Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms
The inorganic nitrogen (N) that can be absorbed and utilized by plants is mainly ammonium N (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N) and nitrate N (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N), which may affect seedlings’ root morphology and growth through its heterogeneous di...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/12/2085 |
| _version_ | 1797458421501394944 |
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| author | Haiyan Liang Lidong Wang Yanru Wang Xiaoqiang Quan Xiaoyu Li Yaning Xiao Xiaoli Yan |
| author_facet | Haiyan Liang Lidong Wang Yanru Wang Xiaoqiang Quan Xiaoyu Li Yaning Xiao Xiaoli Yan |
| author_sort | Haiyan Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The inorganic nitrogen (N) that can be absorbed and utilized by plants is mainly ammonium N (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N) and nitrate N (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N), which may affect seedlings’ root morphology and growth through its heterogeneous distribution. Root morphology and seedling growth were investigated in a subtropical major conifer (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>) and a broadleaf tree species (<i>Schima superba</i>) under five different NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N to NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N ratios (10:0, 0:10, 7:3, 3:7, 5:5). Results: (1) While both species developed thinner roots under the treatment with a high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentration, the roots of <i>C. lanceolata</i> were longer than those of <i>S. superba</i>. In contrast, the roots of both species were thicker under the treatment with a high NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentration, with those in <i>S. superba</i> being much longer than those in <i>C. lanceolata</i>. (2) The mixed NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N treatments were more conducive to the aboveground growth and biomass accumulation of both tree species and the underground growth of <i>S. superba</i>. N sources with high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations were more suitable for underground growth in <i>C. lanceolata</i> seedlings and aboveground growth in <i>S. superba</i> seedlings. Under the N sources with high NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentrations, <i>C. lanceolata</i> tended to develop aboveground parts and <i>S. superba</i> tended to develop underground parts. (3) The roots of the two tree species adopted the expansion strategy of increasing the specific root length and reducing the root tissue density under the N sources with high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations but the opposite with high NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentrations. The root-to-shoot ratio of <i>C. lanceolata</i> increased under high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations, while that of <i>S. superba</i> increased under high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations. These results indicate that the responses of root morphology to different N forms are species-specific. Furthermore, according to the soil’s N status, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N can be appropriately applied to <i>C. lanceolata</i> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N to <i>S. superba</i> for cultivating seedlings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:36:53Z |
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| id | doaj.art-13d06d6f6413454c8314cc2f34e39c9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:36:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-13d06d6f6413454c8314cc2f34e39c9a2023-11-24T14:55:09ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-12-011312208510.3390/f13122085Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen FormsHaiyan Liang0Lidong Wang1Yanru Wang2Xiaoqiang Quan3Xiaoyu Li4Yaning Xiao5Xiaoli Yan6College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, ChinaThe inorganic nitrogen (N) that can be absorbed and utilized by plants is mainly ammonium N (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N) and nitrate N (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N), which may affect seedlings’ root morphology and growth through its heterogeneous distribution. Root morphology and seedling growth were investigated in a subtropical major conifer (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>) and a broadleaf tree species (<i>Schima superba</i>) under five different NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N to NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N ratios (10:0, 0:10, 7:3, 3:7, 5:5). Results: (1) While both species developed thinner roots under the treatment with a high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentration, the roots of <i>C. lanceolata</i> were longer than those of <i>S. superba</i>. In contrast, the roots of both species were thicker under the treatment with a high NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentration, with those in <i>S. superba</i> being much longer than those in <i>C. lanceolata</i>. (2) The mixed NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N treatments were more conducive to the aboveground growth and biomass accumulation of both tree species and the underground growth of <i>S. superba</i>. N sources with high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations were more suitable for underground growth in <i>C. lanceolata</i> seedlings and aboveground growth in <i>S. superba</i> seedlings. Under the N sources with high NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentrations, <i>C. lanceolata</i> tended to develop aboveground parts and <i>S. superba</i> tended to develop underground parts. (3) The roots of the two tree species adopted the expansion strategy of increasing the specific root length and reducing the root tissue density under the N sources with high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations but the opposite with high NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N concentrations. The root-to-shoot ratio of <i>C. lanceolata</i> increased under high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations, while that of <i>S. superba</i> increased under high NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N concentrations. These results indicate that the responses of root morphology to different N forms are species-specific. Furthermore, according to the soil’s N status, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N can be appropriately applied to <i>C. lanceolata</i> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N to <i>S. superba</i> for cultivating seedlings.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/12/2085nitrogen forms<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i><i>Schima superba</i>morphological characteristics of root system |
| spellingShingle | Haiyan Liang Lidong Wang Yanru Wang Xiaoqiang Quan Xiaoyu Li Yaning Xiao Xiaoli Yan Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms Forests nitrogen forms <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> <i>Schima superba</i> morphological characteristics of root system |
| title | Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms |
| title_full | Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms |
| title_fullStr | Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms |
| title_short | Root Development in <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> and <i>Schima superba</i> Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms |
| title_sort | root development in i cunninghamia lanceolata i and i schima superba i seedlings expresses contrasting preferences to nitrogen forms |
| topic | nitrogen forms <i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i> <i>Schima superba</i> morphological characteristics of root system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/12/2085 |
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