TY - JOUR

T1 - Shifts in N and P Budgets of Heathland Ecosystems

T2 - Effects of Management and Atmospheric Inputs

AU - Haerdtle, Werner

AU - von Oheimb, Goddert

AU - Gerke, Anna-Katharina

AU - Niemeyer, Marion

AU - Niemeyer, Thomas

AU - Aßmann, Thorsten

AU - Drees, Claudia

AU - Matern, Andrea

AU - Meyer, Hartmut

PY - 2009/2

Y1 - 2009/2

N2 - In the present study we analyzed the combined effects of management (grazing, mowing, prescribed burning, sod-cutting) and atmospheric deposition on N and P budgets of heathland ecosystems (Lüneburger Heide nature reserve; N Germany). We hypothesize that management measures such as grazing and mowing can accelerate a deposition-induced imbalance of N and P pools as a result of a disproportionally high output of P. We analyzed management and deposition affected input-output flows of N and P and related them to changes in the nutritional status of Calluna vulgaris 5 years after treatment application. We found that grazing and mowing caused the highest net loss of P due to high P concentrations in the aboveground biomass. In contrast, prescribed burning only slightly affected P pools, as P remained in the system due to ash deposition. Management-mediated effects on N and P pools were mirrored in the nutritional status of Calluna vulgaris: at the grazed and mown sites, the P content of current season's shoots significantly decreased within 5 years after treatments, whereas the N content remained unchanged. We conclude that grazing and mowing can accelerate declining availability of P and, thus, accelerate a deposition-induced shift from N- to P-limited plant growth in the medium term. In the face of ongoing atmospheric N loads management schemes need to combine high- and low-intensity measures to maintain both a diverse structure and balanced nutrient budgets in the long term. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

AB - In the present study we analyzed the combined effects of management (grazing, mowing, prescribed burning, sod-cutting) and atmospheric deposition on N and P budgets of heathland ecosystems (Lüneburger Heide nature reserve; N Germany). We hypothesize that management measures such as grazing and mowing can accelerate a deposition-induced imbalance of N and P pools as a result of a disproportionally high output of P. We analyzed management and deposition affected input-output flows of N and P and related them to changes in the nutritional status of Calluna vulgaris 5 years after treatment application. We found that grazing and mowing caused the highest net loss of P due to high P concentrations in the aboveground biomass. In contrast, prescribed burning only slightly affected P pools, as P remained in the system due to ash deposition. Management-mediated effects on N and P pools were mirrored in the nutritional status of Calluna vulgaris: at the grazed and mown sites, the P content of current season's shoots significantly decreased within 5 years after treatments, whereas the N content remained unchanged. We conclude that grazing and mowing can accelerate declining availability of P and, thus, accelerate a deposition-induced shift from N- to P-limited plant growth in the medium term. In the face of ongoing atmospheric N loads management schemes need to combine high- and low-intensity measures to maintain both a diverse structure and balanced nutrient budgets in the long term. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

KW - Biology

KW - Calluna vulgaris

KW - grazing

KW - leaching

KW - Molinia caerulea

KW - mowing

KW - N:P ratio

KW - nutrient limitation

KW - prescribed burning

KW - sod-cutting

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=61349113948&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/3e1b1025-c077-3653-9180-3be5d190a314/

U2 - 10.1007/s10021-008-9223-3

DO - 10.1007/s10021-008-9223-3

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 12

SP - 298

EP - 310

JO - Ecosystems

JF - Ecosystems

SN - 1432-9840

IS - 2

ER -