Patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus conservation in dominant perennial grasses and shrubs across an aridity gradient in Patagonia, Argentina

Bertiller, Mónica B.; Sain, Claudia Leticia; Carrera, Analía Lorena; Vargas, D N

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2004.11.011

Cited by 62 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…Contrasting life forms such as coniferous, broad-leaved evergreen, and broad-leaved deciduous trees coexist at humid temperate habitats (Walter 1985;Diehl et al 2003). Likewise, shrubs and perennial grasses are dominant contrasting life forms that coexist at dry habitats (West 1983;Bertiller et al 2005 …”

Section: Regional Gradient and Sampling Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the time of collection of green leaves, the percentage of senesced leaves of perennial grasses and shrubs with respect to total leaves varied between 29 and 64% in perennial grasses and between 2 and 66% in shrubs (no data are available for trees). Green leaves of trees were directly collected from plants during late spring-early summer (December 1999 and2000), corresponding to the vegetative growth peak (Puntieri et al 1998 (Carrera et al 2003;Bertiller et al 2005). In all species, we collected fully expanded young-to medium-aged green leaves (Reich et al 1991) from the external canopy crown (sunny and partially sunny leaves).…”

Section: Leaf Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traits of dominant life forms may vary widely across climatic gradients, but may also display large variation among coexisting life forms at a single site (Fonseca et al 2000;Austin and Sala 2002;Carrera et al 2003). Many studies have been oriented to identify the main trade oVs that characterize plant performance and their convergence in a wide range of habitats (Cornelissen 1999;Cornelissen et al 1999;Aerts and Chapin 2000;Fonseca et al 2000;Wright et al , 2004Reich et al 2004;Roche et al 2004;Bertiller et al 2005). In a recent study, Wright et al (2004) analyzed a worldwide spectrum of green leaf traits Wnding a large overlapping among plant functional types or growth forms and a low modulation of climate on them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leaf strategies and soil N across a regional humidity gradient in Patagonia

et al. 2006

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We analyzed leaf traits related to carbon-fixation, nutrient conservation strategies, and decomposability and their relationships with potential N-mineralization and microbial N in soil in 19 species of 5 dominant life forms growing in 40 sites across a regional humidity gradient in northern Patagonia. We hypothesized that (1) the shifting of species and life forms across the humidity gradient is related to a shifting in traits of green and senesced leaves with some overlapping among life forms, and (2) leaf traits associated with litter decomposition are related to the potential dynamics of soil-N across the humidity gradient. LMA in green leaves and P-resorption efficiency decreased with humidity while concentrations of lignin and total phenolics in green and senesced leaves and P concentration in senesced leaves increased with humidity. Soil C and N concentrations were positively correlated to humidity. Increasing soil N concentration was related to increasing rates of absolute (per unit soil mass) potential net N-mineralization and microbial-N flush. Relative (per unit N mass) potential net N-mineralization and microbial-N flush decreased with soil N and were inversely correlated to lignin concentration and C/N ratio in senesced leaves. We found overlapping in N concentration and C/N ratio in green and senesced leaves, P concentration in green leaves, and N resorption among species and life forms across the humidity gradient. We concluded that (1) leaf traits related to carbon fixation and the decomposition pathway significantly varied with humidity and were not overlapped between plant life forms from dry and humid habitats, (2) the largest overlapping among species and plant life forms across the gradient occurred in those leaf traits related to N conservation in the plant, and (3) life forms from humid habitats produce more recalcitrant litter that induce lower rates of relative potential net N mineralization (per unit N) than those of dry habitats.

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Section: Regional Gradient and Sampling Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Leaf Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leaf strategies and soil N across a regional humidity gradient in Patagonia

et al. 2006

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“…Studies that specifically focus on total end-season resorption efficiency in perennial grasses are rare and have not reached consensus for the resorption of nutrients other than N. For instance, some studies support the resorption of P [8,21,46] and others negate it [5,47]. The same dichotomy of opinions has been found for K [20,[47][48][49].…”

Section: Discussion Objective 1: Baseline Estimatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

All Washed Out? Foliar Nutrient Resorption and Leaching in Senescing Switchgrass

et al. 2017

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Ideal bioenergy feedstocks are low in nutrients that act as anti-quality factors during conversion processes. Research has shown that delaying harvest of temperate perennial grasses until late winter reduces nutrient content, primarily due to end-season resorption, but also indicates a role for foliar nutrient leaching. While end-season resorption has been estimated, foliar nutrient leaching has not, and is a factor that could refine harvest recommendations. Additionally, establishing a baseline of mineral loss during switchgrass senescence will improve our understanding of leaf-level nutrient resorption. Therefore, we applied simulated rainfall to replicated (n = 5) plots within a previously established switchgrass stand to determine if heavy precipitation can induce nutrient leaching in senescing, unharvested foliage. Hour-long simulated rainfalls of ∼120 mm were applied every 2 weeks from early September to a killing frost in 2014 and 2015. Leaf samples were taken from the upper and lower canopy before and after simulated rainfalls and from no-rain controls and analyzed for elemental N, P, K, S, Mg, and Ca. Nutrient resorption estimates ranged from 33 to 82% in control plots.Comparison of rainfall plots to controls indicated that lower canopy leaves, upon reaching ≥50% senescence, were slightly susceptible to foliar nutrient leaching, with losses ranging from 0.3 to 2.8 g kg−1dry matter for K, P, and Mg. Nitrogen, Ca, and S were not susceptible to foliar leaching. Although statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05), these values suggested that foliar leaching was not a strong driver of nutrient loss during senescence. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. Abstract Ideal bioenergy feedstocks are low in nutrients that act as anti-quality factors during conversion processes. Research has shown that delaying harvest of temperate perennial grasses until late winter reduces nutrient content, primarily due to end-season resorption, but also indicates a role for foliar nutrient leaching. While end-season resorption has been estimated, foliar nutrient leaching has not, and is a factor that could refine harvest recommendations. Additionally, establishing a baseline of mineral loss during switchgrass senescence will improve our understanding of leaf-level nutrient resorption. Therefore, we applied simulated rainfall to replicated (n = 5) plots within a previously established switchgrass stand to determine if heavy precipitation can induce nutrient leaching in senescing, unharvested foliage. Hour-long simulated rainfalls of ∼120 mm were applied every 2 weeks from early September to a killing frost in 2014 and 2015. Leaf samples were taken from the upper and lower canopy before and after simulated rainfalls and from no-rain controls and analyzed for elemental N, P, K, S, Mg, and Ca. Nutrient resorption estimates ranged from 33 to 82% in control plots. Comparison of rainfall plots to c...

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“…Several studies identified the main trade-offs characterizing plant performance in a wide range of habitats. Across these gradients, fast growing plants from resource-rich sites are mostly associated with high phenotypic plasticity while low phenotypic plasticity would prevail in slow-growing plants from resource-poor habitats (Garnier, 1998;Cornelissen et al, 1999;Aerts and Chapin, 2000;Fonseca et al, 2000;Wright et al, , 2004Reich and Oleksyn, 2004;Roche et al, 2004;Bertiller et al, 2005). However, these relationships are not clearly defined in more constrained gradients such those occurring within arid environments (Moreno and Bertiller, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%