title: Stoichiometric variation of halophytes in response to changes in soil salinity.
abstract: Variation in soil salt may change the stoichiometry of a halophyte by altering plant ecophysiology, and exert different influences on various plant organs, which has potentially important consequences for the nutrition of consumers as well as nutrient cycling in a saline ecosystem. Using a greenhouse pot experiment, we investigated the effect of salinity variability on the growth and stoichiometry of different organs of Suaeda glauca and Salicornia europaea - two dominant species of important ecological and economic value in the saline ecosystem. Our results showed that appropriate salt stimulated the growth of both species during the vigorous growth period, while high salt suppressed growth. Na significantly increased with increased salt in the culture, whereas concentrations of other measured elements and K:Na ratio for both species significantly decreased at low salt treatments, and became more gradual under higher salt conditions. Furthermore, with the change of salt in culture, variations in leaf (degenerated leaf for S. europaea, considered as young stem) stoichiometry, except N:P ratio, were large and less in stems (old stems for S. europaea) than in roots, reflecting physiological and biochemical reactions in the leaf in response to salt stress, supported by sharp changes in trends. These results suggest that appropriate saline conditions can enhance biological C fixation of halophytes; however, increasing salt could affect consumer health and decrease cycling of other nutrients in saline ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Resources and Environment, Anhui Vocational and Technical College of Forestry, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D019663:Chenopodiaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000502:physiology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000502:physiology; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Ecological stoichiometry; Salicornia europaea L; Suaeda glauca B; growth; salt stress