turnover rate, and standing crop under different nitrogen (N) addition levels, i.e., 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 g N·m-2·a-1, in a Tibetan alpine steppe. The results showed that root production and standing crop decreased linearly or exponentially with increasing N addition rates. Compared with control, 16 g N·m-2·a-1 significantly reduced the two-year average root production and standing crop by 43.0% and 45.7%, respectively. Root turnover rate increased first and then decreased along the N addition gradient, with the maximum appearing under 2 and 4 g N·m-2·a-1 treatments for 2015 and 2016, respectively. Results from linear mixed-effects models showed that root starch content was the main factor modulating the N-induced changes in root production and turnover rate, explaining 21.7% and 25.4% of their variations. Root protein content mainly contributed to the variations in standing crop, with an explanation of 20.8% of its variance. Overall, N addition had negative effect on root production and standing crop, and low N promoted while high N inhibited root turnover rate. Root metabolic parameters were the main factors modulating the N-induced changes in root dynamics.