Climatic and topographic variables control soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen: Phosphorus ratios in a Picea schrenkiana forest of the Tianshan Mountains.

ABSTRACT: Knowledge about soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, stocks, and stoichiometric ratios is crucial for understanding the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem function in arid mountainous forests. However, the corresponding information is scarce, particularly in arid mountainous forests. To fill this gap, we investigated the depth and elevational patterns of the soil N and P concentrations and the N: P ratios in a Picea schrenkiana forest using data from soil profiles collected during 2012-2017. Our results showed that the soil N and P concentrations and the N: P ratios varied from 0.15 g kg-1 to 0.56 g kg-1 (average of 0.31 g kg-1), from 0.09 g kg-1 to 0.16 g kg-1 (average of 0.12 g kg-1), and from 2.42 g kg-1 to 4.36 g kg-1 (average of 3.42 g kg-1), respectively; additionall

SUBMITTER: Xu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6211625 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature