Response of Plant and Soil N, P, and N:P Stoichiometry to N Addition in China: A Meta-Analysis
Shuifei Chen,
Wenwen Zhang,
Xiaomin Ge,
Xiao Zheng,
Xu Zhou,
Hui Ding,
Aiguo Zhang
Affiliations
Shuifei Chen
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Wenwen Zhang
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Xiaomin Ge
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Xiao Zheng
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Xu Zhou
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Hui Ding
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Aiguo Zhang
Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on Biosafety, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key elements essential for plant growth and development. Due to fertilizer application, rapid urbanization, and fossil fuel combustion, nitrogen deposition has reached relatively high levels in China. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the response of N:P stoichiometry in plants and soil to N deposition across different ecosystems. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted using 845 observations from 75 studies to evaluate the response of plant and soil N and P concentrations and N to P ratios across various ecosystems to N addition. The analysis revealed that N concentration and N:P stoichiometry in plants and soil increased under N addition, while P concentration in plants and soil decreased on average. Furthermore, the magnitude of these responses was related to the N input rate and experimental duration. Finally, the effects of N addition on N concentration, P concentration, and N:P in terrestrial ecosystems would alter their allocation patterns, depending on relevant climate factors such as mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. This study highlights the ecological impact of N addition on the biogeochemical cycling of major elements (N and P) in terrestrial ecosystems in China. These findings are necessary for improving our understanding of the characteristics of plant ecological stoichiometry and helping to plan measures for increasing N deposition.
