Nitrogen use efficiency of terrestrial plants in China: geographic patterns, evolution, and determinants

Abstract Background Plant nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an important ecological indicator that reflects the capacity of a plant to transform into production, which essential for further elucidating growth and terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Although there are growing number studies address NUE changes at local scales, variations over large spatial scales remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed geographic patterns explored its phylogenic environmental drivers across 1452 species 1102 sites in China. Results tended decrease with latitude ( r = ? 0.56), whereas it increased longitude 0.54), varied widely different ecosystems life forms. Furthermore, was negatively correlated foliar phosphorus concentration 0.53), soil pH 0.10), total 0.13) available 0.05), but positively mean annual temperature 0.32), precipitation 0.27), aridity index 0.26). significantly altered phylogeny evolved toward lower value 0.28), may have been due increasing deposition fixation biogeochemical evolution. Overall, combination concentration, phylogeny, climate, properties accounted 52.7% NUE. particular, most factor, evolutionary history second contributing variations. Conclusions Our study emphasizes pivotal role stoichiometry cycling suggests incorporating them earth system models better understanding context changes.