Responses of plant nutrient resorption to phosphorus addition in freshwater marsh of Northeast China

Sci Rep. 2015 Jan 29:5:8097. doi: 10.1038/srep08097.

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities have increased phosphorus (P) inputs to most aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, the relationship between plant nutrient resorption and P availability is still unclear, and much less is known about the underlying mechanisms. Here, we used a multi-level P addition experiment (0, 1.2, 4.8, and 9.6 g P m(-2) year(-1)) to assess the effect of P enrichment on nutrient resorption at plant organ, species, and community levels in a freshwater marsh of Northeast China. The response of nutrient resorption to P addition generally did not vary with addition rates. Moreover, nutrient resorption exhibited similar responses to P addition across the three hierarchical levels. Specifically, P addition decreased nitrogen (N) resorption proficiency, P resorption efficiency and proficiency, but did not impact N resorption efficiency. In addition, P resorption efficiency and proficiency were linearly related to the ratio of inorganic P to organic P and organic P fraction in mature plant organs, respectively. Our findings suggest that the allocation pattern of plant P between inorganic and organic P fractions is an underlying mechanism controlling P resorption processes, and that P enrichment could strongly influence plant-mediated biogeochemical cycles through altered nutrient resorption in the freshwater wetlands of Northeast China.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomass
  • China
  • Ecosystem
  • Fresh Water*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Organ Specificity / drug effects
  • Phosphorus / pharmacology*
  • Plants / drug effects
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Species Specificity
  • Wetlands*

Substances

  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen