Variation in plant carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents across the drylands of China
Cite this dataset
Xiong, Junlan et al. (2021). Variation in plant carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents across the drylands of China [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9cnp5hqjv
Abstract
- Determining large-scale patterns of plant elemental concentrations and stoichiometry along environmental gradients is critical for understanding plant adaptive strategies and predicting ecosystem biogeochemistry processes. However, it remains unclear as to how plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations and their stoichiometry in different organs (leaves, stems, and roots) respond to large-scale environmental gradients in drylands.
- We determined C, N, and P concentrations and their ratios in leaves, stems, and roots of plants growing in the dryland ecosystems of China. Using threshold indicator taxa analyses, we identified indicator species of plant C, N, and P responses to aridity and soil properties.
- The arithmetic averaged concentrations of C, N, and P in drylands were 414, 18.7, and 1.38 mg/g for leaves, respectively; 445, 12.1, and 1.08 mg/g for stems, respectively; and 418, 10.5, and 0.89 mg/g for roots, respectively. The C : N, C : P, and N : P ratios were 25.2, 386, and 16.3 for leaves, respectively; 42.8, 592, and 14.8 for stems, respectively; and 46.8, 658, and 15.6 for roots, respectively. Aridity and soil pH generally exerted positive effects on plant N and negative effects on C and P concentrations and, thus, were related negatively to C : N ratios and positively to C : P and N : P ratios. The C, N, and P concentrations in organs generally increased with increasing corresponding soil C, N, and P concentrations. Shrubs were mainly positive indicators of plant C, N, and P concentrations in response to aridity and soil pH, and negative indicators of soil nutrients. In contrast, herbaceous species were mainly positive indicators of soil nutrients and negative indicators of aridity and soil pH.
- These findings indicate that plants tend to accumulate N rather than C and P with increasing aridity and soil pH. The identification of indicator species for plant elements in response to aridity and soil traits informs our understanding of species-specific biogeographic patterns of organ elements and potential adaptive strategies of plants in drylands.
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Award: 31901087, 31000286, 31270753, 31322010, 31770430, and 31700463
Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Award: 2014CB954203
National Youth Top-notch Talent Support Program to J.D.
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Award: 2016M602890
Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Award: lzujbky-2018-it05