Dynamic response of functional traits to fertilization in Leymus chinensis

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2022.0067

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The aims are to understand the change rule and response mechanism of Leymus chinensis under the disturbance and to provide a theoretical basis and reference for the research on the response of plant functional traits to environmental changes under interference and the restoration of plant population in natural grassland.

Methods We investigated the impacts of fertilization on functional traits of leaves, stems and the whole plant of L. chinensis in the vegetative phase in a meadow in Hulun Buir. Firstly, a ground intrusive root-cutting machine (9QP-830) was used to cut the roots of the grassland, and then different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus mixed fertilizers were applied. Finally, multiple functional traits including single plant height, leaf length, natural leaf width, unfolded leaf width, stem width, stem length, leaf mass, stem mass and single plant mass were measured by stages during the vegetative growth period of L. chinensis. The dynamic changes of functional traits before and after fertilization were analyzed.

Important findings (1) Fertilization significantly increased the aboveground biomass of L. chinensis in the later vegetative growth stage, increased plant height, leaf length, natural leaf width, unfolded leaf width, leaf area, stem length, stem width and stem mass, and decreased leaf dry matter content and stem dry matter content. (2) Fertilization significantly modified the changing trend of functional traits of L. chinensis during the nutritional period. With the increase of fertilization level, plant height, leaf length, natural leaf width, unfolded leaf width, leaf area, specific leaf area, stem length, stem width and stem mass increased gradually from the first increase and then decrease trend of change into a gradual increase, while leaf dry matter content and stem dry matter content decreased gradually. (3) There was a close relationship between phenotypic traits and mass traits of L. chinensis. Leaf area was positively correlated with aboveground biomass and stem dry matter content, and negatively correlated with leaf dry matter content. (4) Fertilization changed the contribution rate of phenotypic traits to aboveground biomass during vegetative growth period of L. chinensis. After fertilization, the phenotypic weight of L. chinensis changed from “concentration-dispersion-concentration-dispersion-concentration” to “dispersion-concentration-dispersion-concentration-dispersion”. In the process of vegetative growth of L. chinensis, plant height is the most sensitive trait to fertilization, and it is also the main phenotypic driving factor affecting the aboveground biomass.

Key words: Leymus chinensis, fertilization, functional trait, dynamic change, sensibility, driving factor

DAI Jing-Zhong, BAI Yu-Ting, WEI Zhi-Jun, ZHANG Chu, XIN Xiao-Ping, YAN Yu-Chun, YAN Rui-Rui. Dynamic response of functional traits to fertilization in Leymus chinensis[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2023, 47(7): 943-953.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2022.0067

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2023/V47/I7/943

Figures/Tables 6

Table 1 Differences in functional properties of Leymus chinensis under different fertilization treatments (mean±SD)

Fig. 1 Dynamics of leaf functional traits of Leymus chinensis under different fertilization treatments. ALW, unfolded leaf width; LA, leaf area; LDMC, leaf dry matter content; LL, average leaf length; NLW, natural leaf width; SLA, specific leaf area. R2, coefficient of determination; p, significant level; ns, fitting effect is not significant. CK, control; HF, high level of fertilization; LF, low level of fertilization; MF, medium level of fertilization.

Fig. 2 Dynamics of stem functional traits of Leymus chinensis under different fertilization treatments. SDMC, stem dry matter content; SL, stem length; SM, stem mass; SW, stem width. R2, coefficient of determination; p, significant level; ns, fitting effect is not significant. CK, control; HF, high level of fertilization; LF, low level of fertilization; MF, medium level of fertilization.

Fig. 3 Dynamics of plant functional traits of Leymus chinensis under different fertilization treatments. AB, aboveground biomass; PH, plant height. R2, coefficient of determination; p, significant level; ns, fitting effect is not significant. CK, control; HF, high level of fertilization; LF, low level of fertilization; MF, medium level of fertilization.

Table 2 Canonical correlation analysis between phenotypic traits and quality traits in Leymus chinensis

功能性状 Functional trait	典型相关系数 Canonical correlation coefficient	典型变量 Canonical variable	性状系数 Coefficient of trait
表型性状 Phenotypic trait	0.97^**	U1	LL	NLW	ALW	LA	SL	SW	PH
			-1.19	-0.22	-2.41	4.76	0.91	0.17	-1.02
质量性状 Mass trait		V1	AB	LDMC	SDMC
			0.82	0.06	-0.31
表型性状 Phenotypic trait	0.85^*	U2	LL	NLW	ALW	LA	SL	SW	PH
			-5.99	-1.49	-10.24	16.53	-0.31	1.18	-0.22
质量性状 Mass trait		V2	AB	LDMC	SDMC
			0.57	-1.00	1.15

Fig. 4 Contribution of phenotypic traits to individual plant quality of Leymus chinensis under different fertilization treatments. A, control. B, Low level of fertilization. C, Medium level of fertilization. D, High level of fertilization. ALW, unfolded leaf width; LA, spread leaf area; LL, average leaf length; NLW, natural leaf width; PH, plant height; SL, stem length; SW, stem width.

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