JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (1): 155-161.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202307012

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Effects of different drought periods on the spatiotemporal distribution of nitrogen content in the leaves of Phyllostachys edulis

CAO Yonghui1(), CHEN Qingbiao2, ZHOU Benzhi1,*(), GE Xiaogai1, WANG Xiaoming1   

  1. 1. Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Qianjiangyuan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Hangzhou 311400, China
    2. Xin’anjiang Forest Farm of Jiande City of Zhejiang Province, Jiande 311600, China
  • Received:2023-07-08 Revised:2024-07-09 Online:2025-01-30 Published:2025-01-21
  • Contact: ZHOU Benzhi E-mail:fjcyh77@sina.com;benzhi_zhou@126.com

Abstract:

【Objective】 The foliar nitrogen content is an important functional trait of plants. Herein, the effect of drought on the nitrogen content of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) leaves was quantitatively analyzed. The study provides a theoretical basis for the sustainable and efficient management of bamboo forests under the current global climate change scenario.【Method】A wild bamboo forest located in Miaoshanwu Forest Farm of Qianjiangyuan Forest Ecosystem Research Station was selected as the research object in this study. The 2-year experimental data pertaining to precipitation exclusion in the bamboo forest, and the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the nitrogen content per unit mass of Phyllostachys edulis leaves under different drought periods and their response to drought stress were analyzed. 【Result】 The annual average nitrogen content per unit mass of bamboo leaves following 1 and 2 years of precipitation exclusion was high than that under natural growth conditions (CK). Although the annual average nitrogen content after 2 years of precipitation exclusion was higher than that after 1 year of exposure to drought, the difference was not significant. Exposure to drought for 1 year increased the foliar nitrogen content during summer and winter, compared to that of the CK; however, the foliar nitrogen content remained stable in summer, autumn, and winter following prolonged exposure to drought. With the exception of the nitrogen content of the leaves in the upper canopy in winter, the foliar nitrogen content following 1 year of precipitation exclusion was significantly higher than that of the CK in summer and winter (P < 0.05). The nitrogen content of the upper leaves was significantly higher than that of the CK in winter after 2 years of precipitation exclusion. The nitrogen content of the upper and lower leaves differed significantly in summer (P < 0.05) after 1 year of precipitation exclusion. The prolongation of drought exposure caused significant differences between the foliar nitrogen content of drought-exposed and CK plants, depending on the season and age of the bamboo. However, the foliar nitrogen content of different degrees of bamboo did not differ significantly from that of the CK during spring. The foliar nitrogen content of first degree (1-2 years old) bamboo plants under drought stress was significantly higher than that of the CK in winter. There were no significant differences between the foliar nitrogen content of different degrees of bamboo plants in spring and summer, following 1 or 2 years of precipitation exclusion. However, the foliar nitrogen content of the first (1-2 years old) and fourth (7-8 years old) degree bamboo plants differed significantly in autumn and winter (P < 0.05). The annual average foliar nitrogen content of the elderly bamboo plants exposed to prolonged drought was relatively high compared to that of the plants exposed to drought for 1 year. 【Conclusion】Analysis of the 2-year data obtained during precipitation exclusion demonstrated that the average foliar nitrogen content of bamboo following precipitation exclusion was higher than that of the CK, but the differences were not significant. The effects of the duration of drought exposure on the foliar nitrogen content were influenced by the season and plant age. The prolongation of precipitation exclusion increased the number of seasons during which the foliar nitrogen content of the drought-exposed plants was higher than that of the CK. Additionally, the number of canopy layers of drought-exposed and control plants that exhibited significant differences in foliar nitrogen content was reduced following the extension of precipitation exclusion, and the differences were limited to individual canopies. The season and age of the bamboo plants need to be considered for the nutrient management of Moso bamboo in future, under the current climate change situation.

Key words: Phyllostachys edulis, precipitation exclusion, foliar nitrogen content, growing season, forest age, canopy position

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