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2018 , Vol. 35 >Issue 6: 749 - 760

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7523/j.issn.2095-6134.2018.06.006

Gradient variation of δ15N values in herbs and its indication to environmental information in the agro-pastoral ecotone in the north of China

  • LIU Xianzhao ,
  • ZHANG Yong ,
  • SU Qing ,
  • LI Zhenguo ,
  • FENG Teng ,
  • SONG Yan
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  • 1 School of Resource, Environment and Safety Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, Hunan, China;
    2 State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210000, China;
    3 College of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, Hunan, China

Received date: 2017-07-24

  Revised date: 2017-11-30

  Online published: 2018-11-15

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Abstract

Nitrogen isotope signature (δ15N) in plants is an effective indicator for evaluating ecosystem nitrogen cycling and monitoring changes of climate environment. Investigation of δ15N for herbs and soils was conducted along the 400mm isoline of annual mean precipitation in the agro-pastoral ecotone in the north of China(APENC). The relationships between the δ15N values and environmental factors were analyzed. The main results are shown as follows. 1)The δ15N values of all herbs in this region ranged between -5.5‰ and -15.3‰ (the mean value:4.02‰). The C3 herbs had a wider range of the δ15N value (-5.5‰-15.0‰) and a significantly lower mean value than the C4 herbs (-2.85‰-15.3‰). The soil δ15N value varied from 1.42‰ to 9.11‰ with a mean value of 4.74‰. 2)The δ15N values of the C3 and C4 herbs and 2 eurytopic species were all positively correlated with the latitude and longitude(except the relationship between δ15N of C4 herbs and longitude), while displayed a weak relationship with the altitude. 3)The δ15N values of herbs amd soil showed obviously negative trends with temperature. The δ15N-temperature coefficients for C3 and C4 herbs were -0.41‰/℃ and -0.39‰/℃, respectively. However, the δ15N values of herbs showed a weak negative trend with precipitation. 4)Partial correlation analysis showed that the correlation between δ15N and the annual mean temperature was more significant after controlling precipitation. However, the relation between herbs δ15N and the annual mean precipitation was weaker after controlling temperature. This study indicates that the temperature may be a key factor affecting plant δ15N under the condition of little moisture change, and the δ15N value may provide an indication to temperature changes in APENC.

Key words： nitrogen isotope; herbs; environmental information; agro-pasture ecotone in the north of China

Cite this article

LIU Xianzhao , ZHANG Yong , SU Qing , LI Zhenguo , FENG Teng , SONG Yan . Gradient variation of δ15N values in herbs and its indication to environmental information in the agro-pastoral ecotone in the north of China[J]. Journal of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2018 , 35(6) : 749 -760 . DOI: 10.7523/j.issn.2095-6134.2018.06.006

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