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Seedling growth and nutrition responses of two subtropical tree species to NH4+-N and NO3−-N deposition

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Abstract

Deposition rates of NH4+ and NO3−, two naturally occurring forms of nitrogen (N), vary worldwide. Here, we discuss the combined effect of deposition of N forms on plant growth in low-phosphorus (P) soil and analyze the patterns that trees utilize to adapt to specific N forms in low-P and high-P soils. One-year-old Schima superba and Pinus massoniana seedlings grown in soil with 1.1 mg kg−1 available P (low-P) and 25 mg kg−1 available P (high-P) were treated with NaNO3 or NH4Cl solutions: N0 = 0 (control), N80 = 80 kg N ha−1 year−1, and N200 = 200 kg N ha−1 year−1. Soil N, P, seedling traits,and leaf N and P contents were measured. Leaf N/P ratios were calculated to determine plant nutrient status. Pinus massoniana had a larger suitable P range and thus showed better growth in low-P soil than S. superba. Although S. superba preferred NH4+ compared with P. massoniana, the addition of NH4+ aggravated the plant growth disadvantage in low-P soil, and high concentrations resulted in the death of P. massoniana plants. The moderate addition of NO3− promoted the growth of the two species. However, the addition of a high dose of NO3− inhibited P. massoniana growth in both low-P and high-P soil. The addition of NH4+-N and NO3−-N resulted in an increase and decrease in the leaf N/P ratios and made plants prone to P and N limitation, respectively. The addition of NH4+ and NO3−-N resulted in different species responses. The responses of tree species to N deposition may vary depending on the forms and rates of N deposition, and species-dependent N-requirements, which in turn are based on the species-specific P-requirements and soil P content. We conclude that plant biomass is related to soil NH4+/NO3− ratios in high-P soil.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Tree Breeding Research Project during the 13th Five-year Period of Zhejiang Province (2016C02056-3) and the Fifth Stages of Planting and Seedling Science and Technology of Fujian Province (201605), Key Projects in Jiangxi Province (201503).

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  1. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, CAF, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Daqiao Road 73#, Fuyang, 311400, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

    Rui Zhang, Zhichun Zhou, Yi Wang & Guoqing Jin

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  1. Rui Zhang
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  2. Zhichun Zhou
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  3. Yi Wang
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  4. Guoqing Jin
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Correspondence to Rui Zhang or Zhichun Zhou.

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Zhang, R., Zhou, Z., Wang, Y. et al. Seedling growth and nutrition responses of two subtropical tree species to NH4+-N and NO3−-N deposition. New Forests 50, 755–769 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-018-09697-3

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