To clarify the responses of plant functional traits to nitrogen(N) enrichment, we investigated the whole-plant traits(plant height and aboveground biomass), leaf morphological(specific leaf area(SLA) and leaf dry mass...To clarify the responses of plant functional traits to nitrogen(N) enrichment, we investigated the whole-plant traits(plant height and aboveground biomass), leaf morphological(specific leaf area(SLA) and leaf dry mass content(LDMC)) and chemical traits(leaf N concentration(LNC) and leaf phosphorus(P) concentration(LPC)) of Deyeuxia angustifolia and Glyceria spiculosa following seven consecutive years of N addition at four rates(0 g N/(m2·yr), 6 g N/(m2·yr), 12 g N/(m2·yr) and 24 g N/(m2·yr)) in a freshwater marsh in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. The results showed that, for both D. angustifolia and G. spiculosa, N addition generally increased plant height, leaf, stem and total aboveground biomass, but did not cause changes in SLA and LDMC. Moreover, increased N availability caused an increase in LNC, and did not affect LPC. Thus, N addition decreased leaf C∶N ratio, but caused an increase in leaf N∶P ratio, and did not affect leaf C∶P ratio. Our results suggest that, in the mid-term, elevated N loading does not alter leaf morphological traits, but causes substantial changes in whole-plant traits and leaf chemical traits in temperate freshwater wetlands. These may help to better understand the effects of N enrichment on plant functional traits and thus ecosystem structure and functioning in freshwater wetlands.展开更多
Steller chamaejasme L. （S. chamaejasme for short） is one of the most noxious unpalatable weeds in China, which has been frequently reported its negative interaction （i.e. competition and allelopathy） with other he...Steller chamaejasme L. （S. chamaejasme for short） is one of the most noxious unpalatable weeds in China, which has been frequently reported its negative interaction （i.e. competition and allelopathy） with other herbaceous species in grasslands. This study compared species diversity, biomass and sexual reproduction of herbaceous plants in meadows with S. chamaejasme and in open meadows without S. ehamaejasme in overgrazing meadows on the Tibetan Plateau in China to determine whether positive facilitation exist between S. chamaejasme and other herbaceous species under livestock＇s overgrazing. The results showed that there are more herbaceous species in meadows with S. chamaejasme than those in open meadows （35s and30s, respectively）. Diversity index and above-ground biomass were also significantly higher in meadows with S. charnaejasme. There were 39% （11/28） of all species with sexual reproduction found in meadows with S. charnaejasme, which was 7 times more than those in open meadows. Our study showed that S. charnaejasme could provide biotic refuge for neighboring plants and preserve plant diversity from livestock＇s overgrazing in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. It also suggested that inter-specific facilitation between S. charnaejasme and other herbaceous species may play a key role in overgrazing alpine meadows.展开更多
Effects of the extracts of muhly grass （Muhlenbergia capillaries Lam.）, chenopodium （Chenopodium ambrosioides L.） and black walnut （Juglans nigra L.） on the growth of cogongrass （Imperata cylindrica L.） were s...Effects of the extracts of muhly grass （Muhlenbergia capillaries Lam.）, chenopodium （Chenopodium ambrosioides L.） and black walnut （Juglans nigra L.） on the growth of cogongrass （Imperata cylindrica L.） were studied. None purified extracts from these plant species were used to evaluate survival, shoot and root growth of cogongrass. Results of plant species extracts on the production of roots, shoot and rhizomes of cogongrass genets and ramets were determined on a weekly basis. The extracts significantly reduced the growth and survival of cogongrass when compared to the control. Results indicated that for the in vivo studies, chenopodium extracts, black walnut and muhly grass extracts reduced growth, root and shoot biomass of cogongrass by 50 %, 30 % and 41% respectively, compared to control at 8 weeks after planting. These studies indicated plant species with potential for the biological control of cogongrass, an invasive species in the Gulf Coast States.展开更多
Biochar amendments to soils may alter soil function and fertility in various ways, including through induced changes in the microbial community. We assessed microbial activity and community composition of two distinct...Biochar amendments to soils may alter soil function and fertility in various ways, including through induced changes in the microbial community. We assessed microbial activity and community composition of two distinct clayey soil types, an Aridisol from Colorado （CO） in the U.S. Central Great Plains, and an Alfisol from Virginia （VA） in the southeastern USA following the application of switchgrass （Panicum virgatum） biochar. The switchgrass biochar was applied at four levels, 0%,0, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, approximately equivalent to biochar additions of 0, 25, 50, and 100 t ha^-1, respectively, to the soils grown with wheat （Triticum aestivum） in an eight-week growth chamber experiment. We measured wheat shoot biomass and nitrogen （N） content and soil nutrient availability and N mineralization rates, and characterized the microbial fatty acid methyl ester （FAME） profiles of the soils. Net N mineralization rates decreased in both soils in proportion to an increase in biochar levels, but the effect was more marked in the VA soil, where net N mineralization decreased from -2.1 to -38.4 mg kg^-1. The 10% biochar addition increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, Mehlich- and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus （P）, and extractable potassium （K） in both soil types. The wheat shoot biomass decreased from 17.7 to 9.1 g with incremental additions of biochar in the CO soil, but no difference was noted in plants grown in the VA soil. The FAME recovery assay indicated that the switchgrass biochar addition could introduce artifacts in analysis, so the results needed to be interpreted with caution. Non-corrected total FAME concentrations indicated a decline by 457o and 34% with 10% biochar addition in the CO and VA soils, respectively, though these differences became nonsignificant when the extraction efficiency correction factor was applied. A significant decline in the fungi：bacteria ratio was still evident upon correction in the CO soil with biochar. Switchgrass biochar had the potential to cause short-term negative impacts on plant biomass and alter soil microbial community structure unless measures were taken to add supplemental N and labile carbon （C）.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of Strategic Priority Research Program-Climate Change:Carbon Budget and Related Issues of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA05050508)Ministry of Land and Resources Program(No.201111023,GZH201100203)Key Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology,Ministry of Land and Resources(No.MRE201101)
文摘To clarify the responses of plant functional traits to nitrogen(N) enrichment, we investigated the whole-plant traits(plant height and aboveground biomass), leaf morphological(specific leaf area(SLA) and leaf dry mass content(LDMC)) and chemical traits(leaf N concentration(LNC) and leaf phosphorus(P) concentration(LPC)) of Deyeuxia angustifolia and Glyceria spiculosa following seven consecutive years of N addition at four rates(0 g N/(m2·yr), 6 g N/(m2·yr), 12 g N/(m2·yr) and 24 g N/(m2·yr)) in a freshwater marsh in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. The results showed that, for both D. angustifolia and G. spiculosa, N addition generally increased plant height, leaf, stem and total aboveground biomass, but did not cause changes in SLA and LDMC. Moreover, increased N availability caused an increase in LNC, and did not affect LPC. Thus, N addition decreased leaf C∶N ratio, but caused an increase in leaf N∶P ratio, and did not affect leaf C∶P ratio. Our results suggest that, in the mid-term, elevated N loading does not alter leaf morphological traits, but causes substantial changes in whole-plant traits and leaf chemical traits in temperate freshwater wetlands. These may help to better understand the effects of N enrichment on plant functional traits and thus ecosystem structure and functioning in freshwater wetlands.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31100360, 31200378, 31000233)
文摘Steller chamaejasme L. （S. chamaejasme for short） is one of the most noxious unpalatable weeds in China, which has been frequently reported its negative interaction （i.e. competition and allelopathy） with other herbaceous species in grasslands. This study compared species diversity, biomass and sexual reproduction of herbaceous plants in meadows with S. chamaejasme and in open meadows without S. ehamaejasme in overgrazing meadows on the Tibetan Plateau in China to determine whether positive facilitation exist between S. chamaejasme and other herbaceous species under livestock＇s overgrazing. The results showed that there are more herbaceous species in meadows with S. chamaejasme than those in open meadows （35s and30s, respectively）. Diversity index and above-ground biomass were also significantly higher in meadows with S. charnaejasme. There were 39% （11/28） of all species with sexual reproduction found in meadows with S. charnaejasme, which was 7 times more than those in open meadows. Our study showed that S. charnaejasme could provide biotic refuge for neighboring plants and preserve plant diversity from livestock＇s overgrazing in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau. It also suggested that inter-specific facilitation between S. charnaejasme and other herbaceous species may play a key role in overgrazing alpine meadows.
文摘Effects of the extracts of muhly grass （Muhlenbergia capillaries Lam.）, chenopodium （Chenopodium ambrosioides L.） and black walnut （Juglans nigra L.） on the growth of cogongrass （Imperata cylindrica L.） were studied. None purified extracts from these plant species were used to evaluate survival, shoot and root growth of cogongrass. Results of plant species extracts on the production of roots, shoot and rhizomes of cogongrass genets and ramets were determined on a weekly basis. The extracts significantly reduced the growth and survival of cogongrass when compared to the control. Results indicated that for the in vivo studies, chenopodium extracts, black walnut and muhly grass extracts reduced growth, root and shoot biomass of cogongrass by 50 %, 30 % and 41% respectively, compared to control at 8 weeks after planting. These studies indicated plant species with potential for the biological control of cogongrass, an invasive species in the Gulf Coast States.
文摘Biochar amendments to soils may alter soil function and fertility in various ways, including through induced changes in the microbial community. We assessed microbial activity and community composition of two distinct clayey soil types, an Aridisol from Colorado （CO） in the U.S. Central Great Plains, and an Alfisol from Virginia （VA） in the southeastern USA following the application of switchgrass （Panicum virgatum） biochar. The switchgrass biochar was applied at four levels, 0%,0, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, approximately equivalent to biochar additions of 0, 25, 50, and 100 t ha^-1, respectively, to the soils grown with wheat （Triticum aestivum） in an eight-week growth chamber experiment. We measured wheat shoot biomass and nitrogen （N） content and soil nutrient availability and N mineralization rates, and characterized the microbial fatty acid methyl ester （FAME） profiles of the soils. Net N mineralization rates decreased in both soils in proportion to an increase in biochar levels, but the effect was more marked in the VA soil, where net N mineralization decreased from -2.1 to -38.4 mg kg^-1. The 10% biochar addition increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, Mehlich- and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus （P）, and extractable potassium （K） in both soil types. The wheat shoot biomass decreased from 17.7 to 9.1 g with incremental additions of biochar in the CO soil, but no difference was noted in plants grown in the VA soil. The FAME recovery assay indicated that the switchgrass biochar addition could introduce artifacts in analysis, so the results needed to be interpreted with caution. Non-corrected total FAME concentrations indicated a decline by 457o and 34% with 10% biochar addition in the CO and VA soils, respectively, though these differences became nonsignificant when the extraction efficiency correction factor was applied. A significant decline in the fungi：bacteria ratio was still evident upon correction in the CO soil with biochar. Switchgrass biochar had the potential to cause short-term negative impacts on plant biomass and alter soil microbial community structure unless measures were taken to add supplemental N and labile carbon （C）.
