Silicon Reduce Structural Carbon Components and Its Potential to Regulate the Physiological Traits of Plants

Phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) could profoundly affect the net primary productivity (ANPP) of grassland ecosystems. However, how ecosystem biomass will respond to different Si addition, especially under a concurrent increase in P fertilization, remains limited. With persistent demand for grassland utilization, there is a need to enhance and sustain the productivity of grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Three P addition rates (0, 400, 800, and 1200 kg Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ ha^-1 yr^-1) without Si and with Si (14.36 kg H₄SiO₄ ha^-1 yr^-1) were applied to alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to evaluate the responses of aboveground biomass and the underlying mechanisms linking to structural carbon composition and physiological traits of grasses and forbs. Our results show that the application of Si significantly reduced the lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and total phenol contents of both grasses and forbs. Additionally, the addition of P, Si, and phosphorus and silicon (PSi) co-application significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and light use efficiency (LUE) of grasses and forbs. Moreover, Si promoted the absorption of N and P by plants, resulting in significant changes in the Si:C, Si:P, and Si:N ratios and increasing the aboveground biomass. Our findings suggest that Si can replace structural carbohydrates and regulate the absorption and utilization of N and P to optimize the photosynthetic process of leaves, thereby achieving greater biomass. In summary, Si supplementation improves ecosystem stability in alpine meadows by optimizing plant functions and increasing biomass accumulation.