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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Functional Plant Ecology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1566140
This article is part of the Research Topic Plant-Based Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Remediation View all articles
Nutrient Recycling and Utilization of Torreya grandis 'Merrillii' along an age gradient
Provisionally accepted- 1 Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
- 2 Jiyang College, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, China
- 3 School of Art and Design, Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology, NanJing, China, NanJing, China
The intrinsic relationships among plants, litter, and soil nutrient characteristics, along with the responses of ecological stoichiometry to nutrient utilization, are critical for understanding the mechanisms of nutrient cycling. However, limited research in this area has constrained our comprehension of nutrient dynamics within ecosystems. To investigate the stoichiometric characteristics and nutrient resorption traits of T. grandis plantations across various stand ages, as well as their adaptive strategies and nutrient utilization mechanisms under local growth conditions, we conducted a study in the T. grandis Forest Park. This study examined five stand age groups: young (20 years), near-mature (50 years), mature (80 years), over-mature (100 years), and thousand (1,000 years). We measured the nutrient contents of soil, fresh leaves, and litterfall, and analyzed their stoichiometric relationships and nutrient resorption characteristics. Key results include:(1)The growth of T. grandis plantations was primarily limited by N during the early stages, transitioning to P limitation with increasing stand age, particularly in the over-mature stage. High C:N and C:P ratios in leaves indicated low N and P use efficiency.(2) Leaf nutrient concentrations remained relatively stable across different stand ages, whereas nutrient concentrations in litterfall gradually declined, indicating an increase in nutrient cycling efficiency. Meanwhile, soil nutrient accumulation showed a gradual increase with stand development. T. grandis exhibited distinct nutrient resorption strategies at different stand ages: PRE was higher in young stands, whereas NRE significantly increased in mature and overmature stands. Furthermore, this nutrient allocation mechanism influenced the nutritional content of T. grandis seeds, highlighting the significant impact of stand age on seed quality. (3)The nutrient characteristics of T. grandis plantations are influenced by both stand age and soil nutrient availability. Management practices should prioritize the supplementation of soil nutrients, particularly P, and the enhancement of nutrient cycling efficiency. This study offers a scientific foundation for the sustainable management and production of T. grandis plantations in the region, highlighting the importance of targeted soil nutrient management to improve ecosystem productivity and sustainability.
Keywords: Stand age, Torreya grandis, stoichiometry, Nutrient resorption, Nutrient recycling
Received: 24 Jan 2025; Accepted: 24 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 范, Jin, Tan, Huan, Chen, Wang and Han. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yini Han, Jiyang College, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang Province, China
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