Responses of biomass accumulation and nutrient utilization along a phosphorus supply gradient in Leymus chinensis

Abstract Phosphorus (P) deficiencies are widespread in calcareous soils. The poor availability of nitrogen (N) and P in soils often restricts crop growth. However, the effects of P addition on plant growth and plant nutrient transport changes during the establishment of Leymus chinensis fields in Xinjiang are not clear. We investigated the responses of Leymus chinensis biomass and nutrient absorption and utilization to changes in soil N and P by adding P (0, 15.3, 30.6, and 45.9 kg P ha −1 year −1 ) with basally applied N fertilizer (150 kg N ha −1 year −1 ). The results showed that (a) Principal component analysis (PCA) of biomass, nutrient accumulation, soil available P, and soil available N during the different periods of Leymus chinensis growth showed that their cumulative contributions during the jointing and harvest periods reached 95.4% and 88%, respectively. (b) Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) increased with the increase of P fertilizer gradient and then decreased and the maximum PUE was 13.14% under moderate P addition. The accumulation of biomass and nutrients in Leymus chinensis can be effectively improved by the addition of P fertilizer at 30.6 kg ha −1 . Different P additions either moderately promoted or excessively inhibited Leymus chinensis growth and nutrient utilization.