Effects of night warming on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen by two dominant species in subalpine coniferous forests

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2015.0420

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Plant roots play a critical role in the uptake of nutrients, and nitrogen (N) absorption is considered as the first step and a pivotal process in N metabolism of plants. Our objective was to better understand the absorption of two major inorganic N forms (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-) in subalpine coniferous forests under global warming Methods Experimental warming using infrared heater was applied to two dominant species in subalpine coniferous forests of Sichuan, China, Picea asperata and Abies fargesiivar. faxoniana. The non-invasive micromeasurement technology was used to investigate the effects of warming on the uptake rates of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- and the potential interactions between these two ions.Important findings Results showed that the maximal net root uptake of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^-occurred at a distance of 17-18 mm and 17 mm from root tips, respectively for P. asperata. and at a distance of 11 mm and 11.5 mm from root tips respectively for A. fargesiivar. faxoniana. Experimental warming elevated the uptake rates of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- in both species, but the interactions between NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- differed between the two species. While NO₃^- uptake was inhibited in the presence of NH₄⁺ for both P. asperataand A. fargesiivar. faxoniana, net NH₄⁺ uptake was promoted by NO₃^- supply only in P. asperata roots under experimental warming.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/ZWSB201606003

Key words: night warming, N absorption, conifer tree, subalpine forest

Bo TANG, Huan YANG, Chun-Ying YIN, Yu-Yu SUN, Dong-Hui ZHENG, Qing LIU. Effects of night warming on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen by two dominant species in subalpine coniferous forests[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2016, 40(6): 543-553.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2015.0420

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2016/V40/I6/543

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 Effects of night warming on soil pH value (A), soil NO3--N (B) and NH4+-N concentration (C) (mean ± SE, n = 4). Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences between Picea asperata and Abies fargesii var. faxoniana under control (p < 0.05); Different capital letters indicate significant differences between P. asperata and A. fargesii var. faxoniana under night warming (p < 0.05); Asterisks indicate significant differences between night warming and control (*, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01). PA, Picea asperata; AF, Abies fargesii var. faxoniana.

Fig. 2 Net NH4+ (A) and NO3- (B) fluxes along the root tip of Picea asperata (mean ± SE, n = 4). Positive and negative values indicate net influxes and effluxes, respectively. The measuring solution contained 1 mmol·L-1 KCl and 0.1 mmol·L-1 CaCl2 with pH equal to 5.5, and either 0.1 mmol·L-1 NH4Cl for NH4+ flux measurements or 0.1 mmol·L-1 KNO3 for NO3- flux measurements.

Fig. 3 Net NH4+ (A) and NO3- (B) fluxes along the root tip of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (mean ± SE, n = 4). Positive and negative values indicate net influxes and effluxes, respectively. The measuring solution contained 1 mmol·L-1 KCl and 0.1 mmol·L-1 CaCl2 with pH equal to 5.5, and either 0.1 mmol·L-1 NH4Cl for NH4+ flux measurements or 0.1 mmol·L-1 KNO3 for NO3- flux measurements.

Fig. 4 Net root NH4+ influxes at the distance of 17-18 mm from the root tip of Picea asperata (A) and at the distance of 11 mm from the root tip of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (B) in NH4NO3 measuring solution (0.1 mmol·L-1 NH4NO3, 1 mmol·L-1 KCl, 0.1 mmol·L-1 CaCl2, pH 5.5) and NH4Cl measuring solution (0.1 mmol·L-1 NH4Cl, 1 mmol·L-1 KCl, 0.1 mmol·L-1 CaCl2, pH 5.5) (mean ± SE, n = 4). Different lowercase and capital letters indicate significant effect (p < 0.05) of night warming on net NH4+ influxes measured in NH4NO3 and NH4Cl measuring solution, respectively. Asterisks indicate significant differences between the net NH4+ influxes measured in NH4NO3 and in NH4Cl solution (***, p < 0.005).

Fig. 5 Net NO3- influxes at a distance of 17 mm from the root tip of Picea asperata (A) and at a distance of 11.5 mm from the root tip of Abies fargesii var. faxoniana (B) in NH4NO3 measuring solution (0.1 mmol·L-1 NH4NO3, 1 mmol·L-1 KCl, 0.1 mmol·L-1 CaCl2, pH 5.5) and KNO3 measuring solution (0.1 mmol·L-1 KNO3, 1 mmol·L-1 KCl, 0.1 mmol·L-1 CaCl2, pH 5.5) (mean ± SE, n = 4). Different lowercase and capital letters indicate significant effect (p < 0.05) of night warming on net NO3- influxes measured in NH4NO3 and KNO3 measuring solution, respectively. Asterisks indicate significant differences between the net NO3- influxes measured in NH4NO3 and in KNO3 solution (***, p < 0.005).

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