Abstract:
Styrax zhejiangensis endemic to Zhejiang Province is a wild plant species with an extremely small population, Investigating the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents and their stoichiometric ratios in leaves and rhizosphere soils can provide essential baseline data for soil nutrient management in its forest land habitats. In this study, leaf and rhizosphere soil samples of S.
Zhejiangensis were collected from two near situ conservation sites (Site Ⅰ and Site Ⅱ) and its native habitat. The C, N, and P contents and their stoichiometric ratios were determined and analyzed. The results showed that leaf C, N and P contents ranged from 440.03~444.65, 29.96~34.93, and 1.65~1.77 g·kg
−1, respectively, while C∶N, C∶P and N∶P ratios of leaves ranged from 12.73~14.70, 248.60~268.95, and 17.84~21.13, respectively. Compared with the native habitat, leaf N content at near-situ conservation Site Ⅱ was significantly higher (
P<0.05), whereas leaf C∶N ratio significantly decreased (
P<0.05). Soil C, N and P contents ranged from 27.49~38.45, 0.99~1.67, and 1.27~1.30 g·kg
−1, respectively, with soil C∶N, C∶P and N∶P ratios ranging from 21.96~27.77, 21.59~30.28, and 0.78~1.31, respectively. At near-situ conservation Site Ⅱ, soil C and N contents, as well as soil C∶P ratio, were significantly lower than those in the native habitat; soil N∶P was significantly lower than that at the other two sites (
P<0.05), while soil C:N ratio was significantly higher than that at Site Ⅰ (
P<0.05). Leaf N content was significantly negatively correlated with soil C, N, C∶P ratio and N:P ratio (
P<0.05), whereas leaf C∶N ratio was highly significant positive correlated with soil C and N contents, as well as soil C∶P and N∶P (
P<0.01). In summary, compared with the native habitat, the near-situ conservation habitats of S.
zhejiangensis exhibited lower soil C, N, C∶P ratio, N:P ratio, along with lower leaf C∶N, which, however, did not alter the property that soil P remained the primary limiting nutrient element for its growth. In future soil management practices, targeted measures may be considered to improve soil phosphorus availability.