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Effects of exogenous sulfur input on nutrient availability in soil-plant system of grassland.

JIANG Yong1*, LI Tian-peng1,4, FENG Xue1,2, WANG Ru-zheng1, ZHANG Yu-ge3   

  1. (1Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; 2College of Land and Environment, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China; 3College of Environment, Shenyang University, Shenyang 110044, China; 4University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China).
  • Online:2019-04-10 Published:2019-04-10

Abstract: Exogenous sulfur input is one of the most important factors that acidify grassland soils, which may inhibit mineralization of soil organic matter and facilitate organic carbon accumulation, but may contribute to the decomposition of carbonates in calcareous soils. Sulfur inputs enhance the availability of nitrogen and micronutrients (iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron), decrease the availability of molybdenum, accelerate the leaching of exchangeable base cations, and reduce the availability of calcium, magnesium and potassium. Sulfur inputs increase the availability of phosphorus in calcareous and neutral soils, but decrease it in acid or strong acid soils. Exogenous sulfur inputs can improve the synergetic uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants, and generally increase plant uptake of metallic micronutrients. Soil acidification induced by sulfur inputs might lead to plant manganese toxicity, which could increase plant manganese uptake but inhibit plant iron uptake. High inputs of exogenous sulfur and soil acidification can decline aboveground productivity and plant species diversity in grasslands. Low dose of sulfur input tends to improve aboveground productivity, but its effects on plant species diversity and community stability remain unclear.

Key words: environmental factors., Toona ciliata var. pubescens, plantation, sap flow, slope position