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Leaf economic strategies drive global variation in phosphorus stimulation of terrestrial plant production

Author

Listed:
  • Nan Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    China National Botanical Garden
    Yuquanlu)

  • Constantin M. Zohner

    (Universitätsstrasse 16)

  • Thomas W. Crowther

    (Universitätsstrasse 16)

  • Jiguang Feng

    (Inner Mongolia University
    Hohai University)

  • Jin Wu

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong
    Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Xinli Chen

    (Zhejiang A&F University)

  • Wenxuan Han

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Benjamin D. Stocker

    (University of Bern)

  • Dafeng Hui

    (Tennessee State University)

  • Laurent Augusto

    (ISPA)

  • Kai Yue

    (Fujian Normal University)

  • Enqing Hou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China)

  • Mingkai Jiang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Huili Feng

    (Hainan University)

  • Zixin Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    China National Botanical Garden
    Yuquanlu)

  • Wenjuan Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    China National Botanical Garden
    Yuquanlu)

  • Aijun Xing

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    China National Botanical Garden
    Yuquanlu)

  • Chengrong Chen

    (Griffith University
    Griffith University)

  • Jordi Sardans

    (Bellaterra
    Cerdanyola del Vallès)

  • Yiqi Luo

    (Cornell University)

  • Josep Peñuelas

    (Bellaterra
    Cerdanyola del Vallès)

  • Hans Lambers

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Jingyun Fang

    (Peking University
    Peking University)

  • Zhengbing Yan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    China National Botanical Garden
    Yuquanlu)

Abstract

Plant biomass and its allocation are fundamental for understanding biospheric matter production. However, the impacts of atmospheric phosphorus (P) deposition on species-specific biomass and its allocation in global terrestrial plants remain unclear. By synthesizing 5548 observations of plant biomass and its allocation related to P addition worldwide, we find that P addition increases plant biomass by an average of 35% globally. This increase varies across plant functional groups, with stronger responses in deciduous (45%), C3 (36%), and N2-fixing plants (54%) than in evergreen (28%), C4 (19%), and non-N2-fixing plants (31%), respectively. Plants possessing traits indicative of an acquisitive strategy, such as higher nutrient concentrations and specific leaf area, faster photosynthetic rates and shorter leaf lifespan, are particularly responsive to P addition. Furthermore, P addition promotes a greater allocation of biomass to aboveground than belowground organs, resulting in a 5% decrease in root-to-shoot ratio. Our findings provide global-scale quantifications of how P addition regulates biomass accumulation and allocation strategies in terrestrial plants, offering critical insights for predicting the response of terrestrial carbon storage to rising atmospheric P deposition.

Suggested Citation

  • Nan Yang & Constantin M. Zohner & Thomas W. Crowther & Jiguang Feng & Jin Wu & Xinli Chen & Wenxuan Han & Benjamin D. Stocker & Dafeng Hui & Laurent Augusto & Kai Yue & Enqing Hou & Mingkai Jiang & Hu, 2025. "Leaf economic strategies drive global variation in phosphorus stimulation of terrestrial plant production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60633-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60633-4
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