Nitrogen cycle of a typical Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in theYellow River estuary
Xiaojie Mou , Zhigao Sun , Lingling Wang , Chuanyuan Wang
DOI:
Received August 06, 2010,Revised December 20, 2010, Accepted , Available online
Volume 23,2011,Pages 958-967
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The nitrogen (N) biological cycle of the Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in the Yellow River estuary was studied during 2008 to 2009.
Results showed that soil N had significant seasonal fluctuations and vertical distribution. The N/P ratio (15.73±1.77) of S. salsa was
less than 16, indicating that plant growth was limited by both N and P. The N absorption coefficient of S. salsa was very low (0.007),
while the N utilization and cycle coefficients were high (0.824 and 0.331, respectively). The N turnover among compartments of S.
salsa marsh showed that N uptake from aboveground parts and roots were 2.539 and 0.622 g/m2, respectively. The N translocation
from aboveground parts to roots and from roots to soil were 2.042 and 0.076 g/m2, respectively. The N translocation from aboveground
living bodies to litter was 0.497 g/m2, the annual N return from litter to soil was far less than 0.368 g/m2, and the net N mineralization
in topsoil during the growing season was 0.033 g/m2. N was an important limiting factor in S. salsa marsh, and the ecosystem was
classified as unstable and vulnerable. S. salsa was seemingly well adapted to the low-nutrient status and vulnerable habitat, and the
nutrient enrichment due to N import from the Yellow River estuary would be a potential threat to the S. salsa marsh. Excessive nutrient
loading might favor invasive species and induce severe long-term degradation of the ecosystem if human intervention measures were
not taken. The N quantitative relationships determined in our study might provide a scientific basis for the establishment of effective
measures.
