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Functional plasticity of Trifolium repens L. in response to sulphur and nitrogen availability

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Abstract

Recent control of atmospheric SO2 pollution is leading to important soil sulphur impoverishment. Plasticity could be a mechanism allowing species to adapt to this rapid global change. Trifolium repens L. is a key grassland species whose performances in community are strongly linked to nitrogen availability. Plasticity of three white clover lines contrasting in their ability to use atmospheric N2 or soil N was assessed by analysing a set of functional traits along a gradient of nitrogen and sulphur fertilisation applied on a poor soil. White clover traits showed high morphological and physiological plasticity. Nitrogen appeared to be the most limiting factor for the VLF (Very Low Fixation) line. S was the element that modulated the most traits for the nitrogen fixing lines NNU (Normal Nitrate Uptake) and LNU (Low Nitrate Uptake). As expected, N fertilisation inhibited white clover fixation, but we also observed that N2 fixation was enhanced when S was added. S fertilisation increased nodule length as well as the proportion of nodules containing leghaemoglobin. S fertilisation, with a direct effect and an indirect effect through N2 fixation, increases white clover performances particularly with regards to photosynthesis and potential vegetative reproduction. The important plasticity in response to S availability should allow it to adapt to a large range of abiotic conditions, but its sensitivity to S nutrition would be a disadvantage for competition in a situation of soil sulphur impoverishment. In contrast, S fertilisation could help maintain this species when nitrogen status is against it.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Marie-Paule Bataillé for technical assistance in isotopic analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, UMR 950 Ecophysiologie Végétale Agronomie et nutritions NCS, INRA/Université de Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032, Caen, France

    Sébastien Varin, Servane Lemauviel-Lavenant & Sylvain Diquélou

  2. Université de Caen, UMR 950 Ecophysiologie Végétale Agronomie et nutritions NCS, INRA/Université de Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032, Caen, France

    Jean Bernard Cliquet

  3. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK

    Terence Padraic Thomas Michaelson-Yeates

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  1. Sébastien Varin
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  2. Servane Lemauviel-Lavenant
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  3. Jean Bernard Cliquet
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  4. Sylvain Diquélou
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  5. Terence Padraic Thomas Michaelson-Yeates
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Correspondence to Servane Lemauviel-Lavenant.

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Responsible Editor: Euan K. James.

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Varin, S., Lemauviel-Lavenant, S., Cliquet, J.B. et al. Functional plasticity of Trifolium repens L. in response to sulphur and nitrogen availability. Plant Soil 317, 189–200 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9800-4

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