Phosphorus limitation on photosynthesis of two dominant understory species in a lowland tropical forest

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 enhance photosynthetic performances of some under-story species in N-rich tropical forests.

Wide-pH-range adaptable ammonia electrosynthesis from nitrate on Cu-Pd interfaces

Ammonia production via electrochemical nitrate reduction is essential for environmental protection and the emerging hydrogen economy. Complex nitrate wastewater with a wide pH range calls for flexible catalysts with high selectivity. A high Faradaic efficiency(FE) of NH3 cannot be obtained under strong acid or alkaline conditions due to the uncontrollable adsorption energy and coverage of hydrogen species(H*) on active sites. This article describes the design and fabrication of a copper-palladium(Cu-Pd) alloy nanocrystal catalyst that inhibits H2 and nitrite generation in electrolytes with different nitrate concentrations and varied pH. The interfacial sites of Cu-Pd alloys could enhance the adsorption energy and coverage of H* while increasing the reaction rate constant of NO_(2)*-to-NO*, which achieves a rapid conversion of NO_(2)* along with a decreased FE of NO_(2)-. Under ambient conditions, optimal FE(NH3) is close to 100% at a wide pH range, with the solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency approaching 4.29%. The combination of thermodynamics and kinetics investigations would offer new insights into the reduction mechanism of NO_(2)* for further development of nitrate reduction.