A meta-analysis highlights globally widespread potassium limitation in terrestrial ecosystems

Chen, Baozhang1,2,3; Fang, Jingchun1,2; Piao, Shilong4; Ciais, Philippe5; Black, Thomas Andrew6; Wang, Fei7; Niu, Shuli8; Zeng, Zhenzhong9; Luo, Yiqi10

2023-10-01

10.1111/nph.19294

NEW PHYTOLOGIST   Impact Factor & Quartile

0028-646X

1469-8137

Potassium (K+) is the most abundant inorganic cation in plant cells, playing a critical role in various plant functions. However, the impacts of K on natural terrestrial ecosystems have been less studied compared with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).Here, we present a global meta-analysis aimed at quantifying the response of aboveground production to K addition. This analysis is based on 144 field K fertilization experiments. We also investigate the influences of climate, soil properties, ecosystem types, and fertilizer regimes on the responses of aboveground production.We find that: K addition significantly increases aboveground production by 12.3% (95% CI: 7.4-17.5%), suggesting a widespread occurrence of K limitation across terrestrial ecosystems; K limitation is more prominent in regions with humid climates, acidic soils, or weathered soils; the effect size of K addition varies among climate zones/regions, and is influenced by multiple factors; and previous N : K and K : P thresholds utilized to detect K limitation in wetlands cannot be applied to other biomes.Our findings emphasize the role of K in limiting terrestrial productivity, which should be integrated into future terrestrial ecosystems models.

aboveground production meta-analysis potassium fertilization potassium limitation terrestrial ecosystems

SCI

English

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This research is founded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41771114) and by Innovation Project of LREIS (No. KPI005). We sincerely thank all the scientists whose data and work were included in this meta-analysis. We are grateful to Dr Ph[41771114] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[KPI005]

Plant Sciences

Plant Sciences

WOS:001076542800001

WILEY

PLANT & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Web of Science

1.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geog Sci & Nat Resources Res, State Key Lab Resources & Environm Informat Syst, 11A Datun Rd, Beijing 100101, Peoples R China
2.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, 19A Yuquan Rd, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China
3.Nanjing Univ Informat Sci & Technol, Sch Remote Sensing & Geomat Engn, Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu, Peoples R China
4.Peking Univ, Sino French Inst Earth Syst Sci, Coll Urban & Environm Sci, Beijing 100871, Peoples R China
5.UVSQ, CNRS, CEA, Lab Sci Climat & Environm, F-91191 Gif Sur Yvette, France
6.Univ British Columbia, Fac Land & Food Syst, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
7.Shandong Acad Agr Sci, Inst Agr Informat & Econ, Jinan 250100, Peoples R China
8.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geog Sci & Nat Resources Res, Key Lab Ecosyst Network Observat & Simulat, Beijing 100101, Peoples R China
9.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
10.Cornell Univ, Sch Integrat Plant Sci, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA

Chen, Baozhang,Fang, Jingchun,Piao, Shilong,et al. A meta-analysis highlights globally widespread potassium limitation in terrestrial ecosystems[J]. NEW PHYTOLOGIST,2023.

Chen, Baozhang.,Fang, Jingchun.,Piao, Shilong.,Ciais, Philippe.,Black, Thomas Andrew.,...&Luo, Yiqi.(2023).A meta-analysis highlights globally widespread potassium limitation in terrestrial ecosystems.NEW PHYTOLOGIST.

Chen, Baozhang,et al."A meta-analysis highlights globally widespread potassium limitation in terrestrial ecosystems".NEW PHYTOLOGIST (2023).