Aims Elevated nitrogen(N)deposition in tropical regions may accelerate ecosystem phosphorus(P)limitation.However,it is not explicitly addressed that how changes in soil N and P availability affect foliar nutrients and photosynthesis of plants in tropical forests.In this study,we examined the effects of N and P additions on foliar nutrients and net photosynthesis of two dominant understory species,Randia can-thioides(R.canthioides)and Cryptocarya concinna(C.concinna)in an N-saturated old-growth tropical forest(>400-year-old)in south-ern China.Methods A full factorial NP addition experiment(2×2)was established in 2007 and continued through August 2010.Four treatments,including control,N addition(150 kg N ha^(−1) year^(−1)),P addi-tion(150 kg P ha^(−1) year^(−1))and NP addition(150 kg N ha^(−1) year^(−1) plus 150 kg P ha^(−1) year^(−1))were set up in this experiment.Photosynthetic traits maximum photosynthetic CO_(2) assimilation(Amax),stomatal conductance(gs),leaf transpiration(E),light satu-rating point,concentrations of chlorophyll a/b and foliar nutri-ents(N and P)of the two species were measured with standard methods.Important Findings Three years of N addition had no significant effects on any measured photosynthetic parameter of either species.However,N addition significantly elevated foliar N and P concentrations of one species(R.canthioides),resulting in lower photosynthetic nitrogen use effi-ciency(PNUE).N treatments decreased foliar P concentration of the other(C.concinna),resulting in increased photosynthetic phos-phorus use efficiency,which was potentially related to N-induced P shortage.In contrast,positive effects of P treatments on gs of R.can-thioides,Amax and chlorophyll a+b of C.concinna were observed.P treatments also elevated foliar P and PNUE of both species,imply-ing P induced more efficient use of N.Our results suggested a more important role of P than N on influencing photosynthetic traits of these two understory species.Alleviation of P shortage through P addition may enhan
施肥是退化草地初期恢复常用的管理措施,被用于改良草地群落结构和提高牧草生产力.本文以藏北轻度和重度退化高寒草甸为研究对象,设置低氮(50 kg N·hm-2·a-1,LN)、高氮(100 kg N·hm-2·a-1,HN)施肥水平,及其与磷配施组合试验(50 kg N·hm-2·a-1+50 kg P·hm-2·a-1,LN+P;100 kg N·hm-2·a-1+50 kg P·hm-2·a-1,HN+P),研究施肥梯度与施肥类型对两种退化程度高寒草甸群落结构、物种丰富度与多样性、群落生物量及其分配的影响.结果表明:单独施氮对轻度和重度退化高寒草甸群落盖度和生物量均无显著影响,而氮磷配施显著提高群落盖度及地上、地下生物量,其中LN+P处理的促进效果最显著.这表明本研究区地上生产力受到氮和磷的共同限制.施肥处理对重度退化样地总生物量无显著影响,但显著降低了根冠比.HN与HN+P处理均显著降低轻度退化群落的物种丰富度和均匀度,说明HN处理不利于轻度退化草地物种多样性和稳定性的维持.在轻度退化样地,施氮(尤其是HN处理)主要提高了禾草植物的重要值和生物量,而氮磷配施则有利于莎草类植物的生长.施肥对重度退化群落植物的重要值影响较小,主要提高了杂草生物量.说明轻度退化高寒草甸可选择低氮配施磷肥的措施,而对重度退化草地可能需要结合围栏和补播牧草等其他管理措施进行改良.
施肥和围栏封育是改良退化草地常用的有效管理措施.在藏北高寒草甸区测试了氮肥单施(N 50 kg hm-2 a-1,LN;N 100 kg hm-2 a-1,HN)、与磷肥配施[(50 kg N+50 kg P)hm-2 a-1,LN+P;(100 kg N+50 kg P)hm-2 a-1,HN+P]对植物群落特征和生产力的影响,并比较了辅以围栏封育的效果.结果显示,施氮未显著改变群落盖度,而氮磷配施显著提高了群落盖度,在自由放牧样地LN+P、HN+P处理群落盖度的提高比例分别为86%和63%,而在围栏封育样地LN+P、HN+P处理群落盖度的提高比例分别为107%和248%,在相同施肥水平下围栏封育能显著提高群落盖度.施氮处理有利于提高禾草类植物优势度,而氮磷配施有利于莎草科植物和蔷薇科植物的生长,围栏封育后施氮肥更有利于禾草植物的恢复.在自由放牧样地,施氮对群落植物地上生产无显著影响,而氮磷配施显著促进植物生产,其中LN+P处理提高了137%的地上生物量.在围栏封育样地,施氮对莎草植物无显著影响,而HN处理的禾草地上生物量是对照处理的8.4倍;氮磷配施对禾草、莎草及杂类草植物均有促进作用,LN+P和HN+P处理比对照分别提高了杂草植物98%和86%的地上生物量.研究表明,施加氮肥结合围栏封育对退化高寒草甸群落的恢复有促进作用;氮磷配施,不论围栏与否均有利于高寒草甸的恢复,但结合围栏封育恢复效果更显著.
