Beneficial effects of nitrogen deposition on carbon and nitrogen accumulation in grasses over other species in Inner Mongolian grasslands

Globally, chronic nitrogen (N) deposition into terrestrial ecosystems has resulted in changes community composition, depending on the responses of co-existing species to increasing soil N availability. The levels plant non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) produced by photosynthesis are associated with leaf content, and together they represent capital a for its life including competitive ability. However, specific ways that concentrations NSCs, also N, influence growth plants, thus their productivity, still abscue. Here, we explored effect variations NSCs (starch soluble sugars) plants different uptake capacities, i.e. two grasses (Leymus chinensis Stipa baicalensis), forbs (Potentilla tanacetifolia Galium verum), one legume (Thermopsis lanceolate) Inner Mongolian grasslands subjected three addition rates (i.e., 0, 10, or 20 g m−2 yr−1) forms [i.e., NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, CO(NH2)2] four years. Irrespective rate form, significantly increased aboveground biomass grasses, but not legume. had higher increase than starch decreased Changes all tested were positively correlated both N. Our results indicate that, irrespective forms, greater contributed productivity legumes. These imply future will benefit over other former may become more dominant northern China.