Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems
Published on: October 29, 2016
Decadal N and P addition reshapes multi-element allocation patterns and network interaction in subtropical plantation
Juan Huang1,2,3, Xi'an Cai1,2,3, Runcheng Zhu1,2,3
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, 723 Xingke Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510650, China.
None:
Nitrogen (N) deposition disrupts mineral element dynamics, exacerbating phosphorus (P) limitation and inducing multiple nutrient imbalances. Although P addition is widely adopted to mitigate these negative effects by enhancing P availability, how multi-mineral elements in tropical trees respond to N and/or P addition remains poorly understood, particularly regarding their tissue-specific concentrations and inter-element relationships. Here, we investigated the effects of a decade-long N, and/or P addition on mineral element concentrations across tissues in two typical plantation tree species, Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake (EU) and Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. (AA), in southern China. We also examined how these additions altered correlations among elements. Our results showed that both EU and AA maintained stable macro-element levels under long-term N addition, yet experienced significant changes in their micro-elements. This was evident by increased root aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) concentrations in EU and decreased leaf Fe concentrations in AA. However, tissue-specific responses differed. EU exhibited significant response ratios in root mineral elements, whereas AA had negative response ratios in leaves and branches. Under long-term P and N + P addition, both species accumulated higher P and sodium (Na) but lower potassium (K), with significant response ratios in leaf mineral elements. Crucially, long-term N or/and P addition altered elemental correlation patterns. Specifically, long-term N addition strengthened sulfur (S) interaction with other elements in both species, whereas long-term P disengaged P from other elements in AA, and long-term N + P addition disrupted P interconnectedness in EU. Moreover, long-term N + P addition simplified mineral element network interactions in both species. These shifts in elemental correlations highlight potential cascading effects on ecosystem structure and function. Our findings demonstrate that tropical trees dynamically adjust mineral element concentrations across tissues and reconfigure inter-element relationships in response to N- and P-induced environmental changes. These adjustments have profound implications for nutrient cycling and ecosystem resilience in tropical forests under global changes.
More Related Videos
10:16Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling
Published on: January 16, 2014
09:17Investigation of Plant Interactions Across Common Mycorrhizal Networks Using Rotated Cores
Published on: March 26, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Primary Production
The Phosphorus Cycle
What are Biogeochemical Cycles?
The Nitrogen Cycle