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Legacy effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on vegetation and carbon stocks of upland heaths
Author(s) -
Paassen José G.,
Britton Andrea J.,
Mitchell Ruth J.,
Street Lorna E.,
Johnson David,
Coupar Andrew,
Woodin Sarah J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.16671
Subject(s) - vegetation (pathology) , calluna , agronomy , environmental science , phosphorus , nutrient , carbon sequestration , ecosystem , soil carbon , nitrogen , plant community , ericaceae , chemistry , soil water , ecology , soil science , biology , medicine , organic chemistry , pathology , ecological succession
Summary Soil carbon (C) pools and plant community composition are regulated by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. Atmospheric N deposition impacts ecosystem C storage, but the direction of response varies between systems. Phosphorus limitation may constrain C storage response to N, hence P application to increase plant productivity and thus C sequestration has been suggested. We revisited a 23‐yr‐old field experiment where N and P had been applied to upland heath, a widespread habitat supporting large soil C stocks. At 10 yr after the last nutrient application we quantified long‐term changes in vegetation composition and in soil and vegetation C and P stocks. Nitrogen addition, particularly when combined with P, strongly influenced vegetation composition, favouring grasses over Calluna vulgaris , and led to a reduction in vegetation C stocks. However, soil C stocks did not respond to nutrient treatments. We found 40% of the added P had accumulated in the soil. This study showed persistent effects of N and N + P on vegetation composition, whereas effects of P alone were small and showed recovery. We found no indication that P application could mitigate the effects of N on vegetation or increase C sequestration in this system.