Integrating Ecological Stoichiometry to Understand Nutrient Limitation and Potential for Competition in Mixed Pasture Assemblages
Name:
Soil Plant Nutrition_Ball_1606 ...
Size:
2.226Mb
Format:
PDF
Description:
Final Accepted Manuscript
Affiliation
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of ArizonaIssue Date
2021-06-29
Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLCCitation
Ball, K. R., Woodin, S. J., Power, S. A., Brien, C., Berger, B., Smith, P., & Pendall, E. (2021). Integrating Ecological Stoichiometry to Understand Nutrient Limitation and Potential for Competition in Mixed Pasture Assemblages. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.Rights
© Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo 2021.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Purpose: Much is known about growth and nutrient uptake traits and ecological stoichiometry in natural systems. However, these concepts have been comparatively understudied in agricultural systems despite their potential to infer nutrient limitation and interspecific resource competition. Methods: This study established a model mixed pasture system to assess tissue C:N and C:P stoichiometry and aboveground biomass (AGB) in a grass (Phalaris aquatica) and legume (Trifolium vesiculosum) under factorial inputs of high and low nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), in monoculture and mixture. Due to inherent trait diversity, we expected grass and legume growth, shoot vs root stoichiometry and N:P homeostasis to differ in response to nutrient limitation and between monoculture and mixture. Results: Grass AGB was greater with N addition and in mixture, and legume AGB was decreased by N but increased by P, more so in mixture. Nutrient limitation in grass was determined via a strong coupling of growth with shoot stoichiometry, by which AGB decreased and C:N increased under N limitation. Legume growth was not correlated with tissue stoichiometry, but potential for growth limitation by N and P was detected via increased shoot C:N under low N and P, and C:P under low P. Legume shoot N:P was more homeostatic than grass, and grass shoot N:P homeostasis was greater in mixtures than in monocultures. Conclusions: Integrating ecological stoichiometry alongside trait-based ecology is a useful tool for predicting how fertiliser management may affect nutrient balance and species dominance in mixed pasture agroecosystems. © 2021, Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo.Note
12 month embargo; published: 29 June 2021ISSN
0718-9508EISSN
0718-9516Version
Final accepted manuscriptae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s42729-021-00539-4