Response of plant flowering phenology to nutrient enrichment: A meta-analysis

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtag251

J Plant Ecol ›› Advance articles DOI:10.1093/jpe/rtag251

Response of plant flowering phenology to nutrient enrichment: A meta-analysis

Jiamin Zou¹, Peng Li^1*, Ying Peng¹, Longjun Wang¹, Tong Li^1*, Wanqing He¹, Xiaolu Zhou¹, Changhui Peng^{1, 2}

1. School of Geographical Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, China;
2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Québec at Montreal, Montreal, OC8H3C 3P8, Canada
^*Corresponding author: Peng Li (lipeng2019@hunnu.edu.cn)
Tong Li (18792491674@163.com)

Received:2026-07-02 Revised:2026-08-24 Accepted:2026-10-13 Published:2026-10-21
Supported by:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 42371121, U22A20570), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China (Grant 2024JJ5262).

Abstract

Abstract: Nutrients regulate plant phenology by affecting photosynthetic efficiency, carbon allocation, and ecosystem structure and function. However, the effects of nutrient drivers on shifts in flowering phenology under different environmental conditions remain unclear. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 101 published articles to evaluate the influence of different nutrient drivers including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) additions on flowering phenology in experimental studies. The results showed that P and K additions significantly advanced first flowering and extended the duration of flowering, whereas N addition did not affect first flowering. Moreover, the effects of nutrient addition on flowering phenology notably differed under various environmental conditions. With increased aridity index (AI), the extension of N addition on flowering duration and the advancement of last flowering following K addition were more pronounced. Nutrient addition affected flowering phenology more significantly in croplands than in natural terrestrial ecosystems, and all three nutrient additions significantly extended flowering duration. Additionally, interactions P + N were frequently synergistic, whereas interactions P + K were primarily antagonistic. These findings provide new insights into the effects of nutrient drivers on plant flowering phenology and suggest that incorporating nutrient availability into models is crucial for accurately simulating flowering phenology.

Based on a meta-analysis of 101 published studies, we found that P and K additions advanced first flowering, whereas N addition had no effect. Flowering phenology responses varied across plant functional groups and environmental conditions. P + N showed a synergistic interaction in affecting first flowering, whereas P + K showed an antagonistic interaction.

Key words: phosphorus addition, flowering phenology, synergistic interaction, antagonistic interaction, nitrogen addition, potassium additio

Jiamin Zou, Peng Li, Ying Peng, Longjun Wang, Tong Li, Wanqing He, Xiaolu Zhou, Changhui Peng. Response of plant flowering phenology to nutrient enrichment: A meta-analysis[J]. J Plant Ecol, DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtag251.

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Response of plant flowering phenology to nutrient enrichment: A meta-analysis

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