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Eco-physiological response of Quercus variabilis seedlings to increased atmospheric CO2 and N supply.

DU Qi-ran1, LEI Jing-pin2, LIU Jian-feng2, WANG Peng-cheng1, XIAO Wen-fa3, PAN Lei4    

  1. (1College of Horticulture & Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 2Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; 3Research Institute of Forestry Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; 4Hubei Academy of Forestry Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China).
  • Online:2014-01-18 Published:2014-01-18

Abstract: The effect of CO2 enhancement, nitrogen deposition and their interaction on the northern boundary (Zhuanghe in Liaoning Province) of Quercus variabilis seedlings was studied by controlling the CO2 concentration (700 μmol·mol-1; 400 μmol·mol-1) and nitrogen level (non nitrogen fertilizer: CK; nitrogen fertilizer: 120 kg N·hm-2). The results showed that under elevated CO2, the Q. variabilis seedlings’ leaf morphology, photosynthetic pigments and leaf nitrogen content tended to decrease, and the dark respiration rate decreased 63.3% and soluble sugar increased 2.6%. Nitrogen deposition significantly promoted the Q. variabilis seedlings’ leaf morphology and photosynthetic pigments, leading to increased leaf nitrogen content, decreased potassium content, and 26.7% of increase in nitrogen to potassium ratio. CO2 and N interaction played a significant role on promoting the Q. variabilis seedlings’ leaf morphology and photosynthetic. The maximum net photosynthetic and light saturation point were 1.4 and 2.6 times of the control, while dark respiration and light compensation point decreased 65.9% and 50.0%, respectively. Elevated CO2 and nitrogen deposition had a positive effect on Q. variabilis seedlings to some degree, which might result in the movement of distribution boundary of Q. variabilis to north.