Impacts of nitrogen addition on foliar nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mount Wuyi

Increasing nitrogen (N) availability in subtropical evergreen forests can intensify phosphorus (P) limitation, as shown by a study conducted at Mount Wuyi. Researchers found that while foliar N levels rose significantly across most species under N addition, P dynamics—rather than N—primarily drove changes in foliar N:P ratios. Herbaceous plants exhibited greater sensitivity to N addition compared to trees and shrubs, with notable increases in foliar P for herbs but a significant decrease in the moss Leucobryum chlorophyllosum. The study, spanning 2013–2015, revealed that mean foliar N:P ratios shifted from 18.67 to 19.72 under N addition, suggesting stronger P limitation. These findings highlight how elevated N inputs can alter nutrient cycling and stoichiometry in subtropical forests.

Qiao-Shu-Yi, W., Cheng-Yang, Z., Xin-Yang, Z., Fa-Xu, Z., & XING Juan, a. (2016). Impacts of nitrogen addition on foliar nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Mount Wuyi. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 40(11), 1124–1135. https://doi.org/10.17521/cjpe.2016.0110