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Water and nutrient use efficiency of three tree species in monoculture and mixed stands and potential drivers in the Loess Hilly Region, China

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Abstract

Background

Mixed plantations utilize resources through specific strategies. However, the impact mechanism of mixed plantations on the water and nutrient use efficiency of different tree species remains unclear.

Methods

Robinia pseudoacacia mixed (R. pseudoacacia and Amygdalus davidiana, RPAD; R. pseudoacacia and Armeniaca sibirica, RPAS) and monoculture stands (R. pseudoacacia, RP; A. davidiana, AD; and A. sibirica, AS) were used to determine mixing species relative to monoculture effects on leaf water (WUE), nitrogen (NUE), and phosphorus (PUE) use efficiencies and their potential drivers in the Loess Hilly Region.

Results

Mixing R. pseudoacacia and A. sibirica is a good strategy to maximize soil nutrient resources. Compared to monocultures of all species, R. pseudoacacia and A. davidiana in RPAD and A. sibirica in RPAS had higher WUE and lower NUE and PUE; P limitation of R. pseudoacacia in mixed stands was lower than that in RP. Furthermore, R. pseudoacacia WUE was positively correlated with stand density and crown area, A. davidiana and A. sibirica were the opposite. Regarding all tree species, WUE was influenced by leaf dry matter content, leaf tissue density, and soil available P, while NUE, PUE, and N:P ratio were by average tree height and specific leaf area. Notably, irrespective of tree species, WUE exhibited a negative correlation with NUE and PUE, but a positive correlation with N:P ratio.

Conclusions

Mixed plantations affect water and nutrient use efficiency by altering the above- and below-ground niche through tree structure, and there is a degree of trade-off between WUE, and NUE, PUE.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 41771556). JP and JS were supported by the Spanish Government Grants PID2020-115770RB-I00 and TED2021-132627B-I00 funded by the Spanish MCIN, AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR, the Catalan government grant SGR2021-1333 and the Fundación Ramón Areces grant CIVP20A6621.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China

    Senbao Lu & Yunming Chen

  2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China

    Senbao Lu

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

    Senbao Lu & Yunming Chen

  4. College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China

    Yunming Chen

  5. CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, Catalonia, 08193, Spain

    Jordi Sardans & Josep Peñuelas

  6. CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, 08193, Spain

    Jordi Sardans & Josep Peñuelas

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  1. Senbao Lu
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SBL and YMC conceived and designed this study. SBL performed the fieldwork, analyzed the data, and wrote the original manuscript. YMC guided the paper. JS and JP provided technical and theoretical support and constructive suggestions. All the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yunming Chen.

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Lu, S., Chen, Y., Sardans, J. et al. Water and nutrient use efficiency of three tree species in monoculture and mixed stands and potential drivers in the Loess Hilly Region, China. Plant Soil 496, 657–675 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06389-6

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