Plants in most terrestrial ecosystems are limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Amending soils with either one of these nutrients often stimulates primary production, which is interpreted as evidence for widespread nutrient limitation of plants. However, nutrient additions may also decrease primary production, raising the question as to why adding nutrients can have a negative effect on plant growth. Here we provide a general stoichiometric framework for interpreting these contrasting effects.
Revised: February 12, 2019 |
Published: September 10, 2018
Citation
Capek P., S. Manzoni, E. Kastovska, B. Wild, K. Diakova, J. Barta, and J. Schnecker, et al. 2018.A plant-microbe interaction framework explaining nutrient effects on primary production.Nature Ecology & Evolution 2, no. 10:1588-1596.PNNL-SA-134033.doi:10.1038/s41559-018-0662-8