Long-Term Nitrogen Addition Drives Contrasting Nutrient Allocation Strategies in Overstory Poplar Trees and Understory Herbs.

ABSTRACT: Long-term nitrogen (N) addition induces N saturation in forests, but its impacts on nutrient allocation across plant organs and life forms remain unclear. Utilizing a 12-year N addition experiment in a coastal poplar plantation in southeastern China, which included five treatments (0 [CK], 50 [N₁], 100 [N₂], 150 [N₃], and 300 [N₄] kg N ha^-1 yr^-1), we examined N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) concentrations in leaves and roots of overstory poplar trees and understory herbs in 2024. Results showed understory leaf N increased by 14.9-31.4% in vigorous growth, while overstory leaf N rose only 7.0% under the highest N treatment. By late growth, N₃ treatment understory herbs had 17.2% and 21.9% higher leaf and root

SUBMITTER: Huang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12656388 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature