Stoichiometric characteristics in Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis plantation of different ages

Abstract The stoichiometry characteristics of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis in different plantation ages (5, 10, 20, and 30 yr) in the canyon area of Guizhou Karst Plateau were studied by measuring the C, N, and P content of leaves, litter, and soil. The content of C, N, and P in leaves were 339.17−386.14, 20.95−23.65, and 1.18−1.72 g kg −1 , respectively. Carbon and P increased gradually with the plant age, but N did not change significantly. The growth of leaves changed from P restricted to N restricted. Those facts indicate that the main factors of nutrition restriction vary with plantation age. The change of C in litter was not significant with the plantation age. The highest content of N and P were in the 20‐yr plantation. By increasing the decomposition rate of litter, Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis can adapt to the vulnerable habitat of the area. The content of C, N, and P in soil and the stoichiometric characteristics did not change significantly with the plantation age in spite of the overall P deficiency. The correlation of C, N, and P content in leaves, litter, and soil continuum of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis plantation was low, and there was no significant interaction and interference, suggesting that the relationship of nutrient inheritance between the continuum of plantation needs further study. The results can set up a theory foundation for the Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis plantation nutrition management and ecosystem regulation and provide scientific basis for ecological construction and vegetation reconstruction in the canyon area of the Karst Plateau.