Responses of diversity, productivity, and stability to the nitrogen input in a tropical grassland

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a matter of serious concern for the structure and functioning of global ecosystems, but the effect of N application of species diversity (D), primary productivity (P), and stability (S) of tropical grassland ecosystems is not known. The present study reports th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological applications 2020-03, Vol.30 (2), p.1-19
Main Authors: Verma, Preeti, Sagar, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomass
Composition
diversity–productivity relationship
diversity–stability relationship
Ecosystem assessment
Ecosystems
Functional groups
Grasslands
Herbivores
Level (quantity)
Nitrogen
nitrogen input
primary productivity
Productivity
Species composition
Species diversity
Stability
Sustainability
tropical grassland
Urea
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Summary:Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a matter of serious concern for the structure and functioning of global ecosystems, but the effect of N application of species diversity (D), primary productivity (P), and stability (S) of tropical grassland ecosystems is not known. The present study reports the effects of different levels of N application on species composition, and the D, P, S, and their relationships in a tropical grassland. Within the experimental grassland, 72 1 × 1 m plots with 6 N-input levels and with 12 replicates, were established in 2013. For 3 yr, different doses of urea as a source of N were applied to the plots. Data on individuals and biomass of each species were recorded and statistically analyzed. The study revealed that the N applied caused variations in species composition, D, P, and S. Below the 90 kg N dose, D was positively related to P and S while, above this level, the relations were negative due to N-induced responses of species and functional group composition as well as biomass distribution among them. The optimum applied N levels for maximum D (50–60 kg N), P (120 kg N), and a positive relationship of S with D (up to 90 kg N treatment) suggested that the 90-kg N dose could be the maximum dose of N that the grassland can tolerate. Hence, N application should not exceed the 90-kg level for sustainability of the structure and functioning of tropical grassland ecosystems.
ISSN:1051-0761
1939-5582
DOI:10.1002/eap.2037