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Storage of C, N, and P affected by afforestation with Salix cupularis in an alpine semiarid desert ecosystem
Author(s) -
Hu YuFu,
Shu XiangYang,
He Jia,
Zhang YuLin,
Xiao HaiHua,
Tang XiaoYan,
Gu YunFu,
Lan Ting,
Xia JianGuo,
Ling Jing,
Chen GuangDeng,
Wang ChangQuan,
Deng LiangJi,
Yuan Shu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.2862
Subject(s) - subsoil , afforestation , topsoil , ecosystem , environmental science , agronomy , phosphorus , soil carbon , understory , chronosequence , agroforestry , soil water , ecology , biology , soil science , chemistry , canopy , organic chemistry
Abstract Few systemic assessments have evaluated the success of these afforestation programs in alpine semiarid desert ecosystems in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. In this study, we investigated the influences of three Salix cupularis plantation age classes (6, 18, and 34 years) on the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) storages and stoichiometry of the soil–plant ecosystem. The consequences of S . cupularis plantation induced soil spatial heterogeneity. The soil–plant ecosystem C storage increased after the plantation. The N storage showed an increasing trend from 6 to 18 years and then slightly decreased. The P storage presented a continuously declining trend. The result indicated that the imbalance in soil N, P, C occurred with plantation age because of the imbalance of their inputs. The N and P uptakes from subsoil and redistribution to topsoil by S . cupularis may contribute to meet N and P demands for the understory plants. Leaf N:P ratios varied from 8.3 to 17.5. These results imply that N and P status are the main factors limiting plant growth in the alpine‐cold desert ecosystem. Thus, we recommend adding N and P fertilizers during plant growth.