A - Papers appearing in refereed journals
Hao, T., Song, L., Goulding, K. W. T., Zhang, F. and Liu, X. 2018. Cumulative and partially recoverable impacts of nitrogen addition on a temperate steppe. Ecological Applications. 28 (1), pp. 237-248. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1647
Authors | Hao, T., Song, L., Goulding, K. W. T., Zhang, F. and Liu, X. |
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Abstract | Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition has been shown to decrease biodiversity and change nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of ecological responses to chronic N addition and ecological recovery of grassland from N enrichment is limited. Here we present evidence from an 11‐year grassland experiment with a range of N addition rates (0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg N·ha−1·yr−1) in Inner Mongolia, China. Chronic N addition led to a reduction in species richness, Shannon diversity index, and soil pH and an increase in aboveground biomass, foliar N, and soil mineral N. High N addition rates (240 and 480 kg N·ha−1·yr−1) showed significant effects in the first and second years, which stabilized over time. Nitrogen addition at low rates (30 and 60 kg N·ha−1·yr−1) took longer (e.g., three years or more) to achieve significant effects. The negative impacts of high N addition (480 kg N·ha−1·yr−1) were reduced and species richness, Shannon diversity index, and soil pH showed a limited but rapid recovery with the cessation of N addition. Our findings suggest serious and cumulative impacts of N addition on plant and soil communities but the potential for partial system recovery over time if N inputs decline or cease. |
Keywords | aboveground biomass; ecosystem restoration; grassland; nitrogen deposition; species composition; species richness |
Year of Publication | 2018 |
Journal | Ecological Applications |
Journal citation | 28 (1), pp. 237-248 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1647 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Funder | BBSRC Newton funding |
Funder project or code | UK - China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy (CINAG) |
Publisher's version | |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 07 Nov 2017 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 19 Oct 2017 |
Copyright license | CC BY |
Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
Wiley | |
ISSN | 1051-0761 |
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