Alleviating Nitrogen and Phosphorus Limitation Does Not Amplify Potassium-Induced Increase in Terrestrial Biomass.

ABSTRACT: Potassium (K) is the second most abundant nutrient element in plants after nitrogen (N), and has been shown to limit aboveground production in some contexts. However, the role of N and phosphorus (P) availability in mediating K limitation in terrestrial production remains poorly understood; and it is unknown whether K also limits belowground carbon (C) stocks, which contain at least three times more C than those aboveground stocks. By synthesizing 779 global paired observations (528, 125, and 126 for aboveground productivity, root biomass, and soil organic C [SOC], respectively), we found that K addition significantly increased aboveground production and SOC by 8% and 5%, respectively, but did not significantly affect root biomass (+9%). Moreover, enhanced N and/or P availability (through

SUBMITTER: Liang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12018727 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature