Climate change alters stoichiometry of phosphorus and nitrogen in a semiarid grassland

Summary Nitrogen ( N ) and phosphorus ( P ) are essential nutrients for primary producers and decomposers in terrestrial ecosystems. Although climate change affects terrestrial N cycling with important feedbacks to plant productivity and carbon sequestration, the impacts of climate change on the relative availability of N with respect to P remain highly uncertain. In a semiarid grassland in Wyoming, USA , we studied the effects of atmospheric CO 2 enrichment (to 600 ppmv) and warming (1.5/3.0°C above ambient temperature during the day/night) on plant, microbial and available soil pools of N and P. Elevated CO 2 increased P availability to plants and microbes relative to that of N , whereas warming reduced P availability relative to N . Across years and treatments, plant N : P ratios varied between 5 and 18 and were inversely related to soil moisture. Our results indicate that soil moisture is important in controlling P supply from inorganic sources, causing reduced P relative to N availability during dry periods. Both wetter soil conditions under elevated CO 2 and drier conditions with warming can further alter N : P . Although warming may alleviate N constraints under elevated CO 2 , warming and drought can exacerbate P constraints on plant growth and microbial activity in this semiarid grassland.