Alpine plant functional group responses to fertiliser addition depend on abiotic regime and community composition

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 357; no. 1-2; pp. 103 - 115
• Main Authors: Onipchenko, V. G., Makarov, M. I., Akhmetzhanova, A. A., Soudzilovskaia, N. A., Aibazova, F. U., Elkanova, M. K., Stogova, A. V., Cornelissen, J. H. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.08.2012; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aboveground biomass; Acid soils; Alpine environments; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate; Climate change; Community composition; Cosmic radiation; Dominance; Ecology; Ecosystems; Fertilization; Festuca; Forbs; Functional groups; Grasses; Grassland soils; Grasslands; Heathlands; Heaths; Irrigation; Lichens; Life Sciences; Meadows; Nitrogen; Nutrient availability; Phosphorus; Plant communities; Plant ecology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plants; Regular Article; Snow; Soil acidity; Soil Science & Conservation; Terrestrial ecosystems; Cold biome; Irrigation; Soil pH; Phosphorus; Growth form; Biomass; Nitrogen; Nutrient limitation; Caucasus; Community composition
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-012-1146-2

Background and aims We ask how productivity responses of alpine plant communities to increased nutrient availability can be predicted from abiotic regime and initial functional type composition. Methods We compared four Caucasian alpine plant communities (lichen heath, Festuca varia grassland, Geranium-Hedysarum meadow, snow bed community) forming a toposequence and contrasting in productivity and dominance structure for biomass responses to experimental fertilization (N, P, NP, Ca) and irrigation for 4–5 years. Results The dominant plants in more productive communities monopolized added N and P, at the expense of their neighbors. In three out of four communities, N and P fertilizations gave greater aboveground biomass increase than N or P fertilization alone, indicating overall co-limitation of N and P, with N being most limiting. Relative biomass increase in NP treatment was negatively related to biomass in control plots across the four communities. Grasses often responded more vigorously to P, but sedges to N alone. Finally, we present one of the rare examples of a forb showing a strong N or NP response. Conclusion Our findings will help improve our ability to predict community composition and biomass dynamics in cool ecosystems subject to changing nutrient availability as induced by climate or land-use changes.