Nutrient Concentration and Stoichiometry in Plant Organs of Four Warm-temperate Forests in Southern Korea

Abstract

Determining the nutrient stoichiometry in plant organs is critical for understanding nutrient uptake and cycling in forest ecosystems. This study evaluated nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry in various plant organs (stem, bark, branches, and foliage) of species found in four warm-temperate forests in southern Korea. Cryptomeria japonica D. Don (CJ), Quercus serrata Thunb. (QS), evergreen broadleaved tree species (EB), and bamboo spp. (BB) were destructively sampled to measure nutrient (C, N, and P) concentrations in the plant organs. The mean C concentration in the stem was significantly higher in CJ than in QS, BB, or EB, whereas the C concentration in the foliage was the lowest in BB. The mean foliar N and P concentrations were higher in BB than in EB or CJ. The mean stem C:N and C:P ratios were highest in CJ but were lowest in the foliage of BB. Overall, stems of all species showed a strong positive correlation between C concentration and dry weight, but a negative correlation between N and dry weight. The N and P concentrations of foliage and bark were strongly correlated, whereas those of the stem and branches were poorly correlated. Positive correlations were detected between the C:N and C:P ratios in bark and foliage. These results indicate the existence of intraspecific differences in nutrient requirements in warm-temperate forest species and add to the understanding of nutrient uptake and storage patterns in the organs of species growing in warm-temperate forests.