Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2024, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (9): 1143-1156.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2023.0106  cstr: 32100.14.cjpe.2023.0106

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of canopy stomatal conductance of Populus simonii stands with different degradation degrees and its responses to environmental factors

ZHANG Xiao-Yu1, JIA Guo-Dong1,2,*(), YU Xin-Xiao1,2, SUN Li-Bo3, JIANG Tao1   

  1. 1College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    2Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    3Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
  • Received:2023-04-19 Accepted:2023-10-09 Online:2024-09-20 Published:2023-10-10
  • Contact: JIA Guo-Dong (jgd3@163.com)
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFF1302502-03);National Natural Science Foundation of China(42230714)

Abstract:

Aims Canopy stomatal conductance (gs) is an important indicator for measuring canopy atmospheric water vapor exchange. Studying its characteristics and responses to environmental factors could enhance the understanding of canopy water vapor exchange process and the comprehensive mechanism of environmental factors controlling forest canopy. Currently, differences in canopy stomatal conductance characteristics and its responses to environmental factors of the same tree species with different degradation degrees are still unclear.

Methods In the growing-season of 2019 (May-September), four types of Populus simonii stands with different degrees of degradation (non-degraded, mildly degraded, moderately degraded and severely degraded) in Zhangbei County of Bashang Plateau were selected, and thermal diffusion technology (TDP) probes were set to monitor trunk sap flow continuously. Environmental factors such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), air temperature (T), relative air humidity (RH) and soil water content (SWC) were monitored synchronously to analyze the sap flow rate and canopy stomatal conductance characteristics of P. simonii and their responses to environmental factors.

Important findings (1) The daily variation of sap flow rate in P. simonii showed a single-peak curve, while the gs showed a double-peak curve. On the monthly scale, both sap flow rate and gs showed a trend of increasing at first and declining subsequently, and then reaching the highest values in July. The differences in sap flow rate and gs of P. simonii among the four stands of degradation degrees were significant in May and September. (2) The gs was all affected by T, VPD and SWC. However, due to the differences in degradation, gs in the non-degraded stands was mainly affected by T, VPD and 80-160 cm SWC. In the mildly degraded stands gs was mainly affected by T, 0-80 cm SWC and VPD, and that in the moderately degraded was mainly affected by 0-80 cm SWC, T, VPD, while it in the severely degraded was mainly affected by T, PAR and VPD. (3) For the all P. simonii of different degradation degrees, the gs above 18 °C was positively correlated with T. At 0.6-2.2 kPa, it was positively correlated with VPD, while negatively correlated with SWC. The gs of the severely degraded P. simonii was positively correlated PAR when it was below 250 μmol·m-2·s-1. (4) Compared to the other three types of P. simonii, the severely degraded one had a more positive response to T changes and a lower sensitivity to other environmental factors. Due to morphological degradation, control of canopy transpiration of the severely degraded P. simonii will be even stricter to avoid further degradation or dieback.

Key words: canopy stomatal conductance, Populus simonii, degradation, environmental response, sap flow