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Effects of continuous nitrogen addition on the quality of Leymus chinensis and soil properties in saline-sodic soil of Northeast China
  • +5
  • Lu Zhang,
  • Li-Hua Huang,
  • Jia Na,
  • Yimin Yan,
  • Mingming Wang,
  • Zheng-Wei Liang,
  • Zhichun Wang,
  • Jinxin Huang
Lu Zhang
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Li-Hua Huang
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Jia Na
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Yimin Yan
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Mingming Wang
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Zheng-Wei Liang
University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Zhichun Wang
Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Jinxin Huang
Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. (Poaceae) is the dominant plant species in the Songnen grassland of China. Nitrogen addition is an important measure to prevent degradation of grassland due to soil salinization. To clarify the effects of long-term nitrogen addition on the quality of L. chinensis and soil properties, a field experiment was continuous conducted for 10 years in moderately saline-sodic grassland from 2009 to 2018, and the annual nitrogen addition rate was 0,30,60,90,120,150,180 and 210 kg N ha-1, respectively. The results showed that with nitrogen addition rates increasing, the contents of protein and fat in shoot increased 20.5% to 80.9% and 6.9% to 69.3% compared with those of the control without nitrogen addition, respectively. When nitrogen addition rates reached 90 kg ha-1 to 210 kg ha-1, The ratio of K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ in L. chinensis shoot increased 1.26 to 3.37 times and 1.56 to 2.98 times compared with those of the control, respectively. Nitrogen addition decreased significantly soil pH, electrical conductivity and exchange sodium percentage, and increased significantly the contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, the activities of sucrase and urease and ecosystem multifunctionality(P<0.05). The redundancy analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the improvement of L. chinensis quality and soil desalination and soil fertility increasing. Therefore, the suitable nitrogen addition rate of 90-120 kg N ha-1 was an effective and necessary measure to maintain the healthy growth of L. chinensis and inhibit land degradation in moderately saline-sodic grassland of Northern China.
03 Sep 2020Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
03 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
03 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor