Response of fine root carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry to soil nutrients in Pinus taiwanensis along an elevation gradient in the Wuyi mountains

Research on Mount Wuyi reveals that fine root phosphorus (P) uptake in Pinus taiwanensis is significantly constrained by soil P availability, while nitrogen (N) absorption comes at the cost of carbon (C) expenditure. The study, conducted across five elevation gradients (1200–2000 m), found that fine root N content correlated positively with soil C but showed no elevation-driven variation. Conversely, P content increased markedly with both elevation and soil P levels while displaying a negative relationship with soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. Additionally, the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio in fine roots declined significantly with higher elevations and soil P availability, suggesting intensified P limitation for tree growth under future N deposition scenarios. The study employed excavation sampling to quantify C, N, and P concentrations and stoichiometric traits, providing critical insights into how Pinus taiwanensis adapts to nutrient gradients in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

CHEN Xiaoping, 陈晓萍, GUO Bingqiao, 郭炳桥, ZHONG Quanlin, 钟全林, WANG Mantang, 王满堂, LI Man, 李曼, YANG Fuchun, 杨福春, & CHENG Dongliang, 程栋梁. (2018). Response of fine root carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry to soil nutrients in Pinus taiwanensis along an elevation gradient in the Wuyi mountains. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 38(1). https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201701040034