PJB-2019-1012
Leaf carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in a Pinus yunnanensis forest in southwest China
Xiaobo Huang
Abstract
Pinus yunnanensis is used as a fast-growing afforestation tree species in southwest China, which also has great ecological, economic and social significance. Understanding the changes in the stoichiometric characteristics is a key to study nutrient cycling, limiting factors and stability mechanisms of the forest ecosystem. We analyzed leaf stoichiometric characteristics of P. yunnanensis from 122 plots. The mean values of leaf C, N and P plus C:N, C:P and N:P for the 48 plant species were 451.12, 11.05, 1.11 mg/g and 45.03, 496.98, 11.27, respectively. The Coefficient of Variation of leaf C, N and P plus C:N, C:P and N:P were 5.29%, 36.75%, 51.53%, 29.63%, 43.46% and 41.68%, respectively. The geometric mean values of leaf N, P and N:P were 10.49 and 1.00 mg/g and 10.51, respectively. Leaf C and N, P relationships showed a significant negative correlation, but significant positive correlation between leaf N and P. There were significant differences in leaf N and C:N across functional groups. There were significant differences in leaf C and P between evergreen and deciduous, conifer and broadleaf trees. Significant differences in leaf C:P were only observed between evergreen and deciduous trees and leaf N:P between conifer and broadleaf trees. The relative low N: P in all trees sampled indicate that N is a limiting factor in the distribution of natural P. yunnanensis forests.
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