Central boreal mire plant communities along soil nutrient potential and water content gradients

Many studies reported the effect on plant functional groups and plant diversity under discontinuous slope gradient. However, studies on the effect of continuous slope gradient on plant functional groups and plant diversity in alpine meadows have rarely been conducted. We studied the effect of a continuous slope gradient on the dominance characteristics of plant functional groups and plant diversity of alpine meadows on the Tibetan plateau—in Hezuo area of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Altogether, 84 samples of alpine meadows grass and 84 soil samples from seven slope gradients at sunlit slopes were collected. By using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient, this study revealed: (1) Continuous slope gradient is an important factor affecting plant communities in alpine meadows, due to the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and water content. The number of families, genera, and species increased first then decreased at the different slope gradient levels, respectively; (2) there is a close relationship between the soil and plant functional groups, and plant diversity. In other words, the slope determines the functional groups of plants and the soil nutrients; and (3) soil characteristics (pH value, Soil Total Nitrogen, Soil Water Content) are the determining factors of the plant community characteristics at each slope gradient level. To conclude, a continuous slope gradient is an important factor that affects plant communities in alpine meadows.

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Soil Nutrient Effects on Suction and Volumetric Water Content in Heavily Compacted Vegetated Soil

Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering - Proceedings of China-Europe Conference on Geotechnical Engineering ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-97115-5_90 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1312-1315

Author(s):

R. Tasnim ◽

J. L. Coo ◽

C. W. W. Ng ◽

V. Capobianco

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Volumetric Water Content ◽

Nutrient Effects

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Nature valuation of plant communities in the Zagórów polder including water content parameters

Steciana ◽

10.12657/steciana.018.008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 57-65

Author(s):

Jan Kryszak ◽

Anna Kryszak ◽

Agnieszka Strychalska ◽

Czesław Przybyła

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Plant Communities

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Variation and adaptation of leaf water content among species, communities, and biomes

Environmental Research Letters ◽

10.1088/1748-9326/ac38da ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 124038

Author(s):

Ruomeng Wang ◽

Nianpeng He ◽

Shenggong Li ◽

Li Xu ◽

Mingxu Li

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Plant Species ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Life Forms ◽

Systematic Investigation ◽

Leaf Water ◽

Leaf Water Content ◽

Plant Life Forms

Abstract Leaf water content (LWC) is essential for the physiological activities in plants, but its spatial variation and the underlying mechanisms in natural plant communities are unclear. In this study, we measured the LWC of 5641 plant species from 72 natural communities in China, covering most terrestrial ecosystems, to answer these questions. Our results showed that LWC, on average, was 0.690 g g–1, and was significantly higher in forests and deserts than in grasslands. LWC was significantly different among different plant life forms, and ranked on averages in the following order: herbs > shrubs > trees. Interestingly, LWC decreased with increasing humidity and increased in dry environments. Furthermore, the variations of LWC in plant communities were higher in arid areas and those species with lower LWC in a plant community were more sensitive to changing environments. These results demonstrated the adaptations of plants to water regime in their habitats. Although, phylogeny has no significant effect on LWC, plant species both in forests and grasslands evolve toward higher LWC. Variations of LWC from species to community to biome represent the cost-effective strategy of plants, where plant species in drier environment require higher input to keep higher LWC to balance water availability and heat regulation. This systematic investigation fills the gaps on how LWC varies spatially and clarifies the different adaptation mechanisms regulating LWC across scales.

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Increased Precipitation Shapes Relationship between Biochemical and Functional Traits of Stipa glareosa in Grass-Dominated Rather than Shrub-Dominated Community in a Desert Steppe

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9111463 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1463

Author(s):

Ya Hu ◽

Xiaoan Zuo ◽

Ping Yue ◽

Shenglong Zhao ◽

Xinxin Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Superoxide Dismutase ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Desert Steppe ◽

Biochemical Traits ◽

Shrub Community

Understanding the effects of precipitation variations on plant biochemical and functional traits is crucial to predict plant adaptation to future climate changes. The dominant species, Stipa glareosa, plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of plant communities in the desert steppe, Inner Mongolia. However, little is known about how altered precipitation affects biochemical and functional traits of S. glareosa in different communities in the desert steppe. Here, we examined the responses of biochemical and functional traits of S. glareosa in shrub- and grass-dominated communities to experimentally increased precipitation (control, +20%, +40%, and +60%). We found that +40% and +60% increased plant height and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and decreased specific leaf area (SLA) of S. glareosa in grass community. For biochemical traits in grass community, +60% decreased the contents of protein and chlorophyll b (Cb), while +40% increased the relative electrical conductivity and superoxide dismutase. Additionally, +20% increased LDMC and malondialaenyde, and decreased SLA and protein in shrub community. Chlorophyll a, Cb, carotenoids, protein and superoxide dismutase in the grass community differed with shrub community, while +60% caused differences in SLA, LDMC, leaf carbon content, malondialaenyde and peroxidase between two communities. The positive or negative linear patterns were observed between different functional and biochemical traits in grass- rather than shrub-community. Soil water content explained changes in some biochemical traits in the grass community, but not for functional traits. These results suggest that increased precipitation can affect functional traits of S. glareosa in the grass community by altering biochemical traits caused by soil water content. The biochemical and functional traits of S. glareosa were more sensitive to extreme precipitation in grass- than shrub-community in the desert steppe. Our study highlights the important differences in adaptive strategies of S. glareosa in different plant communities at the same site to precipitation changes.

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Short-term responses of soil nutrient dynamics and herbaceous riverine plant communities to summer inundation

Wetlands ◽

10.1672/06-33.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 232-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

A. Martijn Antheunisse ◽

Jos T. A. Verhoeven

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Short Term

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Genotypic diversity and genotype identity of resident species drive community composition

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtaa004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 224-232

Author(s):

Věroslava Hadincová ◽

Hana Skálová ◽

Zuzana Münzbergová

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Soil Nutrients ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Growth Form ◽

Plantago Lanceolata ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Genotypic Diversity ◽

Resident Species ◽

Tussock Grass ◽

Colonization Success

Abstract Aims Species-rich plant communities are more resistant to invasions. In the past decade it was demonstrated that genetic variation also has many ecological effects. In our study we aimed to test whether the patterns of response to the genetic diversity of a resident species differ between colonizing species of different growth forms and whether the response is affected by soil nutrients. Methods We established experimental stands of a common grass, Festuca rubra, harbouring three levels of genetic diversity (1, 6 or 18 clonal genotypes, referred to as genotypic diversity) under two soil nutrient levels. In the fourth year after the stands were established, we sowed a mixture of four colonizers into the stands: a stoloniferous legume (Trifolium repens), a broad-leaf tussock grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), a large-rosette forb (Plantago lanceolata) and a small-rosette forb (Campanula rotundifolia). We observed species establishment and growth over 3 years. We tested whether colonization success depended on genotypic diversity, specific Festuca genotypes, soil nutrients and colonizer growth form. Important Findings The colonization success and biomass of the colonizers were significantly affected by the genotypic diversity and the genotype identity of the resident clonal grass. The response, however, differed between the colonizers. The strongest response to the genotypic diversity of the resident species was observed in the tussock grass with a growth form and architecture similar to the resident species. The large-rosette species responded in early stages of growth whereas the stoloniferous legume did not respond at all. The intraspecific genotypic diversity and genotype identity of the resident species play an important role in the assembly of plant communities.

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Leaf Demography, Sclerophylly and Ecophysiology of Two Banksias With Contrasting Leaf Life Spans

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9920849 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 849 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

ETF Witkowski ◽

BB Lamont ◽

CS Walton ◽

S Radford

Keyword(s):

Stomatal Conductance ◽

Water Content ◽

Relative Water Content ◽

Physiological Activity ◽

Leaf Age ◽

Bound Water ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Leaf Demography ◽

Relative Water ◽

Mediterranean Scrub

Leaf demography, sclerophylly and ecophysiology were assessed on Banksia petiolaris (ground creeper, large vertical leaves) and B. baueri (shrub, smaller horizontal leaves) in the dry mediterranean scrub-heath of Western Australia. Leaves survived for up to 13 and 5 years respectively (50% survival was 5.9 and 2.0 years). Leaf specific mass increased with age for both species, due to increase in leaf density. Shading was negligible for 1-year-old B. baueri leaves but increased sharply with age, whereas shading was moderate and similar for leaves of all ages in B. petiolaris. Transpiration rates and stomatal conductance during cloudy autumn weather were higher in B. petiolaris, whereas photosynthesis was lower. Stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis declined with leaf age in both species, but more steeply in B. baueri. Dawn and midday xylem pressure potentials and hydraulic conductance decreased with leaf age and were higher and declined more gradually in B. Petiolaris. Water-use efficiency declined slightly with age. The water potential at zero turgor, osmotic potential at 100% relative water content and bulk elastic modulus values were closer to zero in B. Petiolaris and changed little with age, while the relative water content at zero turgor and bound water were higher in older leaves of B. petiolaris. No trends in chlorophyll concentrations or fluorescence kinetics were observed with aging except that the oldest leaves of B. baueri had lowest activity. Area based leaf N decreased in B. baueri with leaf age, but was unchanged in B. petiolaris up to 10 years. K and Mg did not vary with leaf age, but P decreased and Ca increased in both species. P levels were extremely low, yet 70% resorption prior to leaf death was apparent. Photosynthetic-N and -P use efficiencies were high in the 1-year-old relative to the 2-year-old leaves, and declined gradually with further aging, but more steeply in B. baueri. We conclude that the exceptionally long-lived leaves of B. Petiolaris are consistent with the substantial investment they represent (large surface area, mass and total nutrient store) and low levels of physiological activity associated with low soil nutrient and moisture availability and moderate illumination at all leaf ages.

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Water content and soil nutrient in consortium of native fruit trees with cover crops

African Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5897/ajar2016.11414 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (41) ◽

pp. 4100-4108

Author(s):

Dornelles Paulo ◽

Perin Adriano ◽

Guimarães Silva Fabiano ◽

Rubio Neto Aurélio ◽

Bressiani Melo Gabriel

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Fruit Trees

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Examining the Potential of Forest Residue-Based Amendments for Post-Wildfire Rehabilitation in Colorado, USA

Scientifica ◽

10.1155/2017/4758316 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Charles C. Rhoades ◽

Kerri L. Minatre ◽

Derek N. Pierson ◽

Timothy S. Fegel ◽

M. Francesca Cotrufo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Water Availability ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Natural Disturbance ◽

Water Dynamics ◽

Soil N ◽

Native Plant ◽

Plant Recovery ◽

Forest Residue ◽

Wood Mulch

Wildfire is a natural disturbance, though elemental losses and changes that occur during combustion and post-fire erosion can have long-term impacts on soil properties, ecosystem productivity, and watershed condition. Here we evaluate the potential of forest residue-based materials to rehabilitate burned soils. We compare soil nutrient and water availability, and plant recovery after application of 37 t ha−1of wood mulch, 20 t ha−1of biochar, and the combination of the two amendments with untreated, burned soils. We also conducted a greenhouse trial to examine how biochar influenced soil nutrient and water content under two wetting regimes. The effects of wood mulch on plant-available soil N and water content were significant and seasonally consistent during the three-year field study. Biochar applied alone had few effects under field conditions, but significantly increased soil pH, Ca, P, and water in the greenhouse. The mulched biochar treatment had the greatest effects on soil N and water availability and increased cover of the most abundant native plant. We found that rehabilitation treatments consisting of forest residue-based products have potential to enhance soil N and water dynamics and plant recovery following severe wildfire and may be justified where erosion risk or water supply protection are crucial.

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