ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Variations in Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Stoichiometry during a Growth Season Within
a Platycladus orientalis Plantation
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1
Experimental Center of Forestry in Northern China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, P.R. China
2
College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China
Submission date: 2019-11-27
Acceptance date: 2020-02-03
Online publication date: 2020-04-29
Publication date: 2020-06-08
Corresponding author
Xuebing Xin
Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3549-3560
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ABSTRACT
Knowledge of seasonal variations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations
plus C:N:P ratios can provide insight into the dynamics of biological processes, nutrient cycling,
resource acquisition, and mass partitioning in plants and soils. Platycladus orientalis (Cupressaceae) is
an important tree species distributed throughout northern China. We studied the seasonal dynamics of
C, N, and P concentrations and their stoichiometry in leaves, branches, roots, and soil in a P. orientalis
plantation. Plant and soil C, N, and P concentrations, and their stoichiometry varied significantly among
ecosystem components and growth season sampling times, indicating nutrient allocation patterns and
mobility in the P. orientalis plantation. Accurately quantifying and comparing C:N:P stoichiometry
in the plant and soil of P. orientalis requires a study of plant organs, soil depth, and sampling times.
The mean N concentration in leaves was 14.06 g kg-1 and the mean N:P ratio was 11.82, indicating
that the growth of P. orientalis was N limited during the growing season. N and P concentrations and
stoichiometry in plants were correlated with those in soil, suggesting coupled nutrient control between
plant and soil. The C:N:P ratio was regulated in different components of the ecosystem.