Effect of Stem Density on Leaf Nutrient Dynamics and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Dwarf Bamboo

The monthly dynamics of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and stocks in leaves, resorption efficiency, and resorption proficiency as well as leaf-level use efficiency, nutrient productivity, and mean residence time were studied to understand the effect of stem density of dwarf bamboo (Fargesia denudata Yi) on leaf-level N and P use efficiency in three dwarf bamboo stands with different stem densities under bamboo-fir (Picea purpurea Mast.) forest over one growing period in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. Dwarf bamboo density had little effect on the dynamics pattern of both N and P concentrations, stocks, resorption efficiency, and resorption proficiency, but strongly affected their absolute values and leaf-level use efficiency. Higher density stands stored more nutrients but had lower concentrations. There was a clear difference in the resorption of limiting nutrient (N) and non-limiting nutrient (P) among the stands. Phosphorus resorption efficiency, N resorption proficiency, and P resorption proficiency increased with increase of stem density, but no significant variation of N resorption efficiency was found among the stands. Moreover, the higher density stands used both N and P more efficiently with higher N productivity and higher P mean residence time, respectively. Higher P productivity was found in the lower density stands, but there was no clear variation in the N mean residence time among stands. These suggested that the higher density stands may have more efficient strategies for utilizing nutrients, especially those which are limiting.