Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic responses are related to intensity of root severance and soil moisture conditions in the plantation tree Cunninghamia lanceolata.
We employed the warm temperate conifer Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. as a model of plantation forest species to investigate ecophysiological responses to root treatments (control (0%), and ∼25, 50 or 75% of the initial root mass) under well-watered and water-limited conditions. Our results indicated that total root dry mass accumulation was negatively associated with the severity of root pruning, but there was evidence of multiple compensatory responses. The plants exhibited higher instantaneous and long-term (assessed by carbon isotope composition, δ(13)C) water-use efficiency in pruning treatments, especially under low water availability. Root pruning also increased the fine root/total root mass ratio, specific root length and fine root vitality in both water availability treatments. As a result of the compensatory responses, under well-watered conditions, height, stem dry mass accumulation, leaf/fine root biomass ratio (L/FR), transpiration rate, photosynthetic capacity and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (EN) were the highest under 25% pruning. Yet, all these traits except L/FR and foliage nitrogen content were severely reduced under 75% pruning. Drought negatively affected growth and leaf gas exchange rates, and there was a greater negative effect on growth, water potential, gas exchange and EN when >25% of total root biomass was removed. The stem/aboveground mass ratio was the highest under 25% pruning in both watering conditions. These results indicate that the responses to root severance are related to the excision intensity and soil moisture content. A moderate root pruning proved to be an effective means to improve stem dry mass accumulation.
The Nurturing Station for the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an 311300, Zhejiang, China Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation, Ministry of Education, College of life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, Sichuan, China.
Tingfa
T
Dong
Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Baoli
B
Duan
Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Sheng
S
Zhang
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Helena
H
Korpelainen
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
Ülo
Ü
Niinemets
The Nurturing Station for the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an 311300, Zhejiang, China licy@zafu.edu.cn.
Chunyang
C
Li
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D018533:Biomass; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D002980:Climate; D032486:Cunninghamia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D055864:Droughts; D004463:Ecology; D016468:Forestry / Q000379:methods; D065928:Forests; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology*
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D009584:Nitrogen
compensatory response; gas exchange; nitrogen-use efficiency; root excision; stem growth; water-use efficiency