To determine the effects of preharvest arginine spraying on the nutritional level of broccoli and the mechanism of action of arginine in improving the storage quality of broccoli,arginine spraying(5 mmol/L)was conduct...To determine the effects of preharvest arginine spraying on the nutritional level of broccoli and the mechanism of action of arginine in improving the storage quality of broccoli,arginine spraying(5 mmol/L)was conducted at 0,1,3,and 5 days before harvest.The appearance,respiration rate,mass-loss rate,electrolyte leakage,glucosinolate,ascorbic acid,total phenol,total flavonoid,total sugar and sucrose contents,and sucrose phosphate synthase(SPS),invertase(INV),sucrose synthase synthesis(SSS)and cleavage(SSC)activities of broccoli samples were observed after 0,2,4,6,8,and 10 days of storage.The results showed that spraying arginine at 5 days preharvest(5-ARG)helped to inhibit broccoli respiration during storage,delay electrolyte leakage,and maintain broccoli color.Furthermore,during the growth stage,total sugar accumulation was higher in the 5-ARG group.In addition,during the storage period,sucrose synthesis was accelerated,while sucrose cleavage was inhibited,resulting in more sucrose retention in postharvest broccoli.In conclusion,5-ARG resulted in the accumulation of more nutrients during the growth process and effectively delayed the quality decline during storage,thereby prolonging the shelf life of broccoli.Therefore,this study provides a theoretical basis for improving postharvest storage characteristics of broccoli through preharvest treatments.展开更多
The nutrient digestion,absorption and biological activity of bee pollen may be limited due to the complex pollen wall.Here,the effect of superfine grinding technology on the release of nutrients from bee pollen were i...The nutrient digestion,absorption and biological activity of bee pollen may be limited due to the complex pollen wall.Here,the effect of superfine grinding technology on the release of nutrients from bee pollen were investigated,and their antioxidant activities and in vitro digestion were explored in this study.Results showed that the content of nutrients in bee pollen increased after wall disruption.Among them,fat content increased by 22.55%-8.31%,protein content increased by 0.54%-4.91%,starch content increased by 36.31%-48.64%,soluble sugar content increased by 20.57%-29.67%,total phenolic acid content increased by 11.73%-86.98%and total flavonoids content increased by 14.29%-24.79%.At the same time,the antioxidant activity increased by 14.84%-46.00%.Furthermore,the active components such as phenolic compounds in the wall-disruption bee pollen were more readily to be released during the in vitro digestion,and easier to be absorbed because of their higher bioaccessibility.Antioxidant activities during in vitro digestion were also improved in walldisruption bee pollen.These findings provide evidence that bee pollen wall disruption was suggested,thus,it is more conducive to exerting the value of bee pollen in functional foods.展开更多
Native grasslands in the Pampas of South America are increasingly being replaced by Eucalyptus and Pinus stands.The short rotation regimes used for the stands require high nutrient levels,with litterfall being a major...Native grasslands in the Pampas of South America are increasingly being replaced by Eucalyptus and Pinus stands.The short rotation regimes used for the stands require high nutrient levels,with litterfall being a major source of nutrient return.To model the litterfall production using climatic variables and assess the nutrient return in 14-year-old Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus taeda stands,we measured litter production over 2 years,using conical litter traps,and monitored climatic variables.Mean temperature,accumulated precipitation,and mean maximum vapor pres-sure deficit at the seasonal level influenced litterfall produc-tion by E.grandis;seasonal accumulated precipitation and mean maximum temperature affected litterfall by P.taeda.The regression tree modeling based on these climatic vari-ables had great accuracy and predictive power for E.grandis(N=33;MAE(mean absolute error)=0.65;RMSE(root mean square error)=0.91;R^(2)=0.71)and P.taeda(N=108;MAE=1.50;RMSE=1.59;R^(2)=0.72).The nutrient return followed a similar pattern to litterfall deposition,as well as the order of importance of macronutrients(E.grandis:Ca>N>K>Mg>P;P.taeda:N>Ca>K>Mg>P)and micronutrients(E.grandis and P.taeda:Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu)in both species.This study constitutes a first approximation of factors that affect litterfall and nutrient return in these systems.展开更多
Litterfall is the largest source of nutrients to for-est soils of tropical rainforests.However,variability in lit-terfall production,nutrient remobilization,and changes in leaf nutrient concentration with climate seas...Litterfall is the largest source of nutrients to for-est soils of tropical rainforests.However,variability in lit-terfall production,nutrient remobilization,and changes in leaf nutrient concentration with climate seasonality remain largely unknown for the central Amazon.This study meas-ured litterfall production,leaf nutrient remobilization,and leaf area index on a forest plateau in the central Amazon.Litterfall was measured at monthly intervals during 2014,while nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium,calcium and mag-nesium concentrations of leaf litter and canopy leaves were measured in the dry and rainy seasons,and remobilization rates determined.Leaf area index was also recorded in the dry and rainy seasons.Monthly litterfall varied from 33.2(in the rainy season)to 87.6 g m^(-2) in the dry season,while leaf area index increased slightly in the rainy season.Climatic seasonality had no effect on concentrations of nitrogen,calcium,and magnesium,whereas phosphorous and potassium responded to rainfall seasonality oppositely.While phosphorous increased,potassium decreased during the dry season.Over seasons,nitrogen,potassium,and phosphorous decreased in leaf litter;calcium increased in leaf litter,while magnesium remained unaffected with leaf aging.Regardless,the five nutrients had similar remobilization rates over the year.The absence of climate seasonality on nutrient remobilization suggests that the current length of the dry season does not alter nutrient remobilization rates but this may change as dry periods become more prolonged in the future due to climate change.展开更多
Sourdough is often considered a healthy choice and quality improver for use in cereal production due to its unique microbial composition and fermentation properties.During sourdough fermentation of cereals,biotransfor...Sourdough is often considered a healthy choice and quality improver for use in cereal production due to its unique microbial composition and fermentation properties.During sourdough fermentation of cereals,biotransformation of nutrients occurs,resulting in notable changes to proteins,carbohydrates,fats,vitamins,and minerals.Each nutrient undergoes specific transformations,providing various advantages for human health.Proteins undergo hydrolysis to produce small molecular weight peptides and amino acids that are more easily digested and absorbed by the human body.Carbohydrates break down to improve the digestibility and absorption of cereals and lower the glycemic index.Fatty acids experience oxidation to produce new substances with health benefits.Additionally,the application of sourdough fermentation can enhance the texture,flavor,and nutritional value of cereal foods while also extending their shelf life and improving food safety.In conclusion,sourdough fermentation has a broad range of applications in cereal food processing.Further research is encouraged to investigate the mechanisms and processes of sourdough fermentation to develop even more nutritious,healthy,and flavorful cereal-based foods.展开更多
Increased nitrogen(N)input can potentially lead to secondary phosphorus(P)limitation;however,it remains unclear whether differences in the plant's ability to cope with this P deficiency are related to their growth...Increased nitrogen(N)input can potentially lead to secondary phosphorus(P)limitation;however,it remains unclear whether differences in the plant's ability to cope with this P deficiency are related to their growth responses.Using a long-term experiment of N addition in a boreal forest,we explored the potential role of plant nutrient resorption efficiency and its stoichiometry in mediating plant growth responses to increased N input.We recorded the cover and measured the concentration and resorption efficiency of leaf N and P as well as the photosynthesis of a grass Deyeuxia angustifolia and a shrub Vaccinium vitis-idaea.The cover of the grass D.angustifolia increased with increasing N addition,while that of the shrub V.vitis-idaea decreased with N addition rate and almost disappeared from the high-level N addition over time.P resorption efficiency(PRE)increased in D.angustifolia but decreased in V.vitis-idaea with increasing leaf N:P which was increased by N addition for both species.In addition,photosynthesis increased linearly with N resorption efficiency(NRE)and PRE but was better explained by NRE:PRE,changing nonlinearly with the ratio in a hump-shaped trend.Furthermore,the variance(CV)of NRE:PRE for V.vitis-idaea(123%)was considerably higher than that for D.angustifolia(29%),indicating a more stable nutrient resorption stoichiometry of the grass.Taken together,these results highlight that efficient P acquisition and use strategy through nutrient resorption processes could be a pivotal underlying mechanism driving plant growth and community composition shifts under N enrichment.展开更多
Given the high-level physiological functions and nutrient concentrations of bark that cover the entire trunks of huge trees,research into bark nutrient traits and the development of models that estimate the bark bioma...Given the high-level physiological functions and nutrient concentrations of bark that cover the entire trunks of huge trees,research into bark nutrient traits and the development of models that estimate the bark biomass of tropical trees is essential when it is sought to understand forest nutrient cycling and tree ecological traits.This study investigated the concentrations of six bark nutrients(nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),potassium(K),calcium(Ca),magnesium(Mg),and sodium(Na))by individual tree size and the soil nutrient concentrations for two major pioneer species(Macaranga gigantea and M.hosei)of Malaysia.To estimate bark biomass,allometric equations using tree diameter,height,and crown diameter were developed by combining previous data from adjacent forests with the present data.We found no significant relationship between tree size and most bark nutrient concentrations,though all nutrient concentrations of the two pioneer trees were significantly higher than those of primary forest tree species.Surprisingly,no relationship was found between the soil and bark nutrient concentrations for either species.All the size parameters used in the allometric equations accurately estimated bark biomass.There were no differences in equations between the two species when diameter served as an explanatory variable,but differences were apparent when height and crown diameter were so used.A comparison of allometric equations that yielded the bark biomasses of different types of forest showed that the bark biomass of the tropical secondary forest trees was less than half of that of tropical dry forest trees of the same diameter.Thus,the use of inappropriate equations and nutrient concentrations increases the possibility of serious errors in estimating bark biomass and forest nutrient cycles.展开更多
Four types of soils, including brown coniferous forest soil, dark brown soil, black soil, and black calic soil, sampled from three different places in northeast China were used in this test. The functions of two root-...Four types of soils, including brown coniferous forest soil, dark brown soil, black soil, and black calic soil, sampled from three different places in northeast China were used in this test. The functions of two root-derived organic acids and water were simulated and compared in the activation of mineral nutrients from the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that the organic acids could activate the nutrients and the activated degree of the nutrient elements highly depended on the amount and types of the organic acid excreted and on the physiochemical and biochemical properties of the soil tested. The activation effect of the citric acid was obviously higher than that of malic acid in extracting Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn for all the tested soil types. However, the activation efficiencies of P, K, Ca, and Mg extracting by the citric acid were not much higher, sometimes even lower, than those by malic acid. The solution concentration of all elements increased with increase of amount of the citric acid added.展开更多
The concentrations of the foliar and surface soil nutrients and the variation with species and stand age were studied inPinus spp. plantations in Zhanggutai area, northeast China. The results showed that the total N, ...The concentrations of the foliar and surface soil nutrients and the variation with species and stand age were studied inPinus spp. plantations in Zhanggutai area, northeast China. The results showed that the total N, total P and C: N ratio of the soil inP. sylvestris var.mongolica stands were significantly higher in comparison with those inP. tabulaeformis andP. densiflora stands. ForP. sylvestris var.mongolica, the foliar P concentration appeared to decrease with age, and the foliar N and K concentrations did not show a consistent change with age. As for the different tree species of the similar age, the foliar N and P concentrations were significantly different (p<0.05), being withP. sylvestris var.mongolica>P. densiflora>P. tabulaeformis. The foliar N: P ratio ofP. densiflora significantly was higher thanP. sylvestris var.mongolica andP. tabulaeformis, while the foliar K was no obvious difference between the three tree species. There were significant correlation (p<0.05) between soil total N and P, soil organic matter and total P, foliar N and P, but it did not show significant correlations between soil and foliar nutrient concentrations, which might attribute to the excessive litter raking, overgrazing and low soil moisture in this area. Based on the foliar N: P ratio, we introduced a combination threshold index of N: P ratio with their absolute foliar nutrient concentrations to determine the possible limiting nutrient. According to the critical N: P ratio and their absolute foliar N, P concentrations, theP. sylvestris var.mongolica stands showed a decreased N limitation degree with age, theP. densiflora stands showed unlimited by N and P in the whole, and theP. tabulaeformis stands showed co-limited by N and P. No significant difference in soil nutrient concentrations of the surface soils was found between 45, 29, 20-yr-oldPinus sylvestris var.mongolica plantation stands. Keywords coniferous trees - foliar nutrient concentration - limiting nutrients - N - P ratio - Zhanggutai sandy land CLC number S718.55 Document code A Article ID 1007-662X(2004)01-0011-08 Foundation item: This research was supported by Key Knowledge Innovation Project (KZCX3-SW-418) of Chinese Academy of Sciences.Biography: CHEN Guang-sheng (1978-), male, master candidate in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. ChinaResponsible editor: Song Funan展开更多
文摘To determine the effects of preharvest arginine spraying on the nutritional level of broccoli and the mechanism of action of arginine in improving the storage quality of broccoli,arginine spraying(5 mmol/L)was conducted at 0,1,3,and 5 days before harvest.The appearance,respiration rate,mass-loss rate,electrolyte leakage,glucosinolate,ascorbic acid,total phenol,total flavonoid,total sugar and sucrose contents,and sucrose phosphate synthase(SPS),invertase(INV),sucrose synthase synthesis(SSS)and cleavage(SSC)activities of broccoli samples were observed after 0,2,4,6,8,and 10 days of storage.The results showed that spraying arginine at 5 days preharvest(5-ARG)helped to inhibit broccoli respiration during storage,delay electrolyte leakage,and maintain broccoli color.Furthermore,during the growth stage,total sugar accumulation was higher in the 5-ARG group.In addition,during the storage period,sucrose synthesis was accelerated,while sucrose cleavage was inhibited,resulting in more sucrose retention in postharvest broccoli.In conclusion,5-ARG resulted in the accumulation of more nutrients during the growth process and effectively delayed the quality decline during storage,thereby prolonging the shelf life of broccoli.Therefore,this study provides a theoretical basis for improving postharvest storage characteristics of broccoli through preharvest treatments.
基金the Program of State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,Nanchang University (SKLF-ZZB-202119)。
文摘The nutrient digestion,absorption and biological activity of bee pollen may be limited due to the complex pollen wall.Here,the effect of superfine grinding technology on the release of nutrients from bee pollen were investigated,and their antioxidant activities and in vitro digestion were explored in this study.Results showed that the content of nutrients in bee pollen increased after wall disruption.Among them,fat content increased by 22.55%-8.31%,protein content increased by 0.54%-4.91%,starch content increased by 36.31%-48.64%,soluble sugar content increased by 20.57%-29.67%,total phenolic acid content increased by 11.73%-86.98%and total flavonoids content increased by 14.29%-24.79%.At the same time,the antioxidant activity increased by 14.84%-46.00%.Furthermore,the active components such as phenolic compounds in the wall-disruption bee pollen were more readily to be released during the in vitro digestion,and easier to be absorbed because of their higher bioaccessibility.Antioxidant activities during in vitro digestion were also improved in walldisruption bee pollen.These findings provide evidence that bee pollen wall disruption was suggested,thus,it is more conducive to exerting the value of bee pollen in functional foods.
基金funded by Lumin S.A. and the Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII)[POS_NAC_2016_1_130479]
文摘Native grasslands in the Pampas of South America are increasingly being replaced by Eucalyptus and Pinus stands.The short rotation regimes used for the stands require high nutrient levels,with litterfall being a major source of nutrient return.To model the litterfall production using climatic variables and assess the nutrient return in 14-year-old Eucalyptus grandis and Pinus taeda stands,we measured litter production over 2 years,using conical litter traps,and monitored climatic variables.Mean temperature,accumulated precipitation,and mean maximum vapor pres-sure deficit at the seasonal level influenced litterfall produc-tion by E.grandis;seasonal accumulated precipitation and mean maximum temperature affected litterfall by P.taeda.The regression tree modeling based on these climatic vari-ables had great accuracy and predictive power for E.grandis(N=33;MAE(mean absolute error)=0.65;RMSE(root mean square error)=0.91;R^(2)=0.71)and P.taeda(N=108;MAE=1.50;RMSE=1.59;R^(2)=0.72).The nutrient return followed a similar pattern to litterfall deposition,as well as the order of importance of macronutrients(E.grandis:Ca>N>K>Mg>P;P.taeda:N>Ca>K>Mg>P)and micronutrients(E.grandis and P.taeda:Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu)in both species.This study constitutes a first approximation of factors that affect litterfall and nutrient return in these systems.
基金supported by the Ministerio da Ciencia,Tecnologia e Inovacoes (MCTI-INPA),Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq,grant number:303913/2021-5)Fundagao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM)Coordenagao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES code 0001).
文摘Litterfall is the largest source of nutrients to for-est soils of tropical rainforests.However,variability in lit-terfall production,nutrient remobilization,and changes in leaf nutrient concentration with climate seasonality remain largely unknown for the central Amazon.This study meas-ured litterfall production,leaf nutrient remobilization,and leaf area index on a forest plateau in the central Amazon.Litterfall was measured at monthly intervals during 2014,while nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium,calcium and mag-nesium concentrations of leaf litter and canopy leaves were measured in the dry and rainy seasons,and remobilization rates determined.Leaf area index was also recorded in the dry and rainy seasons.Monthly litterfall varied from 33.2(in the rainy season)to 87.6 g m^(-2) in the dry season,while leaf area index increased slightly in the rainy season.Climatic seasonality had no effect on concentrations of nitrogen,calcium,and magnesium,whereas phosphorous and potassium responded to rainfall seasonality oppositely.While phosphorous increased,potassium decreased during the dry season.Over seasons,nitrogen,potassium,and phosphorous decreased in leaf litter;calcium increased in leaf litter,while magnesium remained unaffected with leaf aging.Regardless,the five nutrients had similar remobilization rates over the year.The absence of climate seasonality on nutrient remobilization suggests that the current length of the dry season does not alter nutrient remobilization rates but this may change as dry periods become more prolonged in the future due to climate change.
基金supported by the Graduate Education Innovation and Quality Improvement Project of Henan University(No.SYLYC2023185).
文摘Sourdough is often considered a healthy choice and quality improver for use in cereal production due to its unique microbial composition and fermentation properties.During sourdough fermentation of cereals,biotransformation of nutrients occurs,resulting in notable changes to proteins,carbohydrates,fats,vitamins,and minerals.Each nutrient undergoes specific transformations,providing various advantages for human health.Proteins undergo hydrolysis to produce small molecular weight peptides and amino acids that are more easily digested and absorbed by the human body.Carbohydrates break down to improve the digestibility and absorption of cereals and lower the glycemic index.Fatty acids experience oxidation to produce new substances with health benefits.Additionally,the application of sourdough fermentation can enhance the texture,flavor,and nutritional value of cereal foods while also extending their shelf life and improving food safety.In conclusion,sourdough fermentation has a broad range of applications in cereal food processing.Further research is encouraged to investigate the mechanisms and processes of sourdough fermentation to develop even more nutritious,healthy,and flavorful cereal-based foods.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31988102,32301390)Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,CAS(No.QYZDY-SSW-SMC011)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022T150697)supported by the postdoctoral fellowship program of CPSF under grant number GZC20240856.
文摘Increased nitrogen(N)input can potentially lead to secondary phosphorus(P)limitation;however,it remains unclear whether differences in the plant's ability to cope with this P deficiency are related to their growth responses.Using a long-term experiment of N addition in a boreal forest,we explored the potential role of plant nutrient resorption efficiency and its stoichiometry in mediating plant growth responses to increased N input.We recorded the cover and measured the concentration and resorption efficiency of leaf N and P as well as the photosynthesis of a grass Deyeuxia angustifolia and a shrub Vaccinium vitis-idaea.The cover of the grass D.angustifolia increased with increasing N addition,while that of the shrub V.vitis-idaea decreased with N addition rate and almost disappeared from the high-level N addition over time.P resorption efficiency(PRE)increased in D.angustifolia but decreased in V.vitis-idaea with increasing leaf N:P which was increased by N addition for both species.In addition,photosynthesis increased linearly with N resorption efficiency(NRE)and PRE but was better explained by NRE:PRE,changing nonlinearly with the ratio in a hump-shaped trend.Furthermore,the variance(CV)of NRE:PRE for V.vitis-idaea(123%)was considerably higher than that for D.angustifolia(29%),indicating a more stable nutrient resorption stoichiometry of the grass.Taken together,these results highlight that efficient P acquisition and use strategy through nutrient resorption processes could be a pivotal underlying mechanism driving plant growth and community composition shifts under N enrichment.
基金supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research(Nos.24405032,17H04623,20K06153 and 21H05316)JST/JICA,SATREPS(JPMJSA1902)an Adaptive Forestry research program from the Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences.
文摘Given the high-level physiological functions and nutrient concentrations of bark that cover the entire trunks of huge trees,research into bark nutrient traits and the development of models that estimate the bark biomass of tropical trees is essential when it is sought to understand forest nutrient cycling and tree ecological traits.This study investigated the concentrations of six bark nutrients(nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),potassium(K),calcium(Ca),magnesium(Mg),and sodium(Na))by individual tree size and the soil nutrient concentrations for two major pioneer species(Macaranga gigantea and M.hosei)of Malaysia.To estimate bark biomass,allometric equations using tree diameter,height,and crown diameter were developed by combining previous data from adjacent forests with the present data.We found no significant relationship between tree size and most bark nutrient concentrations,though all nutrient concentrations of the two pioneer trees were significantly higher than those of primary forest tree species.Surprisingly,no relationship was found between the soil and bark nutrient concentrations for either species.All the size parameters used in the allometric equations accurately estimated bark biomass.There were no differences in equations between the two species when diameter served as an explanatory variable,but differences were apparent when height and crown diameter were so used.A comparison of allometric equations that yielded the bark biomasses of different types of forest showed that the bark biomass of the tropical secondary forest trees was less than half of that of tropical dry forest trees of the same diameter.Thus,the use of inappropriate equations and nutrient concentrations increases the possibility of serious errors in estimating bark biomass and forest nutrient cycles.
基金This paper was supported by the Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX1-SW-01) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070158)
文摘Four types of soils, including brown coniferous forest soil, dark brown soil, black soil, and black calic soil, sampled from three different places in northeast China were used in this test. The functions of two root-derived organic acids and water were simulated and compared in the activation of mineral nutrients from the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that the organic acids could activate the nutrients and the activated degree of the nutrient elements highly depended on the amount and types of the organic acid excreted and on the physiochemical and biochemical properties of the soil tested. The activation effect of the citric acid was obviously higher than that of malic acid in extracting Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn for all the tested soil types. However, the activation efficiencies of P, K, Ca, and Mg extracting by the citric acid were not much higher, sometimes even lower, than those by malic acid. The solution concentration of all elements increased with increase of amount of the citric acid added.
基金Key Knowledge Innovation Project (KZCX3-SW-418) of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘The concentrations of the foliar and surface soil nutrients and the variation with species and stand age were studied inPinus spp. plantations in Zhanggutai area, northeast China. The results showed that the total N, total P and C: N ratio of the soil inP. sylvestris var.mongolica stands were significantly higher in comparison with those inP. tabulaeformis andP. densiflora stands. ForP. sylvestris var.mongolica, the foliar P concentration appeared to decrease with age, and the foliar N and K concentrations did not show a consistent change with age. As for the different tree species of the similar age, the foliar N and P concentrations were significantly different (p<0.05), being withP. sylvestris var.mongolica>P. densiflora>P. tabulaeformis. The foliar N: P ratio ofP. densiflora significantly was higher thanP. sylvestris var.mongolica andP. tabulaeformis, while the foliar K was no obvious difference between the three tree species. There were significant correlation (p<0.05) between soil total N and P, soil organic matter and total P, foliar N and P, but it did not show significant correlations between soil and foliar nutrient concentrations, which might attribute to the excessive litter raking, overgrazing and low soil moisture in this area. Based on the foliar N: P ratio, we introduced a combination threshold index of N: P ratio with their absolute foliar nutrient concentrations to determine the possible limiting nutrient. According to the critical N: P ratio and their absolute foliar N, P concentrations, theP. sylvestris var.mongolica stands showed a decreased N limitation degree with age, theP. densiflora stands showed unlimited by N and P in the whole, and theP. tabulaeformis stands showed co-limited by N and P. No significant difference in soil nutrient concentrations of the surface soils was found between 45, 29, 20-yr-oldPinus sylvestris var.mongolica plantation stands. Keywords coniferous trees - foliar nutrient concentration - limiting nutrients - N - P ratio - Zhanggutai sandy land CLC number S718.55 Document code A Article ID 1007-662X(2004)01-0011-08 Foundation item: This research was supported by Key Knowledge Innovation Project (KZCX3-SW-418) of Chinese Academy of Sciences.Biography: CHEN Guang-sheng (1978-), male, master candidate in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. ChinaResponsible editor: Song Funan
