Effects of a nitrogen fixing plant Vigna radiata on growth, leaf stomatal gas exchange and hydraulic characteristics of the intercropping Juglans regia seedlings

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00046

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Our main purposes were to determine the effects of Vigna radiata, a nitrogen fixing plant, on growth, water balance and gas exchange of the intercropping Juglans regia seedlings and to investigate the hydraulic mechanism involved in photosynthesis and growth.
Methods We measured growth, hydraulic characteristics, and rate of gas exchange in J. regia seedlings, and analyzed the effects of the intercropping nitrogen fixing V. radiata on xylem anatomic structure, water balance and photosynthetic characteristics of J. regia seedlings under conditions of nitrogen deprivation and enrichment.
Important findings Under conditions of nitrogen deficiency, the nitrogen fixing V. radiata facilitated the growth of the intercropping J. regia seedlings by improving xylem development, water transport and hydraulic characteristics in high transpiration demand. However, with nitrogen addition, the occurrence of V. radiata inhibited the growth of J. regia seedlings, likely by competing for water and other elements.

Key words: agroforestry intercropping, gas exchanges, growth, nitrogen nutrition, percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC)

ZHANG Cui-Ping,MENG Ping,ZHANG Jin-Song,WAN Xian-Chong. Effects of a nitrogen fixing plant Vigna radiata on growth, leaf stomatal gas exchange and hydraulic characteristics of the intercropping Juglans regia seedlings[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2014, 38(5): 499-506.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00046

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2014/V38/I5/499

Figures/Tables 12

Table 1 Composition of nutrient solutions with different rates of nitrogen (mmol·L-1)

营养元素 Nutrient	无氮处理 Nitrogen deficit	正常氮处理 Adequate nitrogen
KNO₃	-	2
K₂HPO₄	1	1
NH₄NO₃	-	2
(NH₄)₂SO₄	-	3
K₂SO₄	1	-
MgSO₄	2	2
CaSO₄	2	-
Ca(NO₃)₂	-	2

Fig. 1 Nitrogen content in soil of different treatments (mean ± SE). CK, Juglans regia monocropping with ordinary nitrogen; T1, J. regia monocropping without nitrogen; T2, J. regia and Vigna radiata intercropping without nitrogen; T3, J. regia and V. radiata intercropping with ordinary nitrogen; VCK, V. radiata monocropping without nitrogen. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 2 Nitrogen content in different organs of Juglans regia (mean ± SE). CK, T1, T2, T3 see Fig. 1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 3 Growth of Juglans regia seedlings under different treatments. CK, T1, T2, T3 see Fig. 1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 4 Leaf area of Juglans regia seedlings under different treatments. CK, T1, T2, T3 see Fig. 1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 5 Root:shoot of Juglans regia seedlings under different treatments. CK, T1, T2, T3 see Fig. 1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 6 Biomass and yield of Vigna radiata under different treatments. VCK,T2, T3 see Fig. 1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 7 Variation in gas exchanges of Juglans regia seedlings under different treatments. CK, T1, T2, T3 see Fig. 1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 8 Variation in the hydraulic conductivity and percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) of Juglans regia petioles under different treatments. CK, T1, T2, T3 see Fig.1. Different small letters indicate significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05).

Fig. 9 The rootnodule of mung bean.

Fig. 10 Microstructure of petiole xylem vessel under different treatments. A, Juglans regia monocropping with ordinary nitrogen; B, J. regia and Vigna radiata intercropping without nitrogen; C, J. regia monocropping without nitrogen; D, J. regia and V. radiata intercropping with ordinary nitrogen.

Table 2 Vessel structure in petiole xylem of Juglans regia seedlings under different treatments (mean ± SE)

	CK	T1	T2	T3
导管密度 Vessel density (mm^-2)	318 ± 41.35^a	260 ± 37.06^b	280 ± 46.19^ab	288 ± 24.39^ab
导管直径 Vessel diameter (μm)	28.43 ± 3.32^ab	21.13 ± 1.15^b	28.23 ± 1.31^ab	32.17 ± 2.19^a
最大导管直径 Max vessel diameter (μm)	45.41 ± 2.85^a	31.98 ± 2.38^c	39.70 ± 1.20^b	47.09 ± 0.83^a

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