Nitrogen but not phosphorus addition affects symbiotic N2 fixation by legumes in natural and semi-natural grasslands located on four continents

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Eduardo Vázquez
  • Per Marten Schleuss
  • Elizabeth T. Borer
  • Miguel N. Bugalho
  • Maria C. Caldeira
  • Nico Eisenhauer
  • Anu Eskelinen
  • Philip A. Fay
  • Anke Jentsch
  • Kevin P. Kirkman
  • Rebecca L. McCulley
  • Pablo L. Peri
  • Jodi Price
  • Anna E. Richards
  • Anita C. Risch
  • Christiane Roscher
  • Martin Schütz
  • Eric W. Seabloom
  • Rachel J. Standish
  • Carly J. Stevens
  • Michelle J. Tedder
  • Risto Virtanen
  • Marie Spohn

Background and aims: The amount of nitrogen (N) derived from symbiotic N2 fixation by legumes in grasslands might be affected by anthropogenic N and phosphorus (P) inputs, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. Methods: We evaluated symbiotic N2 fixation in 17 natural and semi-natural grasslands on four continents that are subjected to the same full-factorial N and P addition experiment, using the 15N natural abundance method. Results: N as well as combined N and P (NP) addition reduced aboveground legume biomass by 65% and 45%, respectively, compared to the control, whereas P addition had no significant impact. Addition of N and/or P had no significant effect on the symbiotic N2 fixation per unit legume biomass. In consequence, the amount of N fixed annually per grassland area was less than half in the N addition treatments compared to control and P addition, irrespective of whether the dominant legumes were annuals or perennials. Conclusion: Our results reveal that N addition mainly impacts symbiotic N2 fixation via reduced biomass of legumes rather than changes in N2 fixation per unit legume biomass. The results show that soil N enrichment by anthropogenic activities significantly reduces N2 fixation in grasslands, and these effects cannot be reversed by additional P amendment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPlant and Soil
Volume478
Issue number1-2
Pages (from-to)689-707
Number of pages19
ISSN0032-079X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 09.2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).

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