The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China
Understanding the spatial patterns and the driving factors of plant leaf and soil stoichiometry are critical for improving the parameterization of future ecological models and to predict the responses of ecosystems to environmental changes. This study aimed to determine how the latitudinal patterns...
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doaj-4f472429e9ba4e69a5bd1a87e5a439822020-11-25T02:16:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2019-03-011010.3389/fpls.2019.00085430448The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of ChinaZhao Fang0Zhao Fang1Dong-Dong Li2Dong-Dong Li3Feng Jiao4Feng Jiao5Jing Yao6Hao-Tian Du7State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, ChinaInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, ChinaUnderstanding the spatial patterns and the driving factors of plant leaf and soil stoichiometry are critical for improving the parameterization of future ecological models and to predict the responses of ecosystems to environmental changes. This study aimed to determine how the latitudinal patterns of leaf and soil C:N:P stoichiometry are affected by climate and vegetation types in the dryland ecosystems. The concentrations of leaf C, N, and P in herb community as well as soil nutrient concentrations along a 500–km–long latitudinal gradient in Northern Shaanxi of the Loess Plateau, were measured. The results showed that the soil C, N, P and C:N:P ratios at all three depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm) showed significant latitudinal trends (except for soil C:N ratios) (P < 0.01). In general, the soil C, N and C:N:P ratios decreased exponentially while soil P increased first and then decreased with the latitude. The soil C, N, C:P, and N:P ratios at all three depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm) were positively correlated with MAT and MAP (P < 0.05), while soil P and C:N ratios at all three depths were weakly correlated with MAT and MAP (P > 0.05). In addition, leaf C:N:P stoichiometry was significantly correlated with the latitude, MAT, and MAP (except for N:P ratios) (P < 0.01), such that, leaf C, C:N, and C:P ratios decreased as the latitude increased and MAT and MAP decreased, and leaf N, P concentrations increased as the latitude increased and MAT and MAP decreased, while leaf N:P ratios were weakly correlated with the latitude, MAT, and MAP (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the leaf C:N:P stoichiometry of herbaceous communities was related to the soil properties (except for soil P), and we found that the C:P ratios between the soil and leaves were strongly correlated. Compared with the global scale, the relatively high N:P ratios indicated that the vegetation growth of the herb community in the dryland of the Loess Plateau was more susceptible to P limitation.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2019.00085/fullecological stoichiometryclimatic factorsherb communityvegetation typesleavessoil |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zhao Fang Zhao Fang Dong-Dong Li Dong-Dong Li Feng Jiao Feng Jiao Jing Yao Hao-Tian Du |
spellingShingle |
Zhao Fang Zhao Fang Dong-Dong Li Dong-Dong Li Feng Jiao Feng Jiao Jing Yao Hao-Tian Du The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China Frontiers in Plant Science ecological stoichiometry climatic factors herb community vegetation types leaves soil |
author_facet |
Zhao Fang Zhao Fang Dong-Dong Li Dong-Dong Li Feng Jiao Feng Jiao Jing Yao Hao-Tian Du |
author_sort |
Zhao Fang |
title |
The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China |
title_short |
The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China |
title_full |
The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China |
title_fullStr |
The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Latitudinal Patterns of Leaf and Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Loess Plateau of China |
title_sort |
latitudinal patterns of leaf and soil c:n:p stoichiometry in the loess plateau of china |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Plant Science |
issn |
1664-462X |
publishDate |
2019-03-01 |
description |
Understanding the spatial patterns and the driving factors of plant leaf and soil stoichiometry are critical for improving the parameterization of future ecological models and to predict the responses of ecosystems to environmental changes. This study aimed to determine how the latitudinal patterns of leaf and soil C:N:P stoichiometry are affected by climate and vegetation types in the dryland ecosystems. The concentrations of leaf C, N, and P in herb community as well as soil nutrient concentrations along a 500–km–long latitudinal gradient in Northern Shaanxi of the Loess Plateau, were measured. The results showed that the soil C, N, P and C:N:P ratios at all three depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm) showed significant latitudinal trends (except for soil C:N ratios) (P < 0.01). In general, the soil C, N and C:N:P ratios decreased exponentially while soil P increased first and then decreased with the latitude. The soil C, N, C:P, and N:P ratios at all three depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm) were positively correlated with MAT and MAP (P < 0.05), while soil P and C:N ratios at all three depths were weakly correlated with MAT and MAP (P > 0.05). In addition, leaf C:N:P stoichiometry was significantly correlated with the latitude, MAT, and MAP (except for N:P ratios) (P < 0.01), such that, leaf C, C:N, and C:P ratios decreased as the latitude increased and MAT and MAP decreased, and leaf N, P concentrations increased as the latitude increased and MAT and MAP decreased, while leaf N:P ratios were weakly correlated with the latitude, MAT, and MAP (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the leaf C:N:P stoichiometry of herbaceous communities was related to the soil properties (except for soil P), and we found that the C:P ratios between the soil and leaves were strongly correlated. Compared with the global scale, the relatively high N:P ratios indicated that the vegetation growth of the herb community in the dryland of the Loess Plateau was more susceptible to P limitation. |
topic |
ecological stoichiometry climatic factors herb community vegetation types leaves soil |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2019.00085/full |
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