TY - JOUR

T1 - Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in experimental grasslands of variable diversity

AU - Oelmann, Yvonne

AU - Kreutziger, Yvonne

AU - Temperton, Vicky M.

AU - Buchmann, Nina

AU - Roscher, Christiane

AU - Schumacher, Jens

AU - Schulze, Ernst Detlef

AU - Weisser, Wolfgang W.

AU - Wilcke, Wolfgang

PY - 2007/3/1

Y1 - 2007/3/1

N2 - Previous research has shown that plant diversity influences N and P cycles. However, the effect of plant diversity on complete ecosystem N and P budgets has not yet been assessed. For 20 plots of artificially established grassland mixtures differing in plant diversity, we determined N and P inputs by bulk and dry deposition and N and P losses by mowing (and subsequent removal of the biomass) and leaching from April 2003 to March 2004. Total deposition of N and P was 2.3 ± 0.1 and 0.2 ± 0.01 g m-2 yr-1, respectively. Mowing was the main N and P loss. The net N and P budgets were negative (-6.3 ± 1.1 g N and -1.9 ± 0.2 g P m-2 yr -1). For N, this included a conservative estimate of atmospheric N2 fixation. Nitrogen losses as N2O were expected to be small at our study site (<0.05 g m-2 yr-1). Legumes increased the removal of N with the harvest and decreased leaching of NH 4-N and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from the canopy. Reduced roughness of grass-containing mixtures decreased dry deposition of N and P. Total dissolved P and NO3-N leaching from the canopy increased in the presence of grasses attributable to the decreased N and P demand of grass-containing mixtures. Species richness did not have an effect on any of the studied flaxes. Our results demonstrate that the N and P fluxes in managed grassland are modified by the presence or absence of particular functional plant groups and are mainly driven by the management.

AB - Previous research has shown that plant diversity influences N and P cycles. However, the effect of plant diversity on complete ecosystem N and P budgets has not yet been assessed. For 20 plots of artificially established grassland mixtures differing in plant diversity, we determined N and P inputs by bulk and dry deposition and N and P losses by mowing (and subsequent removal of the biomass) and leaching from April 2003 to March 2004. Total deposition of N and P was 2.3 ± 0.1 and 0.2 ± 0.01 g m-2 yr-1, respectively. Mowing was the main N and P loss. The net N and P budgets were negative (-6.3 ± 1.1 g N and -1.9 ± 0.2 g P m-2 yr -1). For N, this included a conservative estimate of atmospheric N2 fixation. Nitrogen losses as N2O were expected to be small at our study site (<0.05 g m-2 yr-1). Legumes increased the removal of N with the harvest and decreased leaching of NH 4-N and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from the canopy. Reduced roughness of grass-containing mixtures decreased dry deposition of N and P. Total dissolved P and NO3-N leaching from the canopy increased in the presence of grasses attributable to the decreased N and P demand of grass-containing mixtures. Species richness did not have an effect on any of the studied flaxes. Our results demonstrate that the N and P fluxes in managed grassland are modified by the presence or absence of particular functional plant groups and are mainly driven by the management.

KW - Biology

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33947393183&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/0d3724d3-ae66-36fd-8e5f-ad6c8a69fbef/

U2 - 10.2134/jeq2006.0217

DO - 10.2134/jeq2006.0217

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 17255627

AN - SCOPUS:33947393183

VL - 36

SP - 396

EP - 407

JO - Journal of Environmental Quality

JF - Journal of Environmental Quality

SN - 0047-2425

IS - 2

ER -