Changes in nutrient resorption efficiency with nitrogen and zinc addition and mowing in a meadow steppe

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtaf216

J Plant Ecol ›› 2026, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (2): rtaf216.DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtaf216

• Research Article • Next Articles

Changes in nutrient resorption efficiency with nitrogen and zinc addition and mowing in a meadow steppe

Qiuhua Li^1†, Yakun Liu^1†, Xinyue Jin¹, Xiaotian Fan¹, Jiaqiang Wang¹, Wanbing Liu¹, Chunbo Li¹, Jishuai Su¹, Osbert Jianxin Sun¹, Xingguo Han¹, Yong Jiang¹, Heyong Liu^1,2,*

¹College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China, ²Engineering Research Center of Ecological Safety and Conservation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Xiong’an New Area) of MOE, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China

^*Corresponding author. E-mail: liuheyong@hbu.edu.cn

^†These authors contributed equally to this work.

Received:2025-09-08 Accepted:2025-12-03 Published:2026-04-01
Supported by:
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32271677, 32471647), the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department, China (BJK2024136), Hebei Natural Science Foundation (C2024201044), and Hebei Natural Science Foundation, China (C2022201042).

氮、锌添加与刈割对草甸草原植物养分回收的影响

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding how interacting environmental drivers alter plant nutrient resorption is essential for elucidating nutrient cycling in grasslands. We conducted a 9-year field experiment in a meadow steppe to examine the effects of nitrogen (N, 10 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹) and zinc (Zn, 0.5 g Zn m⁻²yr⁻¹) additions and mowing on community-level nutrient resorption efficiency (RE). We quantified RE for 10 macro- and micronutrients and explored their links with soil properties, species richness and aboveground productivity. N addition enhanced RE for N (+12.9%), P (+15.4%), S (+159.1%) and Mg (+64.4%), supporting the growth optimization hypothesis. Mowing reduced RE for N (−14.0%) and P (−4.8%) but increased RE for Mg (+26.0%) and Fe (+60.4%), indicating compensatory strategies. Zn addition showed limited effects on macronutrient RE but markedly altered micronutrient dynamics, weakening ZnRE through negative feedback and modifying Fe resorption depending on context: reducing by 113.8% in CK and 61.4% under N addition but enhancing by 24.3% under mowing treatment and 51.3% in treatment of combined mowing and N addition. Aboveground productivity was the strongest predictor of RE, surpassing soil nutrient availability. Our findings reveal that additions of N and Zn and mowing jointly regulate element-specific nutrient resorption and plant functional adjustments, reshaping nutrient cycling and productivity patterns in temperate grasslands.

Based on a nine-year controlled field experiment in a meadow steppe, this study shows that nitrogen addition enhances community resorption efficiency (RE) of N, P, S and Mg, whereas mowing reduces RE of N and P but increases RE of Mg and Fe, indicating element-specific compensatory adjustments. Zn addition has limited effects on macronutrient RE but consistently suppresses ZnRE via negative feedback and alters FeRE across treatment combinations; aboveground net primary productivity emerges as the key predictor of overall RE.

Key words: nutrient resorption efficiency, nitrogen addition, zinc addition, mowing, meadow steppe

摘要：
揭示环境因子相互作用对植物养分重吸收的影响对于深入理解草地养分循环机制具有重要意义。本研究在草甸草原开展了为期9年的野外控制实验，解析了氮(10 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹)和锌(0.5 g Zn m⁻² yr⁻¹)添加以及刈割对植物群落养分重吸收效率的影响。研究测定了10种大量与微量元素的养分重吸收效率，并分析了其与土壤性质、植物物种丰富度和群落生产力之间的关系。结果表明，氮添加分别使氮、磷、硫和镁重吸收效率提高了12.9%、15.4%、159.1%和64.4%，与优化生长假说一致。刈割显著降低了氮和磷的重吸收效率(分别下降14.0%和4.8%)，但提高了镁和铁重吸收效率(分别增加26.0%和60.4%)，表现出补偿性策略。锌添加对大量元素重吸收效率影响有限，但显著改变了微量元素重吸收效率：具体表现为降低锌重吸收效率，而对铁的影响取决于处理方式：在CK和氮添加处理中分别降低了113.8%和61.4%，而在刈割和氮×刈割交互处理中分别提高了24.3%和51.3%。地上净初级生产力是影响养分重吸收效率的最重要因子，其作用超过了土壤养分有效性。综上所述，氮、锌添加和刈割共同调控植物特定养分的重吸收效率，进而重塑了温带草原养分循环与生产力格局。

关键词: 养分回收效率, 氮添加, 锌添加, 刈割, 草甸草原

Qiuhua Li, Yakun Liu, Xinyue Jin, Xiaotian Fan, Jiaqiang Wang, Wanbing Liu, Chunbo Li, Jishuai Su, Osbert Jianxin Sun, Xingguo Han, Yong Jiang, Heyong Liu. Changes in nutrient resorption efficiency with nitrogen and zinc addition and mowing in a meadow steppe[J]. J Plant Ecol, 2026, 19(2): 0-.

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Changes in nutrient resorption efficiency with nitrogen and zinc addition and mowing in a meadow steppe

氮、锌添加与刈割对草甸草原植物养分回收的影响

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