Elevated root zone pH and NaCl leads to decreased foliar nitrogen, chlorophyll, and physiological performance in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), green alder (Alnus alnobetula), tamarack (Larix laricina), and white spruce (Picea glauca)

Lauer, Nathan

doi:10.1007/s00468-023-02404-6

Elevated root zone pH and NaCl leads to decreased foliar nitrogen, chlorophyll, and physiological performance in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), green alder (Alnus alnobetula), tamarack (Larix laricina), and white spruce (Picea glauca)

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Published: 20 March 2023

Volume 37, pages 1041–1054, (2023)
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Nathan Lauer ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5852-534X¹

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Abstract

Key message

Elevated root zone pH and NaCl caused a similar physiological response in all species tested. This may be a result of a deliberate stunting of growth.

Abstract

Surface mining for bitumen in the Athabasca oil sands region of Northern Alberta involves the removal of all vegetation and soil from native boreal forest lands. Revegetation is challenging because reclamation sites have soils with elevated pH and NaCl levels. In the present study, trembling aspen, green alder, tamarack, and white spruce were grown in liquid culture and subjected to treatments with three pH levels (5, 7, 9) and three NaCl levels (0, 30, 60 mM) in a factorial design. After 50 days of treatment, total dry weight, gas exchange, foliar elemental, and chlorophyll concentrations were measured. Trembling aspen exhibited less than 50% survival for all pH 9 treatments, whereas green alder was sensitive to any increases in pH or NaCl. Tamarack and white spruce showed high survival and tolerance to pH levels of 9 and NaCl levels of 60 mM. However, some decreases in physiological variables were observed. All species showed decreases in total dry weight, foliar nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations, net photosynthesis, and transpiration rates from elevated root zone pH and NaCl levels, potentially due to a deliberate downregulation of metabolism. Also, measuring chlorophyll concentration may provide a reliable indicator of seedling health. This study recommends reclamation sites with moderately high soil pH and NaCl be planted with trembling aspen, tamarack, or white spruce. Overplanting of trembling aspen may be needed to compensate for anticipated lower survival rates at pH 9. Biostimulants, such as beneficial bacteria, biochar, mycorrhizal fungi, and seaweed extracts, may be useful in reversing symptoms of plant stress.

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Data for this study can be made available by the author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Dr. Simon Landhäusser and Dr. Barb Thomas for providing feedback during the initial document drafting stages. I am also thankful for the help and support from lab members, including Ale Equiza, Seong Hee Lee, Wenquing Zhang, Frank Tan, Deyu Mu, Hao Xu, and Samantha Olivier. This research was funded by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Total E&P Canada Ltd.

Funding

This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Total E&P Canada Ltd and Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology.

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Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 4-42 Earth Sciences Bldg., Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
Nathan Lauer

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Lauer, N. Elevated root zone pH and NaCl leads to decreased foliar nitrogen, chlorophyll, and physiological performance in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), green alder (Alnus alnobetula), tamarack (Larix laricina), and white spruce (Picea glauca). Trees 37, 1041–1054 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02404-6

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Received: 28 March 2022
Accepted: 08 March 2023
Published: 20 March 2023
Issue Date: August 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02404-6

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Elevated root zone pH and NaCl leads to decreased foliar nitrogen, chlorophyll, and physiological performance in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), green alder (Alnus alnobetula), tamarack (Larix laricina), and white spruce (Picea glauca)