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Shrub Encroachment Shapes Soil Nutrient Concentration, Stoichiometry and Carbon Storage in an Abandoned Subalpine Grassland

Author

Listed:
  • Leilei Ding

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Puchang Wang

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550006, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Wen Zhang

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Yu Zhang

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Shige Li

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Xin Wei

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Xi Chen

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Yujun Zhang

    (Guizhou Institution of Prataculture, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Fuli Yang

    (College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550006, China)

Abstract

Soil nutrient stoichiometry plays a substantial role in terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycling. However, the changes in soil nutrient stoichiometry with shrub encroachment (SE) remain poorly understood, especially in subalpine areas. We examined the changes in soil nutrient concentration, nutrient stoichiometry, and organic carbon (OC) storage (at a depth of 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm) in three successional shrub encroachment stages (early, mid and late) in an abandoned subalpine Eulalia pallens (Hackel) Kuntze grassland. An ANOVA showed that SE did not produce serious soil acidification, but significantly increased the soil OC and total phosphorous (TP) concentration, and improved the stoichiometry ratio of soil OC to total nitrogen (OC:TN) in all layers. OC storage tended to increase with SE. SE thus did not indicate degradation of the grassland. A redundancy analysis (RDA) and partial RDA revealed that the shrub relative cover and soil water content were the most important factors affecting the soil nutrient concentration, that the soil available phosphorous (AP), nitrogen, potassium, calcium (ACa), and magnesium concentration and shrub relative cover were the most important factors influencing soil nutrient stoichiometry ratios, and that soil OC:TN, TN:TP, OC:TN:TP, and AP:ACa ratios, bulk density, and pH were the most important factors influencing soil OC storage over SE. Our study provides insights into SE in grassland areas, and potentially provides a useful reference for ongoing grassland conservation and restoration in subalpine regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Leilei Ding & Puchang Wang & Wen Zhang & Yu Zhang & Shige Li & Xin Wei & Xi Chen & Yujun Zhang & Fuli Yang, 2019. "Shrub Encroachment Shapes Soil Nutrient Concentration, Stoichiometry and Carbon Storage in an Abandoned Subalpine Grassland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:6:p:1732-:d:216224
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ping Pan & Fang Zhao & Jinkui Ning & Ling Zhang & Xunzhi Ouyang & Hao Zang, 2018. "Impact of understory vegetation on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamic in aerially seeded Pinus massoniana plantations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Andrew Kulmatiski & Karen H. Beard, 2013. "Woody plant encroachment facilitated by increased precipitation intensity," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 833-837, September.
    3. Ram Oren & David S. Ellsworth & Kurt H. Johnsen & Nathan Phillips & Brent E. Ewers & Chris Maier & Karina V.R. Schäfer & Heather McCarthy & George Hendrey & Steven G. McNulty & Gabriel G. Katul, 2001. "Soil fertility limits carbon sequestration by forest ecosystems in a CO2-enriched atmosphere," Nature, Nature, vol. 411(6836), pages 469-472, May.
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