Environmental drivers of the leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry characteristics of critically endangered Acer catalpifolium

Yuyang Zhang; Xiaoyu Cheng; Zhipeng Sha; Manuja U Lekammudiyanse; Wenbao Ma; Buddhi Dayananda; Shuang Li; Ruiheng Lyu

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.1052565

Environmental drivers of the leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry characteristics of critically endangered Acer catalpifolium

Front Plant Sci. 2022 Dec 16:13:1052565. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1052565. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yuyang Zhang¹, Xiaoyu Cheng¹, Zhipeng Sha², Manuja U Lekammudiyanse³, Wenbao Ma⁴, Buddhi Dayananda⁵, Shuang Li⁶, Ruiheng Lyu¹

Affiliations

¹ The National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of High Efficiency and Superior-Quality Cultivation and Fruit Deep Processing Technology on Characteristic Fruit Trees, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Tarim University, Alar, China.
² Faculty of Morden Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
³ Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre, Central Queensland University, Gladstone, QLD, Australia.
⁴ Ecological Restoration and Conservation of Forests and Wetlands Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu, China.
⁵ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, Australia.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Acer catalpifolium is a perennial deciduous broad-leaved woody plant, listed in the second-class protection program in China mainly distributed on the northwest edge of Chengdu plain. However, extensive anthropogenic disturbances and pollutants emissions (such as SO₂, NH₃ and NO_X) in this area have created a heterogeneous habitat for this species and its impacts have not been systematically studied. In this study, we investigated the leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content of A. catalpifolium in the natural distribution areas, and a series of simulation experiments (e.g., various water and light supply regimes, different acid and N deposition levels, reintroduction management) were conducted to analyze responses of N and P stoichiometric characteristics to environmental changes. The results showed that leaf nitrogen content (LNC) was 14.49 ~ 25.44 mg g^-1, leaf phosphorus content (LPC) was 1.29~3.81 mg g^-1 and the N/P ratio of the leaf (L-N/P) was 4.87~13.93. As per the simulation experiments, LNC of A. catalpifolium is found to be relatively high at strong light conditions (80% of full light), high N deposition (100 and 150 kg N ha^-1), low acidity rainwater, reintroduction to understory area or N fertilizer applications. A high level of LPC was found when applied with 80% of full light and moderate N deposition (100 kg N ha^-1). L-N/P was high under severe shade (8% of full light), severe N deposition (200 kg N ha^-1), and reintroduction to gap and undergrowth habitat; however, low L-N/P was observed at low acidity rainwater or P fertilizer application. The nutrient supply facilitates corresponding elements uptake, shade tends to induce P limitation and soil acidification shows N limitation. Our results provide theoretical guidance for field management and nutrient supply regimes for future protection, population rejuvenation of this species and provide guidelines for conservation and nutrient management strategies for the endangered species.

Keywords: Acer catalpifolium; N/P ratio(L-N/P); environmental factors; leaf nitrogen content (LNC); leaf phosphorus content (LPC).