Short-Term Effects of Phosphorus Application on Phosphorus Content in Soil and Dominant Species under Ungrazed and Grazed Conditions in the Tibetan Plateau

Phosphorus (P) availability in soils is an important indicator for health and growth in plants. The available phosphorus (AP) content of alpine meadow soil in northern China is low. Previous studies of alpine meadow have reported that soil nutrient levels have been significantly improved after a 9-year enclosure (Wu et al. 2010b) whereas continuous grazing over 19 years reduced total P (TP) by 25% in a Leymus chinensis steppe (Li 2001). Many studies have shown that the application of P fertilizer can improve dry matter production and forage quality in cultivated grasslands (Shi et al. 2007). However, the benefits of applying P fertiliser to alpine meadow in terms of increases in soil AP content and P concentrations in plants in both grazed and ungrazed meadows are less well known. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of P application on the AP content in top soil and total P content in the foliage of dominant meadow plant species