Assessing long-term nutrient and lime enrichment effects on a subtropical South African grassland

Abstract

Nutrient enrichment influences grassland ecosystem structure, typically manifested by reduced species richness and increased productivity. Quantifying the long-term impacts of nutrient enrichment on grasslands contributes to understanding eutrophication effects on grassland, particularly for grasslands adapted to low soil nutrient status. Overextended time periods, nutrient enrichment may modify soil fertility. The Ukulinga Grassland Nutrient Experiment situated on a natural C₄ grassland was set up in 1951 on the Ukulinga research farm, South Africa. Continuously applied treatments on plots measuring 2.7 × 9 m include combinations of nitrogen at 0, 7, 14 and 21 g m⁻² per annum, phosphorus at 0 and 2.8 g m⁻² per annum and lime at 0 and 225 g m⁻² applied every five years. Nitrogen sources included ammonium sulphate (acidifying) and limestone ammonium nitrate (less acidifying). Grass species composition was influenced by both nitrogen forms. In contrast, forb species composition was more sensitive to LAN. We found evidence of nitrogen limitation on aboveground net-primary production. However, species richness (for grass and forbs) declined with increasing ammonium sulphate levels, owing to increased soil acidity and high aluminium concentrations. Aluminium toxicity can affect overall species composition by replacing Al-sensitive species with Al-tolerant species on site.