Seasonal variations in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and C:N:P stoichiometry in different organs of a Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr. plantation in the Qinling Mountains, China

Abstract

Understanding how concentrations of elements and their stoichiometry change with plant growth and age is critical for predicting plant community responses to environmental change. We used long-term field experiments to explore how the leaf, stem and root carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) concentrations and their stoichiometry changed with growth and stand age in a L. principis-rupprechtii Mayr. plantation from 2012–2015 in the Qinling Mountains, China. Our results showed that the C, N and P concentrations and stoichiometric ratios in different tissues of larch stands were affected by stand age, organ type and sampling month and displayed multiple correlations with increased stand age in different growing seasons. Generally, leaf C and N concentrations were greatest in the fast-growing season, but leaf P concentrations were greatest in the early growing season. However, no clear seasonal tendencies in the stem and root C, N and P concentrations were observed with growth. In contrast to N and P, few differences were found in organ-specific C concentrations. Leaf N:P was greatest in the fast-growing season, while C:N and C:P were greatest in the late-growing season. No clear variations were observed in stem and root C:N, C:P and N:P throughout the entire growing season, but leaf N:P was less than 14, suggesting that the growth of larch stands was limited by N in our study region. Compared to global plant element concentrations and stoichiometry, the leaves of larch stands had higher C, P, C:N and C:P but lower N and N:P, and the roots had greater P and C:N but lower N, C:P and N:P. Our study provides baseline information for describing the changes in nutritional elements with plant growth, which will facilitates plantation forest management and restoration, and makes a valuable contribution to the global data pool on leaf nutrition and stoichiometry.

Photosynthesis, Ecological Stoichiometry, and Non-Structural Carbohydrate Response to Simulated Nitrogen Deposition and Phosphorus Addition in Chinese Fir Forests

“…Previous research indicated that increasing the N deposition can promote plant growth by improving the soil N supply, whereas increasing the P addition can stimulate the growth of plants limited by P deficiency [57]. We observed that different N and P addition treatments, along with seasonal changes, had measurable effects on the C:N:P stoichiometry in Chinese fir, which was reported in other species [58]. In summer, separate N or P addition did not affect the content and stoichiometry of C, N, and P in leaves; probably because of the relatively short treatment time, the nutrients were distributed with more priority to the roots than the aboveground organs, leading to no significant changes in the leaves.…”

Temporal shifts in endophyte bacterial community composition of sessile oak (Quercus petraea) are linked to foliar nitrogen, stomatal length, and herbivory

“…Our results of diminishing nutrients such as C and N with leaf aging is in line with other studies ( Li et al, 2017 ), while other functional traits related to the stomata, such as STNR and SLA did not vary significantly along season. Another study on leaf traits of seven different woody species grown under experimental conditions shed light on their seasonal variation ( Römermann et al, 2016 ).…”

Seasonal Dynamics of Leaf Stoichiometry of Phragmites australis: A Case Study From Yangguan Wetland, Dunhuang, China

“…Similarly, in coastal wetlands, LN of Suaeda salsa decreased significantly, while LC and LP did not change with the season in the Yellow River Delta, China [ 14 ]. In Qinling Mountains, LC of Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr showed no significant seasonal change, while LN was highest in the summer and lowest in the autumn while LP decreased significantly from spring to autumn [ 15 ]. Seasonal variations in leaf stoichiometry of Carex brevicuspis in different altitude gradients of Dongting Lake were also observed.…”