The nitrogen(N) biological cycle of the Suaeda salsa marsh ecosystem in the Yellow River estuary was studied during 2008 to 2009.Results showed that soil N had significant seasonal fluctuations and vertical distribution.The N/P ratio(15.73±1.77) of S.salsa was less than 16,indicating that plant growth was limited by both N and P.The N absorption coefficient of S.salsa was very low(0.007),while the N utilization and cycle coefficients were high(0.824 and 0.331,respectively).The N turnover among compartments of S.salsa marsh showed that N uptake from aboveground parts and roots were 2.539 and 0.622 g/m2,respectively.The N translocation from aboveground parts to roots and from roots to soil were 2.042 and 0.076 g/m2,respectively.The N translocation from aboveground living bodies to litter was 0.497 g/m2,the annual N return from litter to soil was far less than 0.368 g/m2,and the net N mineralization in topsoil during the growing season was 0.033 g/m2.N was an important limiting factor in S.salsa marsh,and the ecosystem was classified as unstable and vulnerable.S.salsa was seemingly well adapted to the low-nutrient status and vulnerable habitat,and the nutrient enrichment due to N import from the Yellow River estuary would be a potential threat to the S.salsa marsh.Excessive nutrient loading might favor invasive species and induce severe long-term degradation of the ecosystem if human intervention measures were not taken.The N quantitative relationships determined in our study might provide a scientific basis for the establishment of effective measures.
