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Nitrogen limitation, ¹⁵N tracer retention, and growth response in intact and Bromus tectorum-invaded Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis communities Public Deposited

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/5x21tg037

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Abstract
  • Annual grass invasion into shrub-dominated ecosystems is associated with changes in nutrient cycling that may alter nitrogen (N) limitation and retention. Carbon (C) applications that reduce plant-available N have been suggested to give native perennial vegetation a competitive advantage over exotic annual grasses, but plant community and N retention responses to C addition remain poorly understood in these ecosystems. The main objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the degree of N limitation of plant biomass in intact versus B. tectorum-invaded sagebrush communities, (2) determine if plant N limitation patterns are reflected in the strength of tracer ¹⁵N retention over two growing seasons, and (3) assess if the strength of plant N limitation predicts the efficacy of carbon additions intended to reduce soil N availability and plant growth. Labile C additions reduced biomass of exotic annual species; however, growth of native A. tridentata shrubs also declined. Exotic annual and native perennial plant communities had divergent responses to added N, with B. tectorum displaying greater ability to use added N to rapidly increase aboveground biomass, and native perennials increasing their tissue N concentration but showing little growth response. Few differences in N pools between the annual and native communities were detected. In contrast to expectations, however, more ¹⁵N was retained over two growing seasons in the invaded annual grass than in the native shrub community. Our data suggest that N cycling in converted exotic annual grasslands of the northern Intermountain West, USA, may retain N more strongly than previously thought.
  • Keywords: Exotic annual grass, Nutrient amendments, Sagebrush steppe, Cheatgrass, Carbon addition
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  • Witwicki, D. L., Doescher, P. S., Pyke, D. A., DeCrappeo, N. M., & Perakis, S. S. (2013). Nitrogen limitation, 15N tracer retention, and growth response in intact and bromus tectorum-invaded artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis communities. Oecologia, 171(4), 1013.
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  • 171
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  • 4
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  • This study was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (CREES Agreement 2001-52103-11322) and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Coordinated Intermountain Restoration Project.
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