NDLI: Nitrogen fertilisation reduces grass-induced N$_{2}$ fixation of tree seedlings from semi-arid savannas

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Kambatuku, Jack Ratjindua Cramer, Michael D. Ward, David
Copyright Year	2012
Abstract	Coexistence of trees and grasses in nutrient-poor arid savannas may result in competition for soil N. While grasses may be more effective than woody plants in acquiring N from the soil, some leguminous woody species rely on N$_{2}$ fixation. We assessed the role of N$_{2}$ fixation in the N-budget of Acacia mellifera seedlings by varying N supply and grass competition.The contribution of N$_{2}$ fixation to the N-budget of Acacia mellifera seedlings with varying N supply and grass competition was determined by measuring growth, nutrient concentrations, and $^{15}$N values.Tree seedlings were 4-fold taller and had 20-fold more biomass in the absence of grass. Tree foliar δ$^{15}$N was lower with (−0.25 ± 0.2‰, n = 9) than without grasses (5.2 ± 0.1‰, n = 64). The contribution of N$_{2}$-fixation to the N budget decreased with increasing N supply. Greater reliance on N$_{2}$-fixation by trees in the presence of grasses did not result in greater biomass accumulation or tissue [N] relative to tree seedlings grown without grass competition. Tree seedlings competing with grass had significantly more negative δ$^{13}$C (−29.5 ± 0.6‰) than seedlings without grass competition (−28.8‰ ± 0.5‰).Induction of N$_{2}$-fixation by grass may have resulted from competition for nutrients. N$_{2}$-fixation enables tree seedlings to compensate for limited soil N and survive grass competition at a critical and vulnerable developmental stage of germination and establishment.
Starting Page	307
Ending Page	320
Page Count	14
File Format	PDF
ISSN	0032079X
Journal	Plant and Soil
Volume Number	365
Issue Number	1-2
e-ISSN	15735036
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2012-08-03
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Acacia mellifera Bush encroachment Carbon isotope discrimination δ$^{15}$N values Nitrogen fixation Semi-arid savanna Tree-grass coexistence WUE Plant Sciences Soil Science & Conservation Plant Physiology Ecology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Soil Science Plant Science

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