Soil Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations and Stoichiometries Across a Chronosequence of Restored Inland Soda Saline-Alkali Wetlands, Western Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Soil carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) concentrations and stoichiometries can be used to evaluate the success indicators to the effects of wetland restoration and reflect ecosystem function. Restoration of inland soda saline-alkali wetlands is widespread, however, the soil nutrition changes that follow restoration are unclear. We quantified the recovery trajectories of soil physicochemical properties, including soil organic carbon(SOC), total nitrogen(TN), and total phosphorus(TP) pools, for a chronosequence of three restored wetlands(7 yr, 12 yr and 21 yr) and compared these properties to those of degraded and natural wetlands in the western Songnen Plain, Northeast China. Wetland degradation lead to the loss of soil nutrients. Relative to natural wetlands, the mean reductions of in SOC, TN, and TP concentrations were 89.6%, 65.5% and 52.5%, respectively. Nutrients recovered as years passed after restoration. The SOC, TN, and TP concentrations increased by 2.36 times, 1.15 times, and 0.83 times, respectively in degraded wetlands that had been restored for 21 yr, but remained 29.2%, 17.3%, and 12.8% lower, respectively, than those in natural wetlands. The soil C∶N(RC N), C∶P(R CP), and N∶P(R NP) ratios increased from 5.92 to 8.81, 45.36 to 79.19, and 7.67 to 8.71, respectively in the wetland that had been restored for 12 yr. These results were similar to those from the natural wetland and the wetland that had been restored for 21 yr(P > 0.05). Soil nutrients changes occurred mainly in the upper layers(≤ 30 cm), and no significant differences were found in deeper soils(> 30 cm). Based on this, we inferred that it would take at least 34 yr for SOC, TN, and TP concentrations and 12 yr for RC N, R CP, and RN P in the top soils of degraded wetlands to recover to levels of natural wetlands. Soil salinity negatively influenced SOC(r =-0.704, P < 0.01), TN(r =-0.722, P < 0.01), and TP(r =-0.882, P < 0.01) concentrations during wetland restoration, which indicates that reducing salinity is beneficial to SOC, TN, and TP recovery. Moreover, plants were an important source of soil nutrients and vegetation restoration was conducive to soil nutrient accumulation. In brief, wetland restoration increased the accumulation of soil biogenic elements, which indicated that positive ecosystem functions changes had occurred.

The effect of abiotic stresses on plant C:N:P homeostasis and their mitigation by silicon

In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial element that alleviates plant stress. Most studies involving silicon have focused on physiological responses, such as improvements in photosynthetic processes, water use efficiency, and antioxidant defense systems. But recent research suggests that stressed plants facing either limited or excessive resources(water, light, nutrients, and toxic elements), strategically employ Si to maintain C:N:P homeostasis, thereby minimizing biomass losses. Understanding the role of Si in mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses on plants by regulating C:N:P homeostasis holds great potential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in crop production. This review presents recent advances in characterizing the influence of environmental stresses on C:N:P homeostasis, as well as the role of Si in preserving C:N:P equilibrium and attenuating biological damage associated with abiotic stress. It underscores the beneficial effects of Si in sustaining C:N:P homeostasis and increasing yield via improved nutritional efficiency and stress mitigation.

Responses of soil stoichiometry and soil enzyme activities in the different distance around opencast coal mine of the Hulun Buir Grassland of China

The objectives of this study were to explore the changes in soil stoichiometry and enzyme activities at different distances from an opencast coal mine in the Hulun Buir Grassland of China. Four transects were established on north and east sides of the opencast coal mining area, and samples were collected at 50 m, 550 m, and 1550 m from the pit on each transect. Control samples were collected from a grassland station 8 km from the opencast coal mining area that was not disturbed by mining. Four replicate soil samples were collected at each point on the four transects. Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were determined, and correlations between soil properties and stoichiometric ratios and enzyme activities were explored using redundancy analysis. The increase in distance from mining did not significantly affect soil properties, although soil urease activity was significantly lower than that of the control area. Soil properties 1550 m from the mine pit were similar to those at the grassland control. In addition, soil total nitrogen had the greatest effect on soil stoichiometry, and soil total potassium had the greatest effect on soil enzyme activities. Coal dust from opencast mining might be the main factor affecting soil stoichiometry and enzyme activities. The results of this study provide direction for the next step in studying the influence of mining areas on soil properties and processes.

Application of organic manure as a potential strategy to alleviate the limitation of microbial resources in soybean rhizospheric and bulk soils

The development and vigor of soil microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems are frequently constrained by the limited availability of essential elements such as carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P).In this study,we investigated the impact of long-term application of varying levels of organic manure,low(7.5 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1)),moderate(15.0 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1)),and high(22.5 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1)),on the stoichiometry of enzymes and the structures of the microbial communities in soybean rhizospheric and bulk soils.The main goal of this research was to examine how soil microbial resource limitations in the rhizosphere respond to different long-term fertilization strategies.The soil enzymatic activities were quantified,and the structure of the microbial community was assessed by analyzing phospholipid fatty acid profiles.When compared to the bulk soil,the rhizospheric soil had significant increases in microbial biomass carbon(MBC),nitrogen(MBN),and phosphorus(MBP),with MBC increasing by 54.19 to 72.86%,MBN by 47.30 to 48.17%,and MBP by 17.37 to 208.47%.Compared with the unfertilized control(CK),the total microbial biomasses of the rhizospheric(increased by 22.80 to 90.82%)and bulk soils(increased by 10.57 to 60.54%)both exhibited increases with the application of organic manure,and the rhizospheric biomass was higher than that of bulk soil.Compared with bulk soil,the activities of C-,N-and P-acquiring enzymes of rhizospheric soil increased by 22.49,14.88,and 29.45%under high levels of organic manure,respectively.Analyses of vector length,vector angle,and scatter plots revealed that both rhizospheric and bulk soils exhibited limitations in terms of both carbon(C)and phosphorus(P)availability.The results of partial least-squares path modelling indicated that the rhizospheric soil exhibited a more pronounced response to the rate of manure application than the bulk soil.The varying reactions of rhizospheric and bulk soils to the extended application of organic manure underscore the crucial function of the rhizosphere in mitigating limitations related to microbial resources,particularly in the context of different organic manure application rates.

Effects of long-term partial substitution of inorganic fertilizer with pig manure and/or straw on nitrogen fractions and microbiological properties in greenhouse vegetable soils

Partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments is an important agricultural management practice.An 11-year field experiment(22 cropping periods)was carried out to analyze the impacts of different partial substitution treatments on crop yields and the transformation of nitrogen fractions in greenhouse vegetable soil.Four treatments with equal N,P_(2)O_(5),and K_(2)O inputs were selected,including complete inorganic fertilizer N(CN),50%inorganic fertilizer N plus 50%pig manure N(CPN),50%inorganic fertilizer N plus 25%pig manure N and 25%corn straw N(CPSN),and 50%inorganic fertilizer N plus 50%corn straw N(CSN).Organic substitution treatments tended to increase crop yields since the 6th cropping period compared to the CN treatment.From the 8th to the 22nd cropping periods,the highest yields were observed in the CPSN treatment where yields were 7.5-11.1%greater than in CN treatment.After 11-year fertilization,compared to CN,organic substitution treatments significantly increased the concentrations of NO_(3)^(-)-N,NH_(4)^(+)-N,acid hydrolysis ammonium-N(AHAN),amino acid-N(AAN),amino sugar-N(ASN),and acid hydrolysis unknown-N(AHUN)in soil by 45.0-69.4,32.8-58.1,49.3-66.6,62.0-69.5,34.5-100.3,and 109.2-172.9%,respectively.Redundancy analysis indicated that soil C/N and OC concentration significantly affected the distribution of N fractions.The highest concentrations of NO_(3)^(-)-N,AHAN,AAN,AHUN were found in the CPSN treatment.Organic substitution treatments increased the activities ofβ-glucosidase,β-cellobiosidase,N-acetyl-glucosamidase,L-aminopeptidase,and phosphatase in the soil.Organic substitution treatments reduced vector length and increased vector angle,indicating alleviation of constraints of C and N on soil microorganisms.Organic substitution treatments increased the total concentrations of phospholipid fatty acids(PLFAs)in the soil by 109.9-205.3%,and increased the relative abundance of G^(+)bacteria and fungi taxa,but decreased the relative abundance of G-bacteria,total bacteria,and actinomycetes.Overall,long-term organic substitution management increased soil OC concentration,C/N,and the microbial population,the latter in turn positively influenced soil enzyme activity.Enhanced microorganism numbers and enzyme activity enhanced soil N sequestration by transforming inorganic N to acid hydrolysis-N(AHN),and enhanced soil N supply capacity by activating non-acid hydrolysis-N(NAHN)to AHN,thus improving vegetable yield.Application of inorganic fertilizer,manure,and straw was a more effective fertilization model for achieving sustainable greenhouse vegetable production than application of inorganic fertilizer alone.

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition affects forest plant and soil system carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometric flexibility:A meta-analysis

Background:Nitrogen(N)deposition affects forest stoichiometric flexibility through changing soil nutrient availability to influence plant uptake.However,the effect of N deposition on the flexibility of carbon(C),N,and phosphorus(P)in forest plant-soil-microbe systems remains unclear.Methods:We conducted a meta-analysis based on 751 pairs of observations to evaluate the responses of plant,soil and microbial biomass C,N and P nutrients and stoichiometry to N addition in different N intensity(050,50–100,>100 kg·ha^(-1)·year^(-1)of N),duration(0–5,>5 year),method(understory,canopy),and matter(ammonium N,nitrate N,organic N,mixed N).Results:N addition significantly increased plant N:P(leaf:14.98%,root:13.29%),plant C:P(leaf:6.8%,root:25.44%),soil N:P(13.94%),soil C:P(10.86%),microbial biomass N:P(23.58%),microbial biomass C:P(12.62%),but reduced plant C:N(leaf:6.49%,root:9.02%).Furthermore,plant C:N:P stoichiometry changed significantly under short-term N inputs,while soil and microorganisms changed drastically under high N addition.Canopy N addition primarily affected plant C:N:P stoichiometry through altering plant N content,while understory N inputs altered more by influencing soil C and P content.Organic N significantly influenced plant and soil C:N and C:P,while ammonia N changed plant N:P.Plant C:P and soil C:N were strongly correlated with mean annual precipitation(MAT),and the C:N:P stoichiometric flexibility in soil and plant under N addition connected with soil depth.Besides,N addition decoupled the correlations between soil microorganisms and the plant.Conclusions:N addition significantly increased the C:P and N:P in soil,plant,and microbial biomass,reducing plant C:N,and aggravated forest P limitations.Significantly,these impacts were contingent on climate types,soil layers,and N input forms.The findings enhance our comprehension of the plant-soil system nutrient cycling mechanisms in forest ecosystems and plant strategy responses to N deposition.

Ecological stoichiometric comparison of plant-litter-soil system in mixed-species and monoculture plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia,Amygdalus davidiana,and Armeniaca sibirica in the Loess Hilly Region of China

We examined how afforestation patterns impact carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system.Plant leaf,branch,stem,and root,litter,and soil samples were collected from mixedspecies plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia with Amygdalus davidiana(RPAD),R.pseudoacacia with Armeniaca sibirica(RPAS),and monocultures of R.pseudoacacia(RP),A.davidiana(AD),and A.sibirica(AS)in the Loess Hilly Region.The results showed that in mixed-species plantations,R.pseudoacacia had lower leaf N and P concentrations than in monocultures,while both A.davidiana and A.sibirica had higher leaf N and P concentrations.Soil P limited tree growth in both afforestation models.Mixing R.pseudoacacia with A.davidiana or A.sibirica reduced N-limitation during litter decomposition.Average soil total N and P concentrations were higher in RPAS than in RPAD,and both were higher than the corresponding monocultures.The average soil C:N ratio was the smallest in RPAS,while the average soil C:P ratio was larger in RPAS than in RP.A positive correlation between N and P concentrations,and between C:N and C:P ratios,was found in litter and all plant organs of mono-and mixedstands.Alternatively,for N concentration and C:N ratio,the correlations between plant(i.e.,leaf,branch,root)and litter and between plant and soil were inverse between plantation types.RPAD has an increased litter decomposition rate to release N and P,while RPAS has a faster rate of soil N mineralization.RPAD was the best plantation(mixed)to improve biogeochemical cycling,as soil nutrient restrictions,particularly for P-limitation,on trees growth were alleviated.This study thus provides insights into suitable tree selection and management by revealing C:N:P stoichiometry in the plant-litter-soil system under different afforestation patterns.

Nutrient coordination mechanism of tiger nut induced by rhizosphere soil nutrient variation in an arid area, China

Tiger nut is a bioenergy crop planted in arid areas of northern China to supply oil and adjust the planting structure.However,in the western region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China,less water resources have resulted in a scarcity of available farmland,which has posed a huge obstacle to planting tiger nut.Cultivation of tiger nut on marginal land can effectively solve this problem.To fully unlock the production potential of tiger nut on marginal land,it is crucial for managers to have comprehensive information on the adaptive mechanism and nutrient requirement of tiger nut in different growth periods.This study aims to explore these key information from the perspective of nutrient coordination strategy of tiger nut in different growth periods and their relationship with rhizosphere soil nutrients.Three fertilization treatments including no fertilization(N:P(nitrogen:phosphorous)=0:0),traditional fertilization(N:P=15:15),and additional N fertilizer(N:P=60:15)were implemented on marginal land in the Dengkou County.Plant and soil samples were collected in three growth periods,including stolon tillering period,tuber expanding period,and tuber mature period.Under no fertilization,there was a significant correlation between N and P contents of tiger nut roots and tubers and the same nutrients in the rhizosphere soil(P<0.05).Carbon(C),N,and P contents of roots were significantly higher than those of leaves(P<0.05),and the C:N ratio of all organs was higher than those under other treatments before tuber maturity(P<0.05).Under traditional fertilization,there was a significant impact on the P content of tiger nut tubers(P<0.05).Under additional N fertilizer,the accumulation rate of N and P was faster in stolons than in tubers(P<0.05)with lower N:P ratio in stolons during the tuber expansion period(P<0.05),but higher N:P ratio in tubers(P<0.05).The limited availability of nutrients in the rhizosphere soil prompts tiger nut to increase the C:N ratio,improving N utilization efficiency,and maintaining N:P ratio in tubers.Elevated N levels in the rhizosphere soil decrease the C:N ratio of tiger nut organs and N:P ratio in stolons,promoting rapid stolon growth and shoot production.Supplementary P is necessary during tuber expansion,while a higher proportion of N in fertilizers is crucial for the aboveground biomass production of tiger nut.

Leaf C:N:P stoichiometric homeostasis of a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation on the Loess Plateau

Homeostasis is the adaptability of a species to a changing environment.However,the ecological stoichiometric homeostasis of Robinia pseudoacacia L.in diff erent climatic regions is poorly understood but could provide insights into its adaptability in the loess hilly region.This study sampled 20 year-old R.pseudoacacia plantations at 10 sites along a north–south transect on the Loess Plateau.Variations in the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of leaf and soil carbon,nitrogen,and phosphorus were analysed and homeostatic characteristics of leaf ecological stoichiometric parameters in diff erent climates were identifi ed.Factors aff ecting leaf stoichiometry were assessed.The results show that R.pseudoacacia leaves were rich in nitrogen and defi cient in phosphorous during tree growth and development.Nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the soils of the loess region were lower than the average in soils in the rest of China.All ecological stoichiometric parameters of R.pseudoacacia leaves in two diff erent climates were considered“strictly homeostasis”.Precipitation,available phosphorus,and soil C:P were the main factors aff ecting the variation of C:N:P stoichiometry of R.pseudoacacia leaves.R.pseudoacacia in the loess hilly region has strong ecologically homeostatic characteristics and suggests that it is well-adapted to the area.

Response of plant,litter,and soil C:N:P stoichiometry to growth stages in Quercus secondary forests on the Loess Plateau,China

Ecological stoichiometry is an important indicator of biogeochemical cycles and nutrient limitations in terrestrial ecosystems.However,little is known about the response of ecological stoichiometry to plant growth.In this study,carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)concentrations were evaluated in plant tissues(trees,shrubs,and herbs),litter,and soil of young(≤40-year-old),middle-aged(41–60-year-old),near-mature(61–80-year-old),and mature(81–120-year-old)Quercus secondary forests on the Loess Plateau,China.Vegetation composition,plant biomass,and C stock were determined to illustrate their interaction with stoichiometry.Only tree biomass C signifi cantly increased with stand development.Leaf N and trunk P concentrationsgenerally increased,but branch P decreased with growth stage.Fine roots had the highest C and P concentrations at the middle-aged stage.In contrast,shrubs,herbs,litter,and soil C:N:P stoichiometry did not change signifi cantly during stand development.Leaf N and P were positively correlated with soil C,N,P,and their ratios.However,there was no signifi cant correlation between litter and leaves in terms of C:N:P stoichiometry.A redundancy analysis showed that soil N best explained leaf N and P variance,and tree biomass and C stock were related to biotic factors such as tree age and shrub biomass.Hierarchical partitioning analysis indicated that,compared with soil or litter variables,stand age only accounted for a relatively small proportion of leaf C,N,and P variation.Thus,secondary Quercus ecosystems might have inherent ability to maintain sensitive responses of metabolically active organs to environmental factors during stand aging.The results of this work help to elucidate the biogeochemical cycling of secondary forest ecosystems in tree development,provide novel insights into the adaptation strategies of plants in diff erent organs and growth stages,and could be used to guide fertilization programs and optimize forest structure.

New Superionic Memory Devices Can Provide Clues to the Human Memory Structure and to Consciousness

Since the work of Penrose and Hameroff the possibility is discussed that the location of human memory and consciousness could be connected with tubulin microtubules. If one would use superionic nano-materials rolled up to microtubules with an electrolyte inside the formed channels mediating fast ionic exchange of protons respectively lithium ions, it seems to be possible to write into such materials whole image arrays (pictures) under the action of the complex electromagnetic spectrum that composes these images. The same material and architecture may be recommended for super-computers. Especially microtubules with a protofilament number of 13 are the most important to note. We connected such microtubules before with Fibonacci nets composed of 13 sub-cells that were helically rolled up to deliver suitable channels. Our recent Fibonacci analysis of Wadsley-Roth shear phases such as niobium tungsten oxide , exhibiting channels for ultra-fast lithium-ion diffusion, suggests to use these materials, besides super-battery main application, in form of nanorods or microtubules as effectively working superionic memory devices for computers that work ultra-fast with the complex effectiveness of human brains. Finally, we pose the question, whether dark matter, ever connected with ultrafast movement of ordinary matter, may be responsible for synchronization between interactions of human brains and consciousness.

Research on Stoichiometry of Early-spring Herbs Functional Group in the Subtropical Artificial Wetland

[Objective]The aim was to carry out stoichiometry on the early-spring herbs functional group in subtropical artificial wetland.[Method]UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used for the determination of nitrate-nitrogen,ammonium nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations.Potassium persulfate absorptiometry was used for the measurement of total N content,while the flame photometer was used to detect the potassium and sodium concentration in plants.All the nutrient determination of plant samples were repeated for four times.[Result]The four nutrient concentrations in almost all samples were in the normal range of natural plant nutrition concentrations;in early-spring herbs functional groups,different species showed diversity on the nutrient concentrations;plant height had no significant effect on the nutrient concentrations in plants;the nutrient concentrations of non-grass group plants were higher than that of grass group plants;the nutrient concentrations of the annual herb were higher than that of perennial herbs.[Conclusion]The study had provided basis for the understanding of the effects of changes in nutritional conditions on species diversity,community structure and succession of the system.

Harmful algal blooms and eutrophication: "strategies" for nutrient uptake and growth outside the Redfield comfort zone

While many harmful algal blooms have been associated with increasing eutrophication, not all species respond similarly and the increasing challenge, especially for resource managers, is to determine which blooms are related to eutrophication and to understand why particular species proliferate under specific nutrient conditions. The overall goal of this brief review is to describe why nutrient loads are not changing in stoichiometric proportion to the "Redfield ratio", and why this has important consequences for algal growth. Many types of harmful algae appear to be able to thrive, and/or increase their production of toxins, when nutrient loads are not in proportion classically identified as Redfield ratios. Here we also describe some of the physiological mechanisms of different species to take up nutrients and to thrive under conditions of nutrient imbalance.

Leaf N and P stoichiometry of 57 plant species in the Karamori Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve,Xinjiang,China

Nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） are the major nutrients that constrain plant growth and development, as well as the structure and function of ecosystems. Hence, leaf N and P patterns can contribute to a deep understanding of plant nutrient status, nutrient limitation type of ecosystems, plant life-history strategy and differentiation of functional groups. However, the status and pattern of leaf N and P stoichiometry in N-deficiency desert ecosystems remain unclear. Under this context, the leaf samples from 57 plant species in the Karamori Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve, eastern Junggar Desert, China were investigated and the patterns and interrelations of leaf N and P were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the average leaf N concentration, P concentration, and N：P ratio were 30.81 mg/g, 1.77 mg/g and 17.72, respectively. This study found that the leaf N concentration and N：P ratio were significantly higher than those of studies conducted at global, national and regional scales; however, the leaf P concentration was at moderate level. Leaf N concentration was allometrically correlated with leaf P and N：P ratio across all species. Leaf N, P concentrations and N：P ratio differed to a certain extent among plant functional groups. C4 plants and shrubs, particularly shrubs with assimilative branches, showed an obviously lower P concentration than those of C3 plants, herbs and shrubs without assimilative branches. Shrubs with assimilative branches also had lower N concentration. Fabaceae plants had the highest leaf N, P concentrations （as well as Asteraceae） and N：P ratio; other families had a similar N, P-stoichiometry. The soil in this study was characterized by a lack of N （total N：P ratio was 0.605）, but had high N availability compared with P （i.e. the available N：P ratio was 1.86）. This might explain why plant leaves had high N concentration （leaf N：P ratio〉16）. In conclusion, the desert plants in the extreme environment in this study have formed their intrinsic and special stoichiometric characteristics in relation to their life-history strategy.

Vertical Distribution of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in Typical Chinese Terrestrial Ecosystems

Characterization of the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon(C), nitrogen(N), and phosphorus(P) may improve our ability to accurately estimate soil C, N, and P storage. Based on a database of 21 354 records in 74 long-term monitoring plots from 2004 to 2013 in the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network(CERN), we built fitting functions to quantify the vertical distribution of soil C, N, and P(up to 100 cm depth) in the typical Chinese terrestrial ecosystems. The decrease of soil C, N, and P content with depth can be well fitted with various mathematical functions. The fitting functions differed greatly between artificial(agriculture) and natural(desert, forest, and grassland) ecosystems, and also differed with respect to soil C, N, and P content. In both the artificial and natural ecosystems, the best fitting functions were exponential functions for C, quadratic functions for N, and quadratic functions for P. Furthermore, the stoichiometric ratios of soil C, N, and P were ranked in descending order: grassland > forest > agriculture > desert, and were also associated with climate. This study is the first to build the fitting functions for the profile distribution of soil C, N, and P in China at a national scale. Our findings provide a scientific basis to accurately assess the storage of C, N, and P in soils at a large scale, especially for the integrative analysis of historical data.

Degradation induces changes in the soil C:N:P stoichiometry of alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau

Due to the Tibetan Plateau’s unique high altitude and low temperature climate conditions,the region’s alpine steppe ecosystem is highly fragile and is suffering from severe degradation under the stress of increasing population,overgrazing,and climate change.The soil stoichiometry,a crucial part of ecological stoichiometry,provides a fundamental approach for understanding ecosystem processes by examining the relative proportions and balance of the three elements.Understanding the impact of degradation on the soil stoichiometry is vital for conservation and management in the alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau.This study aims to examine the response of soil stoichiometry to degradation and explore the underlying biotic and abiotic mechanisms in the alpine steppe.We conducted a field survey in a sequent degraded alpine steppe with seven levels inNorthern Tibet.The plant species,aboveground biomass,and physical and chemical soil properties such as the moisture content,temperature,pH,compactness,total carbon(C),total nitrogen(N),and total phosphorus(P)were measured and recorded.The results showed that the contents of soil C/N,C/P,and N/P consistently decreased along intensifying degradation gradients.Using regression analysis and a structural equation model(SEM),we found that the C/N,C/P,and N/P ratios were positively affected by the soil compactness,soil moisture content and species richness of graminoids but negatively affected by soil pH and the proportion of aboveground biomass of forbs.The soil temperature had a negative effect on the C/N ratio but showed positive effect on the C/P and N/P ratios.The current study shows that degradation-induced changes in abiotic and biotic conditions such as soil warming and drying,which accelerated the soil organic carbon mineralization,as well as the increase in the proportion of forbs,whichwere difficult to decompose and input less organic carbon into soil,resulted in the decreases in soil C/N,C/P,and N/P contents to a great extent.Our results provide a sound basis for sustainable conservation and management of the alpine steppe.

Linking nutrient strategies with plant size along a grazing gradient： Evidence from Leymus chinensis in a natural pasture

St udying the changes in nutrient use strategies induced by grazing can provide insight into the process of grassland degradation and is important for improving grassland quality and enhancing ecosystem function. Dominant species in meadow steppe can optimize their use of limiting resources; however, the regulation of nutrient use strategies across grazing gradients is not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we report an in situ study in which the impact of grazing rates on nutrient use strategies of Leymus chinensis, the dominant plant species in eastern Eurasian temperate steppes, was investigated. We conducted a large randomized controlled experiment（conducted continuously for five years in grassland plots in a natural pasture in Ha ilar, eastern Mongolia Plateau, China） to assess the effects of grazing rate treatments（0.00, 0.23, 0.34, 0.46, 0.69, and 0.92 adult cattle unit（AU） ha-1） on L. chinensis along a grazing gradient and employed a random sampling approach to compare the accumulation, allocation, and stoichiometry of C, N, and P in leaves and stems. Ou r findings demonstrated the follows：（i） The height of L. chinensis decreased with an increase in the grazing gradient, and the concentrations of C, N, and P significantly increased;（ii） the accumulation of C, N, and P per individual was negatively correlated with the concentration of aboveground tissues, suggesting that there was a tradeoff in L. chinensis between nutrient accumulation and concentration at the individual scale;（iii） the leaf-to-stem ratio of C, N, and P accumulation increased with grazing intensity, indicating a tradeoff in nutrient allocation and plant size at the individual plant level; and（iv） grazing rates were negatively correlated with the ratios of C：N and C：P in the stem; however, these ratios in leaves significantly increased with grazing intensity. Our findings suggest that L. chinensis in meadow steppe adapts to grazing disturbance through tradeoffs between plant size and nutrient use strategies. Moreover, our results imply that grazing produces a compensatory effect on nutrient use efficiency between the stems and leaves of L. chinensis.

Effect of stoichiometry and Cu-substitution on the phase structure and hydrogen storage properties of Ml-Mg-Ni-based alloys

To improve the electrochemical properties of rare-earth-Mg-Ni-based hydrogen storage alloys, the effects of stoichiometry and Cu-substitution on the phase structure and thermodynamic properties of the alloys were studied. Nonsubstituted Ml0.80Mg0.20（Ni2.90Co0.50-Mn0.30Al0.30）x （x=0.68, 0.70, 0.72, 0.74, 0.76） alloys and Cu-substituted Ml0.80Mg0.20（Ni2.90Co0.50-yCuyMn0.30Al0.30）0.70 （y=0, 0.10, 0.30, 0.50） alloys were prepared by induction melting. Phase structure analysis shows that the nonsubstituted alloys consist of a LaNi5 phase, a LaNi3 phase, and a minor La2Ni7 phase;in addition, in the case of Cu-substitution, the Nd2Ni7 phase appears and the LaNi3 phase vanishes. Ther-modynamic tests show that the enthalpy change in the dehydriding process decreases, indicating that hydride stability decreases with in-creasing stoichiometry and increasing Cu content. The maximum discharge capacity, kinetic properties, and cycling stability of the alloy electrodes all increase and then decrease with increasing stoichiometry or increasing Cu content. Furthermore, Cu substitution for Co ame-liorates the discharge capacity, kinetics, and cycling stability of the alloy electrodes.

Impact of vegetation succession on leaf-litter-soil C:N:P stoichiometry and their intrinsic relationship in the Ziwuling Area of China’s Loess Plateau

Long-term natural vegetation succession plays a substantial role in the accumulation and distribution of plant and soil C:N:P stoichiometry.However,how plant and soil C:N:P relationships or ratios change along with successional stages over a century in the severely eroded areas remain unclear.These were measured over a 100-year natural succession in five successional stages from annual grasses to climax forests.The results show that natural succession had significant effects on carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorous(P)concentrations in leaf-litter-soil and their ratios in severely eroded areas.Nitrogen concentrations and N:P ratios in leaf and litter increased from annual grasses to the shrub stage and then decreased in the late successional forest stages.Leaf P levels decreased from annual grasses to shrub stages and did not significantly change during late successional stages.Litter P concentration decreased in the early successional stages and increased during late successional stages,with no overall significant change.Soil C and N concentrations and C:N,C:P and N:P ratios increased with successional stages.Soil C and N concentrations decreased with the increasing soil depth.Both were significantly different between any successional stages and controls(cropland)in the upper 10 cm and 10–20 cm soil layers.Leaf N:P ratios may be used to indicate nutrient limitations and this study suggests that plant growth during the grass stages was limited by N,during the shrub stage,by P,and during the forest stages,by both of N and P.In addition,there were close correlations between litter and leaf C:N:P ratios,soil and litter C and N levels,and C:P and N:P ratios.These results show that long-term natural vegetation succession is effective in restoring degraded soil properties and improving soil fertility,and provide insights into C:N:P relationships of leaf,litter and soil influenced by vegetation succession stage.

Carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in Pinus tabulaeformis forest ecosystems in warm temperate Shanxi Province,north China

Although carbon(C), nitrogen(N), and phosphorous(P) stoichiometric ratios are considered good indicators of nutrient excess/limitation and thus of ecosystem health, few reports have discussed the trends and the reciprocal effects of C:N:P stoichiometry in plant–litter–soil systems. The present study analyzed C:N:P ratios in four age groups of Chinese pine, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., forests in Shanxi Province, China: plantation young forests(AY,<20 year-old); plantation middle-aged forests(AM, 21–30 year-old); natural young forests(NY,<30 year-old); and natural middle-aged forests(NM,31–50 year-old). The average C:N:P ratios calculated for tree, shrub, and herbaceous leaves, litter, and soil(0–100 cm) were generally higher in NY followed by NM,AM, and AY. C:N and C:P ratios were higher in litter than in leaves and soils, and reached higher values in the litter and leaves of young forests than in middle-aged forests;however, C:N and C:P ratios were higher in soils of middle-aged forests than in young forests. N:P ratios were higher in leaves than in litter and soils regardless of stand age; the consistent N:P<14 values found in all forests indicated N limitations. With plant leaves, C:P ratios were highest in trees, followed by herbs and shrubs, indicating a higher efficiency in tree leaf formation. C:N ratios decreased with increasing soil depth, whereas there was no trend for C:P and N:P ratios. C:N:P stoichiometry of forest foliage did not exhibit a consistent variation according to stand age. Research on the relationships between N:P, and P, N nutrient limits and the characteristics of vegetation nutrient adaptation need to be continued.