Abstract

Phosphorus (P) limitation of aboveground plant production is usually assumed to occur in tropical regions but rarely elsewhere. Here we report that such P limitation is more widespread and much stronger than previously estimated. In our global meta-analysis, almost half (46.2%) of 652 P-addition field experiments reveal a significant P limitation on aboveground plant production. Globally, P additions increase aboveground plant production by 34.9% in natural terrestrial ecosystems, which is 7.0–15.9% higher than previously suggested. In croplands, by contrast, P additions increase aboveground plant production by only 13.9%, probably because of historical fertilizations. The magnitude of P limitation also differs among climate zones and regions, and is driven by climate, ecosystem properties, and fertilization regimes. In addition to confirming that P limitation is widespread in tropical regions, our study demonstrates that P limitation often occurs in other regions. This suggests that previous studies have underestimated the importance of altered P supply on aboveground plant production in natural terrestrial ecosystems.

Plants are thought to be limited by phosphorus (P) especially in tropical regions. Here, Hou et al. report a meta-analysis of P fertilization experiments to show widespread P limitation on plant growth across terrestrial ecosystems modulated by climate, ecosystem properties, and fertilization regimes

Details

Title
Global meta-analysis shows pervasive phosphorus limitation of aboveground plant production in natural terrestrial ecosystems
Author
Hou Enqing 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Luo Yiqi 2 ; Kuang Yuanwen 3 ; Chen Chengrong 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Lu Xiankai 3 ; Jiang Lifen 2 ; Luo Xianzhen 3 ; Wen Dazhi 3 

 South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangzhou, China (GRID:grid.458495.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 1014 7864); Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center of Plant Ecology, Guangzhou, China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309); Northern Arizona University, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Flagstaff, USA (GRID:grid.261120.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 8040) 
 Northern Arizona University, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Flagstaff, USA (GRID:grid.261120.6) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 8040) 
 South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangzhou, China (GRID:grid.458495.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 1014 7864); Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center of Plant Ecology, Guangzhou, China (GRID:grid.9227.e) (ISNI:0000000119573309) 
 Griffith University, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Nathan, Australia (GRID:grid.1022.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0437 5432) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20411723
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2349174746
Copyright
This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.