Skip to main content
Dryad

Data from: Cumulative and partially recoverable impacts of nitrogen addition on a temperate steppe

Data files

Oct 23, 2017 version files 26.30 KB

Abstract

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been shown to decrease biodiversity and change nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of ecological responses to chronic N addition and ecological recovery from N enrichment to grassland is limited. Here we present evidence from an 11-year grassland experiment with a range of N addition rates (0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg N ha−1 yr−1) in Inner Mongolia, China. Chronic N addition led to a reduction in species richness, Shannon Diversity Index and soil pH, and an increase in aboveground biomass, foliar N and soil mineral N. High N addition rates (240 and 480 kg N ha−1 yr−1) showed significant effects in the first and second years, which stabilized over time. Nitrogen addition at low rates (30 and 60 kg N ha−1 yr−1) took longer (e.g., ≥ 3 years) to achieve significant effects. The negative impacts of high N addition (480 kg N ha−1 yr−1) were reduced and species richness, etc., showed a limited but rapid recovery with the cessation of N addition. Our findings suggest serious and cumulative impacts of N addition on plant and soil communities but the potential for partial system recovery over time if N inputs decline or cease.