Legacy effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on vegetation and carbon stocks of upland heaths

José van Paassen; Andrea J. Britton; Ruth J. Mitchell; Lorna E. Street; David Johnson; Andrew Coupar; Sarah J. Woodin

doi:10.1111/nph.16671

Legacy effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on vegetation and carbon stocks of upland heaths

José van Paassen^*, Andrea J. Britton, Ruth J. Mitchell, Lorna E. Street, David Johnson, Andrew Coupar, Sarah J. Woodin

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

Soil carbon (C) pools and plant community composition are regulated by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. Atmospheric N deposition impacts ecosystem C storage, but the direction of response varies between systems. Phosphorus limitation may constrain C storage response to N, hence P application to increase plant productivity and thus C sequestration has been suggested. We revisited a 23-yr-old field experiment where N and P had been applied to upland heath, a widespread habitat supporting large soil C stocks. At 10 yr after the last nutrient application we quantified long-term changes in vegetation composition and in soil and vegetation C and P stocks. Nitrogen addition, particularly when combined with P, strongly influenced vegetation composition, favouring grasses over Calluna vulgaris, and led to a reduction in vegetation C stocks. However, soil C stocks did not respond to nutrient treatments. We found 40% of the added P had accumulated in the soil. This study showed persistent effects of N and N + P on vegetation composition, whereas effects of P alone were small and showed recovery. We found no indication that P application could mitigate the effects of N on vegetation or increase C sequestration in this system.

Original language	English
Number of pages	12
Journal	New Phytologist
Early online date	24 Jun 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16671
Publication status	Published - 24 Jun 2020

Keywords

long-term
nitrogen deposition
nutrient cycling
upland heath
soil
vegetation
long term
DEPOSITION INCREASES
NUTRIENT LIMITATION
VASCULAR PLANTS
RESPONSES
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
MICROBIAL BIOMASS
SPHAGNUM
LITTER
LONG-TERM NITROGEN
ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physiology
Plant Science

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van Paassen, J., Britton, A. J., Mitchell, R. J., Street, L. E., Johnson, D., Coupar, A., & Woodin, S. J. (2020). Legacy effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on vegetation and carbon stocks of upland heaths. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16671

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abstract = "Soil carbon (C) pools and plant community composition are regulated by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. Atmospheric N deposition impacts ecosystem C storage, but the direction of response varies between systems. Phosphorus limitation may constrain C storage response to N, hence P application to increase plant productivity and thus C sequestration has been suggested. We revisited a 23-yr-old field experiment where N and P had been applied to upland heath, a widespread habitat supporting large soil C stocks. At 10 yr after the last nutrient application we quantified long-term changes in vegetation composition and in soil and vegetation C and P stocks. Nitrogen addition, particularly when combined with P, strongly influenced vegetation composition, favouring grasses over Calluna vulgaris, and led to a reduction in vegetation C stocks. However, soil C stocks did not respond to nutrient treatments. We found 40% of the added P had accumulated in the soil. This study showed persistent effects of N and N + P on vegetation composition, whereas effects of P alone were small and showed recovery. We found no indication that P application could mitigate the effects of N on vegetation or increase C sequestration in this system.",

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AU - Johnson, David

AU - Coupar, Andrew

AU - Woodin, Sarah J.

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