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iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry
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Nursery fertilization affected field performance and nutrient resorption of Populus tomentosa Carr. ploidy levels

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 15, Issue 1, Pages 16-23 (2022)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor3912-014
Published: Jan 24, 2022 - Copyright © 2022 SISEF

Research Articles

Nutrient resorption (NuR) is an important nutrient conservative strategy but little information is available about the effect of nursery fertilization on NuR in the field. In this study, diploid and triploid one-year-old plants of Populus tomentosa Carr. were fertilized with 9 g N per plant, and non-fertilized plants as control. Initial functional attributes, i.e., height, diameter, stem mass, mineral nutrients and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) levels of each tissue, were measured before planting. Field performance (survival, total height, diameter, stem volume and their growth, leaf nutrient status, and NuR) were measured in the field. Compared to control, 9 g N per plant was benefit for plant growth, mineral nutrients and NSC accumulation of diploids, but declined plant size of triploids before planting. While in the field, fertilization effect on plant size was inversed for each ploidy level. Nursery fertilization increased nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE) of triploids and decreased phosphorus resorption efficiency (PRE) of both ploidy levels. Initial plant size were the most effective parameters predicting field performance and NuR. Furthermore, NRE was multi-elements controlled as indicated by the correlation of N and P in green and senesced leaves, while PRE was only positively correlated with P in green leaves. However, there was no relationship between field growth and NuR. This study deepened our understanding of NuR from the perspective of artificial managements, for instance nursery fertilization.

Nursery Fertilization, Nutrient Resorption, Leaf Nutrient Status, Plant Growth, Initial Functional Attributes, Ploidy Levels

  Introduction 

Nutrient resorption (NuR) from senesced leaves to living tissues is an essential nutrient conservation strategy to diminish nutrient dilution from litter decomposition and alleviate the dependence upon soil fertility, and it is generally characterized as nutrient resorption efficiency (NuRE - [1], [37], [3]). Globally, 62.1% nitrogen (N) and 64.9% phosphorus (P) are resorbed in terrestrial plants ([37]), and contributed to 31% and 40% of plant demands in N and P, respectively ([5]). Numerous studies have addressed the factors affecting NuR ([46], [37], [3], [45]), indicating leaf nutrient status as one of the most direct impact factor ([42], [18]). Kobe et al. ([18]) reported a negative relationship between nutrient status (in green and senesced leaves) and NuRE by analyzing 92 publications with 297 perennial species of different life-forms. Vergutz et al. ([37]) also confirmed the relationship through a global meta-analysis of 86 studies with ~1000 data points with different plant types. However, some studies reported that NuR was positive or neutral related with leaf nutrient status ([1], [43], [35]). The relationship between leaf nutrient status and NuR still need to be examined with specific species or genotypes.

Leaf N concentration (based on mass) also correlates with plant growth. For instance, high leaf N concentration generally combines with great photosynthesis as chlorophylls and photosynthetic enzymes are enriched in N ([24]), and consequently, more assimilated C is allocated to growth ([31], [30]). On the other hand, growth exerts a feedback regulation on leaf N status through modifying nutrient demands ([19], [24]), which might further affect NuR. Nonetheless, limited attention has been given to the links between NuR and growth; some studies illustrated a positive relationship between growth and NuR ([6], [26], [49]). Fortier et al. ([9]) also showed that hybrid poplar with the most productive clones were more proficient in NuR. Whereas, Pasche et al. ([29]) reported that N retranslocation from mature leaves do not constitute a net source supporting shoot growth of Rhododendron ferrugineum L. (Ericaceae). Salehi et al. ([33]) found that Populus deltoides Marsh. cv. “Harvard” showed the largest morphological traits with the lowest NuRE.

For newly transplanted seedlings, the leaf nutrient status and growth also closely linked to initial functional attributes modified by nursery fertilization ([12], [20], [28], [38]). Villar-Salvador et al. ([39]) showed that high N fertilization improved Quercus ilex L. early establishment and growth in the field. Oliet et al. ([27]) highlighted that seedling size advantages due to nursery fertilization in Pinus halepensis Mill. persisted 7 years after out-plantation. Additionally, the largest and nutrient-rich seedlings also showed the highest survival rate after 7 years. Fu et al. ([10]) reported that Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. fertilized in the nursery with 80 mg N seedling-1 had great biomass, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and mineral nutrient status, as well as excellent field performance. However, to our best knowledge, there was no information about the effect of nursery fertilization on NuR in the field, and the relations between NuR and leaf nutrient status and/or growth at field influenced by nursery fertilization. Furthermore, some studies reported that the initial seedling size was the trait most correlated with field performance ([27], [38]), while others showed that nursery fertilization affects field performance through impacting nutrient storage before planting ([39], [15], [20]). It is warrant to investigate the effect of nursery fertilization on NuR and the relationship between NuR and field performance (i.e., leaf nutrient status and growth), as well as the initial functional attributes mostly correlated with field performance and NuR.

Polyploidization is an effective way to change morphological and physiological traits through directly increasing cell and organ size ([34], [36]). Many previous studies have demonstrated the enhancing effects of polyploidization on growth ([53], [48], [50], [21]). Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa Carr.) is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to northern China, which is extensively used in afforestation for ecological purposes and for timber and pulp production ([54], [8]). Triploid P. tomentosa has been widely used thanks to its superior growth rate and wood properties in comparison to natural diploids ([54], [48]). However, scarce studies focused on NuR variation among ploidy levels. In this study, we used Chinese white poplar in two ploidy levels to investigate: (i) the effect of nursery fertilization on initial functional attributes, field performance and NuR; (ii) the relationships between NuR and leaf nutrient status and growth in the field; and (iii) the most effective initial functional attributes correlated with field performance and NuR.

  Materials and methods 

Study site condition

The study was conducted in State-owned nursery of Chinese white poplar at Guanxian County, Shandong Province (36° 30′ N, 115° 22′ E; elevation: 37 m a.s.l.). Climate is a semi-arid, temperate continental monsoon with an average annual temperature of 12.8-13.3 °C, while average annual precipitation was 549-600 mm. Soil belongs to sandy loam with a pH of 7.8 and its nutrient status is reported in Tab. 1. Soil samples were collected and measured at different depths corresponding to the distribution of plant roots ([51]).

Tab. 1 - Soil nutrient status at the nursery and in the field.

Soil layer Depth
(cm)
N
(mg kg-1)
P
(mg kg-1)
K
(g kg-1)
Nursery 0-30 363.5 714.0 4.0
Field 0-30 446.8 280.1 8.3
30-60 287.3 195.1 7.3

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Nursery experimental design

Two ploidy levels of Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa Carr.) were selected: diploid “Lumao 50” (P. tomentosa) and triploid “Beilinxiongzhu1” [(P. alba × P. glandulosa) × (P. tomentosa × P. bolleana)]. On March 16, 2017, one-year-old healthy cuttings of uniform size (diploid: 14.4±0.06 cm in length, 10.50±0.55 mm in diameter, triploid: 14.7±0.13 cm in length, 13.02±0.75 mm in diameter, n=30) were obtained and dipped in 300 ppm α-Naphthaleneacetic acid for 3s to promote rooting, and then planted in plastic pots of 1500 mL with a depth of 20 cm filled with peat (“Xinyuan”, Yinong nursery substrates Co., LTD, Shandong, China) and left in a greenhouse. There were 1000 plants per ploidy level and 2000 plants totally. All plants were irrigated as needed. On May 15, 2017, plants were moved outdoors for acclimation and transplanted two weeks later (May 29, 2017) to an open nursery. At that moment the size of plants were 51.1 ± 1.25 cm in height and 5.76 ± 0.11 mm in diameter for diploids, as well as 41.9 ± 0.88 cm in height and 4.49 ± 0.19 mm in diameter for triploids (n=16).

Nursery fertilization was used with two levels: non-fertilized plants as control and 9 g N per plant as treatment ([4]). The fertilizer was applied twice by conventional methods, as 3 g N per plant on June 7 (“Huachang®” compound fertilizer, Huachang Chemical Co., Jiangsu, China, 18N + 18P2O5 + TE) and 6 g N per plant on July 7 (urea, Hengsheng Chemical Co., Jiangsu, China, N ≥ 46.0%). Fertilizer was placed in holes (both sides, 15 cm away from the plant, 10 cm in depth). Irrigation was performed once a week. A completely randomized block experiment was set involving two ploidy levels with two fertilization levels, resulting in four treatments that had four blocks as four replicates. Each replicate had 100 plants (10 rows and 10 lines, 0.3 × 1 m space per plant), totalling 1600 plants.

Field experimental design

On March 31, 2018, one-year-old plants were transplanted to afforestation. The experimental design in the field was completely randomized with four treatments and four replicates. Each replicate with 15 plants were planted in five rows and three lines, resulting in 240 plants in total. Plants were planted in mechanically dug planting hole (diameter: 0.5 m; depth: 0.3 m) with 3 × 3 m spacing. Irrigation and weeding were performed manually three times during the growing season.

Plant sampling and chemical analysis

Measurements of initial functional attributes

On November 23, 2017, five plants per replicate (20 plants per treatment, 80 plants totally) were randomly sampled to determine height, diameter, stem mass, mineral nutrients and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) levels as initial functional attributes. Root systems were washed to remove the growing medium and excised from the stem. Each plant part was oven-dried at 65 °C until steady weight and stem mass was determined. The stems and roots were pooled separately for the five plants of each replicate, ground and sieved through a 0.25-mm mesh. Approximately 0.2 g of each subsample was wet-digested in a sulphuric acid-hydrogen peroxide mixture using a block digester, followed by mineral nutrient analysis ([22]). Nitrogen was determined using standard Kjeldahl digestion with water distillation on a distillation unit (UDK-152®, VELP Scientifica, Italy). Phosphorus (P) was determined using the molybdenum blue method ([2]) with a UV-visible spectrophotometer (Agilent 8453®, Waldbronn, Germany). Potassium (K) was determined using atomic emission spectroscopy (SpectrAA 220® Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Varian Inc.,Washington, DC, USA).

Approximately 0.1 g of subsamples was extracted with 80% ethanol at 80 °C for carbohydrate analysis ([41]). Concentrations of starch and soluble sugar were determined, respectively, using amylase hydrolysis or anthrone colorimetry. Final measurements were taken with a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Total NSC concentration of each tissue was soluble sugar plus starch concentration.

Measurements of field performance and NuR

Green and senesced leaves were collected from five plants of each replicate. At growth peak (August 20, 2018), forty leaves were collected from middle southern position of each replicate. Senesced leaves were collected when dry and yellow (November 23, 2018). All leaves were oven-dried at 65 °C for 48 h, ground and sieved through a 0.25-mm mesh. Leaf N and P concentrations were measured and then, nutrient resorption efficiency (NuRE, %) was calculated as equation (eqn. 1):

\begin{equation} NuRE= {\frac{(Nu_{gre} - Nu_{sen} )}{Nu_{gre}}} \cdot MLCF \cdot 100 \end{equation}

where Nugre and Nusen are nutrient concentration on mass basis in green and senesced leaves (i.e., Ngre, Nsen, Pgre and Psen), and mass loss correction factor (MLCF) is the ratio of the dry mass of senesced leaves and green leaves; here we used 0.784 ([37]).

On November 23, at the end of growing season in the field, the survived plants were counted. Plant height and diameter were measured immediately after transplanting (T0) and the end of the growing season (T1) and the net growth was calculated as the differences between T1 and T0. Stem volume (SV, cm3) growth was also calculated as the differences between T1 and T0 (eqn. 2):

\begin{equation} SV= \frac{1}{3} \cdot 3.1416 \cdot \left (\frac{D} {2} \right ) ^2 \cdot H \end{equation}

Statistical analysis

The effect of ploidy levels and fertilization and their interaction on initial functional attributes (height, diameter, stem mass, mineral nutrients and NSC levels), field performance (survival, total height, diameter and stem volume, growth of height, diameter and stem volume, as well as leaf nutrient status), as well as NuRE were assessed using two-way ANOVA; for initial functional attributes, block served as a main factor. When ANOVA assumptions were not met, data were transformed. When ANOVA results showed a significant effect, a Fisher LSD test was carried out for multiple comparisons among treatments (α = 0.05). A generalized nonlinear model for binomial distribution and a logit link function were carried out to analyze the effects of ploidy levels and fertilization regime on survival. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS® 19.0 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). Graphs and the linear regression among initial functional attributes, leaf nutrient status, growth, and NuR were obtained using SigmaPlot® v. 12.5 (Systat Software, San José, CA, USA).

  Results 

Functional attributes before planting

Plant size

Regardless of fertilization, plant height of diploids was lower than that of triploids (ploidy levels and fertilization interaction: F=0.99, p=0.346 - Fig. 1A). There was an interactive effect between ploidy levels and fertilization on diameter (F=64.3, p<0.001) and stem mass (F=69.1, p<0.001 - Fig. 1B, Fig. 1C). Compared to controls, fertilization significantly increased diameter and stem mass of diploid plants by 6.0% and 21.2%, respectively, but decreased diameter and stem mass of triploid plants by 12.9% and 18.4%, respectively. Consequently, in comparison to triploids, diameter and stem mass of diploids were inferior to no fertilized plants , but superior to plants treated with 9 g of N.

Fig. 1 - Effects of ploidy levels and fertilization on height (a), diameter (b) and stem mass (c) of one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants before field planting. Bars marked with different letters differ significantly in each variable (mean ± SE, Fisher LSD test, α = 0.05, n = 4).

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Mineral nutrients

Ploidy levels and fertilization affected stem nutrient concentration independently (ploidy levels and fertilization interaction, F=3.28, p=0.104 for N concentration; F= 2.03, p=0.188 for P concentration; F=1.35, p=0.275 for K concentration). Compared to control plants, fertilization significantly decreased stem N concentration by 20.2% in triploid plants, but significantly increased stem P and K concentration by 38.5% and 39.4% in diploid plants, respectively (Fig. 2A-C). Meanwhile, stem nutrient concentrations of diploids were higher than triploids in all fertilization treatments.

Fig. 2 - Effects of ploidy levels and fertilization on stem N (a), P (b), K (c) concentration and root N (d), P (e), K (f) concentration of one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants before outplanting. Bars marked with different letters differ significantly in each variable (mean ± SE, Fisher LSD test, α = 0.05, n = 4).

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Ploidy levels and fertilization significantly interactive affected only root N concentration (F=110, p<0.001, Fig. 2D). In comparison to control plants, fertilization significantly increased root N concentration by 13.3% in diploid plants, but no significant effect was detected on triploids. Root P and K concentration were unaffected by fertilization, but P concentration of diploid plants was lower than triploids at each fertilization treatment (ploidy levels and fertilization interaction, F=0.88, p=0.372 for P concentration; F=0.38, p=0.552 for K concentration, Fig. 2E-F).

Non-structural carbohydrate levels

Compared to control, fertilization with 9 g N per plant significantly increased stem NSC concentration by 22.8% in diploids, but no significant effect was detected on triploids (Tab. 2). Nonetheless, there was no significant difference in stem NSC concentration between diploid and triploid plants (Tab. 2). The increase in stem NSC concentration observed in diploid plants was mainly attributed to the increase in starch concentration (45.6%), as indicated by the significanct combined effect between ploidy levels and fertilization (Tab. 2). However, there was no significant effect on stem soluble sugar concentration (Tab. 2).

Tab. 2 - Mean ± SE, F and p values of stem and root NSC levels with fertilization in diploid and triploid one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants before field planting (Fisher LSD test, α = 0.05, n = 4).

Stats Stem (mg g-1) Root (mg g-1)
Soluble sugar Starch NSC Soluble sugar Starch NSC
Mean ± SE Diploid-0 21.2 ± 1.38 a 15.6 ± 1.02 b 36.8 ± 2.01 b 34.3 ± 1.94 b 22.7 ± 1.14 ab 57.0 ± 2.44 bc
Diploid-9 22.4 ± 0.48 a 22.7 ± 1.07 a 45.2 ± 1.35 a 31.2 ± 0.76 b 22.1 ± 0.97 ab 53.3 ± 1.51 c
Triploid-0 23.1 ± 1.63 a 17.0 ± 0.85 b 40.1 ± 2.45 ab 40.3 ± 1.19 a 25.1 ± 1.46 a 65.4 ± 1.85 a
Triploid-9 22.4 ± 1.10 a 17.7 ± 0.48 b 40.1 ± 1.55 ab 39.2 ± 1.04 a 20.8 ± 1.43 b 60.0 ± 1.56 ab
Two-way
ANOVA
Ploidy levels (P) F=0.74, p=0.412 F=3.38, p=0.099 F=0.18, p=0.682 F=24.6, p=0.001 F=0.37, p=0.558 F=19.9, p=0.002
Fertilization (F) F=0.07, p=0.803 F=15.6, p=0.003 F=4.31, p=0.068 F=2.17, p=0.175 F=7.27, p=0.025 F=7.17, p=0.025
P × F F=0.78, p=0.4 F=10.6, p=0.01 F=4.33, p=0.067 F=0.50, p=0.499 F=4.19, p=0.071 F=0.26, p=0.623

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Root NSC concentration was affected by ploidy levels and fertilization independently (Tab. 2). In all fertilization treatments, diploid plants had lower soluble sugar and NSC concentration than triploids. Compared to control plants, triploid plants fertilized with 9 g N showed a significant decrease (-17.2%) in starch concentration.

Field performance and nutrient resorption

Plant growth and survival rate

At the end of growing season in the field, ploidy levels and fertilization showed a significant interactive effect on plant size, except for height (Tab. S1 in Supplementary material). For diploids, fertilization significantly increased total height (+8.50%) and decreased total diameter of plants (-6.48%) compared to controls. Therefore, no significant differences in total stem volume were found between fertilization treatments. For triploid plants, total height, diameter and stem volume were increased by 4.29%, 7.81% and 21.0%, respectively, in response to fertilization. Consequently, total diameter and stem volume of triploids were higher than diploids fertilized with 9 g N per plant. Furthermore, total height of triploid plants was higher than that of diploids at each fertilization treatment.

Ploidy levels and fertilization interaction had no significant effect on height growth (F=0.05, p=0.833, Fig. 3A) or survival (χ2=0.182, p=0.669), but their combined effect was significant on diameter (F=13.4, p=0.004) and stem volume growth (F= 20.6, p=0.001 - Fig. 3B-C). For diploid plants, fertilization significantly decreased diameter growth by 28.8% and, consequently, stem volume growth reduced by 16.3%, as compared to control plants. For triploids, the significant increase (+19.9%) of stem volume growth in fertilized plants was mainly related to the marginally increase of diameter growth in comparison to control plants.

Fig. 3 - Effects of ploidy levels and fertilization on height (a), diameter (b) and stem volume growth (c) of one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants grown in the field. Different letters in each variable indicate significant differences between means (mean ± SE, Fisher LSD test, α = 0.05, n = 4).

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Leaf nutrient concentration and nutrient resorption efficiency

The interaction between ploidy levels and fertilization had a significant effect on leaf nutrient concentrations, including Ngre, Pgre and Psen (F=198, p<0.001; F=125, p<0.001; F=66.7, p<0.001 for Ngre, Pgre and Psen, respectively - Fig. 4). Compared to control plants, fertilization with 9 g N per plant significantly decreased Ngre and Pgre in diploid plants (by 33.1% and 29.6%, respectively), but significantly increased Ngre and Psen in triploid plants (by 45.7% and 29.6%, respectively). However, there was no significant effect on Nsen (ploidy-level and fertilization interaction: F=0.25, p=0.627).

Fig. 4 - Effects of ploidy levels and fertilization on N (a) and P (b) concentrations of green and senesced leaves, as well as NRE (a) and PRE (b) (in oval) of one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants grown in the field. Bars marked with different lowercase letters (or numbers) indicated significantly difference of green (or senesced) leaf nutrient concentration. Different capital letters in oval indicated significantly difference of nutrient resorption efficiency (mean ± SE, Fisher LSD test, α = 0.05, n = 4).

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In comparison to control, NRE was significantly increased in fertilized triploid plants by 30.3%, but no significant differences were detected in diploid plants, as indicated by the significant interaction between ploidy levels and fertilization (F= 17.0, p=0.002 - Fig. 4A). Furthermore, fertilization significantly decreased PRE in diploid plants by 39.5% and by 43.5% in triploid plants (ploidy levels and fertilization interaction: F=3.11, p=0.109 - Fig. 4B). At each fertilization treatment, PRE of diploids was higher than that of triploids (Fig. 4B).

Relationships among initial functional attributes, leaf nutrient status, growth and nutrient resorption efficiency

As reported in Tab. 3, NRE was significantly and negatively correlated with stem mass and root NSC levels. Phosphorus resorption efficiency was negatively correlated with height and root P concentration, but positively correlated with stem N concentration. However, there was no significant correlation between NRE and mineral nutrients or PRE and NSC levels.

Tab. 3 - Results of the regression analysis (y=ax+b) between initial functional attributes (seedling size, mineral nutrients and NSC levels) and nutrient resorption efficiency in one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants.

y x df R2 F p a (slope)
Seedling size H-NRE 13 0.2335 3.6553 0.0801 -0.1433
D-NRE 13 0.1177 1.6009 0.2298 -1.587
mass-NRE 13 0.5469 14.4831 0.0025 -0.226
H-PRE 13 0.589 17.1972 0.0014 -0.2569
D-PRE 13 0.1871 2.7628 0.1224 2.2598
mass-PRE 13 0.0602 0.7684 0.3979 -0.0847
Mineral nutrients [N]stem-NRE 13 0.0624 0.7985 0.3891 0.6726
[P]stem-NRE 13 0.0374 0.466 0.5078 3.8751
[K]stem-NRE 13 0.0109 0.1327 0.722 0.3666
[N]root-NRE 13 0.0596 0.7601 0.4004 0.8507
[P]root-NRE 13 0.0374 0.466 0.5078 3.8751
[K]root-NRE 13 0.2104 3.1979 0.099 -5.652
[N]stem-PRE 13 0.506 12.2904 0.0043 2.163
[P]stem-PRE 13 0.0019 0.0229 0.8822 -0.9877
[K]stem-PRE 13 0.0009 0.011 0.918 -0.1201
[N]root-PRE 13 0.1878 2.7747 0.1216 1.7059
[P]root-PRE 13 0.4164 8.5603 0.0127 -29.8787
[K]root-PRE 13 0.0137 0.1668 0.6902 -1.629
NSC levels [Soluble sugar]stem-NRE 13 0.0062 0.075 0.7889 0.2948
[Starch]stem-NRE 13 0.0068 0.0816 0.78 -0.2217
[Soluble sugar]root-NRE 13 0.0702 0.9063 0.3599 -0.4583
[Starch]root-NRE 13 0.0062 0.075 0.7889 0.2948
[NSC]stem-NRE 13 0.0003 0.0036 0.953 -0.0321
[NSC]root-NRE 13 0.2882 4.8576 0.0478 -0.7392
[Soluble sugar]stem-PRE 13 0.0001 0.0013 0.9715 0.0446
[Starch]stem-PRE 13 0.0904 1.1933 0.2961 -0.916
[Soluble sugar]root-PRE 13 0.1047 1.403 0.2591 -0.6319
[Starch]root-PRE 13 0.0179 0.219 0.6482 0.4219
[NSC]stem-PRE 13 0.0403 0.5044 0.4911 -0.4191
[NSC]root-PRE 13 0.0367 0.457 0.5119 -0.2978

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Nitrogen resorption efficiency was closely related with leaf N and P concentration, corresponding to the positive correlation with Ngre, Pgre and Psen, as well as to the negative correlation with Nsen. However, only Pgre was positively related with PRE (Tab. 4). Nutrient resorption efficiency had no relationship with plant growth in the field (Tab. S2 in Supplementary material). Furthermore, leaf nutrient concentration was also related with field growth, as indicated by the positive correlation of diameter growth with Ngre and Pgre (Tab. S3 in Supplementary material).

Tab. 4 - Results of the regression analysis (y=ax+b) between leaf nutrient status in the field and nutrient resorption efficiency in one-year-old Populus tomentosa Carr. plants.

y x df R2 F p a (slope)
NRE [N]gre 13 0.7021 28.2858 0.0002 1.064
[N]sen 13 0.4857 11.3313 0.0056 -5.0637
[P]gre 13 0.4261 8.9111 0.0114 20.5109
[P]sen 13 0.6121 18.935 0.0009 73.2096
PRE [N]gre 13 0.1315 1.8174 0.2025 0.52
[N]sen 13 1.30E-05 0.0002 0.9902 -0.0296
[P]gre 13 0.6572 23.0056 0.0004 28.7644
[P]sen 13 0.0949 1.2589 0.2838 -32.5616

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  Discussion 

Effect of nursery fertilization on initial functional attributes and field performance

Our results showed different responses to fertilization of one-year-old plants with different ploidy levels in Populus tomentosa Carr. In response to no fertilization, triploid plants showed higher height, diameter, stem mass and root NSC levels, but lower mineral nutrient status (except for root P and K concentration) than diploid plants before planting (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Tab. 2). However, triploid plants grown in the field kept superior performances only regarding total height (Tab. S1 in Supplementary material). Total diameter and stem volume, as well as their growth and nutrient status of green and senesced leaves for diploid plants were similar or even higher than those found in triploid plants (Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Tab. S1 in Supplementary material), implying that diploids with small size but enriched mineral nutrient status performed better than triploid plants in the field. After fertilization with 9 g N per plant, diploid plants increased their diameter and stem mass, as well as mineral nutrients (stem P and K, and root N concentration) and stem NSC levels. Contrastingly, triploids had reduced diameter and stem mass, as well as stem N and root starch concentrations before planting (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Tab. 2). Consequently, diploid plants were superior in plant size and mineral nutrient status (except for root P and K concentration) but inferior in root NSC levels in comparison to triploids. In the field, fertilization of diploid plants with 9 g N decreased the diameter and the stem volume growth, as well as Ngre and Pgre, but the opposite responses in total height and diameter led to non-difference of total stem volume between fertilization treatments. While for triploid plants, fertilization with 9 g N significantly enhanced diameter and stem volume growth, Ngre and Psen, as well as total height, diameter and stem volume. Therefore, triploid plants were larger in size and growth than diploids, suggesting that the lower initial plant size in triploid plants was reversed in the filed, and root NSC levels might contribute to this variation.

Under our experimental condition, nursery fertilization affected initial functional attributes, which in turn affect field performance of poplar seedlings. At each fertilization treatment, plants with small initial size performed better in the field, suggesting that initial plant size was more correlated with field performances, and the accumulation of mineral nutrients or NSC might trigger these performances. Many studies demonstrated the importance of mineral nutrient status and/or NSC levels on field performances of seedlings ([25], [40], [13]). However, in our study small-sized plants performed better in the field than large size seedlings, differing from previous studies ([7], [27], [38]). A possible explanation is based on different field conditions in our study. Grossnickle & MacDonald ([13]) concluded that small plants can grow better under stressful conditions by reducing resource consumption. In our experimental conditions, soil nutrients (especially N) in the field might be N-deficient for Chinese white poplars, and this may represent a stress for outplanted seedlings. However, as indicated by the decrease in plant size and mineral nutrients of triploids before planting, our study did not take into account genotypes-specific responses to optimal fertilization ([11], [23], [38]). Furthermore, previous studies have demonstrated the contribution of diazotrophic endophyte consortia on decreasing fertilizer input and increasing mass accumulation in poplar ([32], [17]). In our study, different diazotrophic endophyte consortia of each ploidy level, combined with different soil conditions between nursery and the field, could further explain the observed growth differences.

The relationship between initial functional attributes, leaf nutrient status, growth and nutrient resorption

In our study, nursery fertilization increased NRE of triploids and decreased PRE of both ploidy levels. In all the fertilization treatments, NRE and PRE of diploid plants were higher than those of triploids except for NRE at 9 g N per plant. Vergutz et al. ([37]) reported that mean values of NRE and PRE of temperate deciduous species were 57.6% and 54.1%, respectively. Yan et al. ([44]) showed that mean values of NRE and PRE in woody species were 48.4% and 53.3%, respectively. Under our experimental conditions, NRE was 43.0-59.9%, which in line with global mean values, but PRE (14.5-39.1%) was lower. Furthermore, the observed values were much higher than other Poplar species or clones for NRE (12.09-18.93%) but similar or lower for PRE (32.46-39.63% - [33]), suggesting that nutrient resorption is species-, clones- or even ploidy-level specific. Furthermore, the difference of environmental conditions, time of collecting leaves, plant age or measurements methods might also contribute to the observed difference ([3]).

Our results showed that NRE was positively related to Ngre, Pgre and Psen, but negatively associated with Nsen (Tab. 4), suggesting that NRE is multi-elements controlled, while PRE was only positively related with Pgre (Tab. 4). The relationship was consistent with the findings reported by several studies ([52], [47], [16]), but differed from others ([1], [18], [37]). Species-specificity, plant age, environmental conditions, time of collecting leaves or different measurement methods might underlie such contrasting evidence ([3]). Furthermore, the close relationship between diameter growth and Ngre or Pgre in the field (see Tab. S3 in Supplementary material) confirmed the positive correlation between Ngre and growth ([31], [30]). However, there was no relationship between field growth and NuR, consistently with previous studies ([14], [29]) and implying that field growth is not dependent factor for NuR. The different result with other studies ([33], [49]) might be attributed to variation in plant age, experimental conditions and/or methods ([3]). Furthermore, initial functional attributes were correlated with NuR (Tab. 4, Tab. S2 in Supplementary material). Plant size was negatively related with both NRE and PRE, while mineral nutrients correlated with PRE, and NSC levels correlated with NRE, respectively. Considering previous studies reporting that initial morphological traits were mostly correlated with field performance ([27], [38]), our results suggest that the initial plant size is the most important parameters impacting field performance in Chinese white poplars, also combined with NuR.

  Conclusion 

We investigated the effect of nursery fertilization on nutrient resorption in the field, as well as its relationship with field leaf nutrient status and growth in Chinese white poplar. Under our experimental conditions, fertilization with 9 g N per plant provided benefits in terms of initial plant size, mineral nutrients and NSC levels before planting, but impaired field performance of diploid plants. While for triploids, the initial lower size of plants can be reversed in the field. Nursery fertilization increased NRE of triploids and decreased PRE of both ploidy levels in the field. Along with the relationship between initial functional attributes and NuR (i.e., plant size was negatively related with both NRE and PRE), our results showed that initial plant size was the most effective parameter in predicting both field performance and NuR. Furthermore, NuR (especially NRE) closely correlates with leaf nutrient status, while no relationship with growth was found in the field. Our results fill the gap in understanding NuR in terms of artificial managements, for instance nursery fertilization. Further study are needed to optimize the fertilization regime in different field conditions and nutrient resorption with long-term monitoring.

  Acknowledgements 

The study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0600403).

  Conflict of Interest 

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors’ Affiliation

(1)
Miaomiao Wang 0000-0001-5714-6420
Guolei Li 0000-0002-2244-4716
Yong Liu 0000-0002-6958-0205
Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083 (China)
(2)
Miaomiao Wang 0000-0001-5714-6420
Guolei Li 0000-0002-2244-4716
Yong Liu 0000-0002-6958-0205
National Innovation Alliance of Valuable Deciduous Tree Industry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083 (China)

Corresponding author

 
Guolei Li
glli226@163.com

Citation

Wang M, Li G, Liu Y (2022). Nursery fertilization affected field performance and nutrient resorption of Populus tomentosa Carr. ploidy levels. iForest 15: 16-23. - doi: 10.3832/ifor3912-014

Academic Editor

Gianfranco Minotta

Paper history

Received: Jun 24, 2021
Accepted: Nov 17, 2021

First online: Jan 24, 2022
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2022
Publication Time: 2.27 months

© SISEF - The Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology 2022

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