不同施氮量对乌龙茶生长和生理的影响

以武夷肉桂为研究对象,研究不同施氮量对乌龙茶幼龄茶树生长和生理的影响。结果表明,幼龄茶树对氮肥的需求不强烈,其新梢生物量、根生物量和总生物量以及茶叶产量随施氮量的增加而下降。茶树新梢全氮、叶绿素、游离氨基酸、茶多酚和咖啡碱的含量随施氮量的增加而增加,而茶树碳氮比随着施氮量增加而下降;但施氮并没有影响茶树总碳含量。老叶叶绿素含量、根全氮和硝态氮含量、新梢总糖含量与施氮量呈二次曲线回归关系,适度施氮促进根对氮的吸收、老叶叶绿素合成和新梢总糖代谢,过度施氮则相反。新梢生物量与其硝态氮含量和游离氨基酸总量显著负相关;根生物量与根碳氮比和新梢咖啡碱含量显著负相关;茎叶生物量和总生物量与根含氮量显著正相关,但与新梢硝态氮和氨基酸含量显著负相关。过度施氮造成茶树生产力下降的主要原因是因为过度施氮极显著提高了茶树氨基酸代谢水平,使用于茶树生长的碳代谢产物（如总糖）减少,进而影响茶树的生长。     

翠菊根系养分捕获形态塑性及其生理机制

为验证以下3个假设: 1) NO₃ ^-和NH₄ ⁺及其不同供给方式显著影响根系生长; 2) NO₃ ^-和NH₄ ⁺以及不同供给方式对根内激素含量影响显著; 3)根构型(1级根长、单位2级根上1级侧根密度(分枝强度)和1级根在2级根上的根间距)与根内激素(生长素(IAA)、脱落酸(ABA)和细胞分裂素(玉米素核苷+玉米素) (CK (ZR + Z))含量显著相关, 采用营养液培养方法, 使实验植物翠菊(Callistephus chinensis)在两种氮肥(NO₃ ^-和NH₄ ⁺)、不同施氮浓度(NO₃ ^-: 0.2、1.0和18.0 mmol·L ^-1; NH₄ ⁺: 0.2、4.0和20.0 mmol·L ^-1), 以及脉冲和稳定两种施用方式处理下生长。在处理35天后收获植物, 测定根系生物量、根系构型指标(根系1级根长、单位2级根上1级侧根数和1级根在2级根上的根间距)和根系中激素含量(IAA、ABA和CK (ZR + Z))。结果显示: 1)实验处理对根生物量和根系中IAA、ABA和CK (ZR + Z)含量均有不同程度的显著影响: 施用NH₄ ⁺使根生物量和根内IAA含量显著低于施用NO₃ ^-; 高浓度NO₃ ^-和NH₄ ⁺处理亦使根生物量和IAA降低; 相对于稳定处理, 脉冲施氮显著降低根生物量和根内IAA含量; NO₃ ^-使根内CK (ZR + Z)含量显著高于施用NH₄ ⁺, 且与施氮浓度及施氮方式无关; NO₃ ^-处理下, 高浓度使根内ABA含量提高, 且脉冲处理使ABA含量升高。NH₄ ⁺处理下, 高浓度使根内ABA含量降低, 而施氮方式对其没有显著影响。2)根构型因素与根内激素关系各异: 各激素与1级根间距无显著关系; IAA和CK (ZR + Z)与1级根长和侧根密度有显著回归关系。3)根构型因素与根生物量的关系是根生物量与1级根长和侧根密度有显著正回归关系, 与1级根间距无显著回归关系。实验结果表明翠菊根生长的 “反常”可能是由于其对脉冲高浓度NH₄ ⁺耐受阈值低所致。该研究通过实验建立了氮养分种类/供应方式通过改变激素、影响根构型而影响根生长的联系, 进一步探究了植物根养分捕获塑性机制。     

华西雨屏区香樟人工林土壤表层细根生物量和碳储量

2010年11月-2011年12月, 研究了华西雨屏区31年生香樟人工林土壤表层(0～30 cm)细根生物量及碳储量.结果表明: 香樟人工林土壤0～30 cm层细根总生物量(活根+死根)和碳储量的平均值分别为1592.29 kg·hm^-2和660.68 kg C·hm^-2,其中活细根贡献率分别为91.1%和91.8%.随着土壤深度的增加,香樟1～5级活细根和死细根的生物量及碳储量均显著减少;随着根序等级的升高,香樟活细根生物量及碳储量显著增加.香樟细根总生物量及碳储量均在秋季最高、冬季最低,死细根生物量及碳储量为冬季最高、夏季最低;1级根和2级根生物量及碳储量均在夏季最高、冬季最低,而3~5级根则为秋季最高、冬季最低.土壤养分和水分的空间异质性是导致细根生物量和碳储量变化的主要原因.     

长期不同施肥对玉米根茬生物量及养分累积量的影响

以黄土高原南部两个长期定位试验（分别开始于1990和2003年）为研究对象,探讨了不同肥料处理对玉米根茬生物产量和养分累积的影响.于2011年10月玉米收获后采集0～20 cm土层不同施肥处理玉米根茬.结果表明：与不施肥及偏施N、NK、PK化肥相比,氮磷配施（NP）、氮磷钾平衡施肥（NPK）、有机无机配施（M₁NPK、M₂NPK）及化肥配合秸秆（SNPK）处理均显著提高了玉米根茬干质量.根茬固碳量及氮、磷、钾养分累积量在NP、NPK、M₁NPK、M₂NPK、SNPK处理显著高于不施肥和偏施N、NK、PK化肥处理,其中以有机无机配施处理效果最好.与不施氮肥（N₀）相比,施氮120 kg N·hm^-2（N₁₂₀）和240 kg N·hm^-2（N₂₄₀）处理根茬干质量分别提高38%和45%,高量氮肥对根茬增量效果不显著.施用氮肥也显著提高了根茬碳、氮、磷、钾累积量.根茬可溶性有机碳、可溶性总氮含量在NP、NPK、M₁NPK、M₂NPK、SNPK及N₁₂₀和N240处理中较高.氮磷钾平衡施肥、有机无机配施以及秸秆还田处理降低了根茬的纤维素、木质素含量.根茬C/N、木质素/N在CK、PK、N₀处理间显著高于其他施肥处理.因此,氮磷配施、氮磷钾平衡施肥、有机无机配施及秸秆还田处理能够促进玉米根生长,提高营养成分含量,有利于土壤培肥和固碳.     

不同氮素添加频率模拟氮沉降对桤木人工林生态系统碳储量的影响

为探究不同频率氮素添加模拟大气氮沉降对桤木人工林生态系统碳储量的影响, 采用野外固定样地观测的方法, 研究1年12次氮素添加(高频率)和1年2次氮素添加(低频率), 对桤木人工林生态系统乔木层、林下植被层、凋落物层、土壤层生物量及碳储量的影响。经过3年不同氮沉降模拟实验, 结果表明: (1) 高频与低频施氮均能增加桤木叶、枝、皮、根、总生物量及碳储量, 其中高频施氮显著增加根生物量及碳储量, 较对照增加了22.98%、24.05%; 而低频施氮显著增加叶、干生物量及枝、叶碳储量。(2) 低频与高频施氮均显著降低了桤木林下植被生物量及碳储量, 较对照分别降低67.95%、83.97%和79.73%、70.27%, 对碳含量影响不显著。(3)高频与低频施氮均显著增加L层(0—20 cm)凋落物生物量及L层和F层(20—40 cm)凋落物碳储量, 且高频施氮>低频施氮; 低频施氮显著降低20—40 cm土壤碳储量, 较对照降低20.83%, 高频施氮则对土壤碳含量和土壤碳储量无显著影响。高频施氮显著增加桤木林人工生态系统中凋落物层碳储量, 显著降低林下植被层碳储量, 生态系统总碳储量增加; 低频施氮显著降低乔木层、林下植被层和凋落物层碳储量, 导致桤木林生态系统碳储量降低, 但两种处理影响均不显著。     

不同施肥条件下毛叶苕子的腐解及养分释放特征

利用田间埋袋法,研究不施肥、施氮肥、施石灰3种处理对豫南稻田毛叶苕子腐解及养分释放特征的影响.结果表明:不同施肥处理下毛叶苕子累积腐解率为65.3%~72.5%,腐解过程中呈现前11 d腐解较快、后期腐解缓慢并逐渐趋于平稳的趋势.不同处理养分释放率表现为钾>磷>碳>氮,试验结束时(翻压148 d),碳、氮、磷、钾的累积释放率分别为83.6%~84.6%、78.2%~81.2%、89.8%~91.4%、96.3%~97.0%.在整个腐解期内,毛叶苕子氮释放特征与腐解特征相似,与不施肥相比,施石灰促进毛叶苕子腐解及氮、磷、钾养分释放;施氮肥促进毛叶苕子磷释放,抑制钾释放;施石灰和氮肥对碳释放均无显著影响.施氮肥处理腐解0~11 d促进毛叶苕子腐解及氮释放,腐解11~148 d抑制毛叶苕子腐解及氮释放.采用一级动力学方程及对数函数方程拟合豫南稻区毛叶苕子腐解及碳、氮、磷、钾养分释放特征均达到显著水平,拟合方程的特征参数值与毛叶苕子腐解率及养分释放率呈显著相关.施用石灰促进毛叶苕子腐解及养分释放的效果优于施用氮肥;一级动力学方程及对数函数方程特征参数值可较好地描述毛叶苕子腐解及养分释放能力.     

岩溶地区不同石漠化程度下草地细根对土壤养分的贡献

细根分解和周转是土壤有机质和养分的重要来源。为探明不同石漠化程度天然草地细根对土壤养分的贡献,于2017年3月至次年1月,采用土柱法和分解袋法,研究不同石漠化程度下天然草地的细根生物量、分解和养分释放动态及对石漠化的响应。结果表明:3种不同石漠化程度下草地的细根生物量随季节均呈现先增加后降低的趋势,随石漠化程度的加剧均呈现逐渐降低的趋势,潜在、中度和强度石漠化草地的细根生物量分别为3355.65、2944.02 g/m~2和1806.80 g/m~2。细根分解速率呈现先快后慢的趋势,分解300天后的残留率均低于50%。细根有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾的释放过程具有显著不同,释放模式最终均表现为"释放",潜在、中度和强度石漠化草地细根的有机碳、全氮、全磷、全钾的年归还量分别为32.46—161.08、0.24—3.88、0.08—0.32、0.15—2.78 g/m~2。随石漠化程度的加剧,细根生物量和分解率呈现逐渐降低趋势,土壤有机碳、全氮归还量呈现逐渐增加趋势。     

外源褪黑素对干旱胁迫下黑麦草和苜蓿抗氧化能力及养分吸收的影响

以黑麦草和苜蓿为对象,分别叶面喷施和根施100 μmol·L^-1的褪黑素溶液,在干旱胁迫下测定了生物量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、相对电导率、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、养分含量(有机碳C、全氮N、全磷P)等指标,研究外源褪黑素对干旱胁迫下植物抗氧化能力及养分吸收的影响。结果表明: 干旱胁迫下,黑麦草和苜蓿的地上、地下生物量显著降低,外施褪黑素能够有效缓解干旱胁迫对黑麦草和苜蓿生长的抑制作用,叶面喷施和根施褪黑素使干旱胁迫下黑麦草的生物量分别增加14.5%和29.6%,苜蓿的生物量分别增加36.6%和49.1%。干旱胁迫下,黑麦草的SOD、POD活性和苜蓿的SOD活性显著降低,外施褪黑素显著提高黑麦草和苜蓿的SOD、POD、CAT活性,减少叶片中MDA的积累,使叶片相对电导率显著下降,抗氧化能力显著提高。干旱和外施褪黑素对黑麦草和苜蓿有机碳含量无显著影响。干旱胁迫下,黑麦草叶片和根中的N、P含量以及苜蓿根中的N含量降低,外施褪黑素提高黑麦草和苜蓿根和叶片中的N、P含量,这表明褪黑素对干旱胁迫下黑麦草和苜蓿的养分吸收有一定的调节作用。施用褪黑素不仅能改善植物的抗氧化能力,还能调节养分吸收以增强植物对干旱胁迫的适应性,而且叶面喷施褪黑素效果好于根施。     

纯化腐植酸对低氮胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长及养分吸收的影响

以黄瓜‘新泰密刺’、‘津优1号’为供试品种,研究沙培条件下不同浓度(0、50、100、150、200 mg·L^-1)纯化腐植酸(PHA)浇灌对低氮胁迫(1 mmol·L^-1 NO₃^-)下黄瓜幼苗生长及养分吸收的影响.结果表明: 在较低N供应条件下,沙培浇灌PHA可显著增加黄瓜幼苗的根总长、根表面积及根尖数,增大根体积,促进黄瓜幼苗株高和茎粗生长,增大叶面积;显著提高黄瓜幼苗叶片中脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量;促进N素以及P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe元素的吸收.由参试两黄瓜品种对低氮胁迫下PHA处理响应效果来看,不同品种的某些性状对PHA处理浓度的敏感程度稍有差异,综合结果显示,施用100～150 mg·L^-1PHA可显著促进两品种幼苗生长及养分吸收.     

增施氮肥能够缓解麦田土壤线虫群落对O3浓度升高的响应

在辽宁沈阳农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站,利用运行2a的开顶式气室,研究了臭氧(O3)浓度升高和不同氮肥施用水平对土壤线虫群落的影响。结果表明:(1)O3浓度升高降低了成熟期小麦根生物量。O3浓度升高和不同氮肥施用水平的交互作用改变了小麦成熟期土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和水溶性有机碳的含量。低氮条件下,O3浓度升高降低了土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和水溶性有机碳的含量;而高氮条件下则表现出相反的趋势。(2)O3浓度升高和不同氮肥施用水平对土壤线虫总数没有产生显著影响,而在灌浆期,食细菌线虫和食真菌线虫中c-p值为4(Ba4 and Fu4)的功能团对O3浓度升高和不同氮肥施用水平的响应敏感;与对照相比,不同氮处理中,O3浓度升高均降低了灌浆期Ba4功能团线虫的数量。灌浆期,O3浓度升高条件下,与对照相比Fu4功能团线虫数量在高氮条件下表现出增加的趋势,而在低氮条件表现出降低的趋势。(3)O3浓度升高和不同氮肥施用水平的交互作用显著影响了小麦灌浆期线虫的成熟度指数(MI)和结构指数(SI)。与对照相比,线虫成熟度指数和结构指数在低氮条件下随O3浓度升高而降低;而在高氮条件下随O3浓度升高而升高。上述结果表明,氮肥的施用能够缓解O3浓度升高对土壤食物网的扰动。     

施肥对香樟幼苗生长及养分分配的影响

施肥是苗木培育的重要方式,香樟是乡土珍稀阔叶树种,苗木培育对乡土珍稀树种的保护、繁育、推广具有极其重要的作用,施肥对苗木的生长和发育具有重要的影响。因此,为了探讨香樟幼苗生长及植物体内养分分配对施肥的响应,该研究采用正交设计,设置了氮、磷、钾3因素3水平(N、P:0、3、6 g·株-1;K:0、2、4g·株-1),对盆栽香樟幼苗进行指数施肥。结果表明:(1)氮肥对香樟幼苗苗高、地径、生物量的影响最为显著,磷肥和钾肥的影响则较小;(2)氮素在香樟幼苗叶、茎、根中的分布状况主要受氮肥的影响,磷素在香樟幼苗叶、茎、根中的分布状况主要受氮肥和磷肥的影响,钾素在香樟幼苗叶、茎、根中的分布状况主要受钾肥的影响;(3)香樟幼苗的苗高生长与叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量呈显著正相关(P0.05),地径生长与茎氮含量呈显著正相关(P0.05),叶生物量与叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量呈显著正相关(P0.05),茎生物量与叶片磷含量呈显著正相关(P0.05);(4)综合分析得出,对香樟幼苗苗高、地径生长,以及枝叶生物量积累最具促进作用的施肥水平为氮肥(6 g·株-1)、磷肥(6 g·株-1)、钾肥(4 g·株-1)。     

Soil fertility and fine root dynamics in response to 4 years of nutrient (N,P, K) fertilization in a lowland tropical moist forest,Panama

The question of how tropical trees cope with infertile soils has been challenging to address, in part, because fine root dynamics must be studied in situ. We used annual fertilization with nitrogen (N as urea, 12.5 g N m^?2 year^?1), phosphorus (P as superphosphate, 5 g P m^?2 year^?1) and potassium (K as KCl, 5 g K m^?2 year^?1) within 38 ha of old‐growth lowland tropical moist forest in Panama and examined fine root dynamics with minirhizotron images. We expected that added P, above all, would (i) decrease fine root biomass but, (ii) have no impact on fine root turnover. Soil in the study area was moderately acidic (pH = 5.28), had moderate concentrations of exchangeable base cations (13.4 cmol kg^?1), low concentrations of Bray‐extractable phosphate (PO₄ = 2.2 mg kg^?1), and modest concentrations of KCl‐extractable nitrate (NO₃ = 5.0 mg kg^?1) and KCl‐extractable ammonium (NH₄ = 15.5 mg kg^?1). Added N increased concentrations of KCl‐extractable NO₃ and acidified the soil by one pH unit. Added P increased concentrations of Bray‐extractable PO₄ and P in the labile fraction. Concentrations of exchangeable K were elevated in K addition plots but reduced by N additions. Fine root dynamics responded to added K rather than added P. After 2 years, added K decreased fine root biomass from 330 to 275 g m^?2. The turnover coefficient of fine roots <1 mm diameter ranged from 2.6 to 4.4 per year, and the largest values occurred in plots with added K. This study supported the view that biomass and dynamics of fine roots respond to soil nutrient availability in species‐rich, lowland tropical moist forest. However, K rather than P elicited root responses. Fine roots smaller than 1 mm have a short lifetime (<140 days), and control of fine root production by nutrient availability in tropical forests deserves more study.     

Fibrous root turnover and growth in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera) as affected by nitrogen shortage

The root system of plants is subject to fast cycles of renewal and decay within the growing season. In water and/or nutrient stress conditions, this turnover may become strategic for plant survival and productivity, but knowledge about its mechanisms is still insufficient. In order to investigate the effects of nitrogen fertilization on growth and turnover of sugar beet roots, an experiment was carried out over two growing seasons in northern Italy with two levels of N supply (0, 100 kg ha^–1). Biomass production and partitioning were followed during growth, and fibrous root dynamics were inspected by means of computer-aided procedures applied to minirhizotron images.In conditions of N shortage, lower yields (storage roots) were associated with greater allocation of biomass to tap roots (final tap-root/shoot ratio = 5.6 vs. 4.1) and shallower distribution of fibrous root length density. The maximum depth of roots was not affected by N, but unfertilized plants reached it more slowly.The ratio of cumulative root dead length to produced length at the end of the growing period (TDL _max/TPL _max) was used as the most suitable approach for assessing overall root turnover. This ratio was greater in controls (0.73 vs. 0.50), which showed lower root longevity (–34% life-span on average), indicating that a greater proportion of root growth was renewed by unfertilized plants over the season.     

指数施肥对楸树无性系生物量分配和根系形态的影响

为探求楸树不同无性系生物量分配和根系形态的差异,2011年3-8月在甘肃省天水市小陇山林科所,以2年生楸树无性系1-4、7080和015-1组培苗为试验材料,设置了CK、6、10、14 g尿素/株4个处理,研究指数施肥对楸树无性系生物量分配和根系形态的影响.结果表明:(1)同一无性系中,10 g尿素/株的根、茎、叶生物量及总生物量、根长、根表面积、根体积和根平均直径均高于其它处理.无性系015-1的生物量和根系形态参数整体上高于无性系1-4和7080.无性系015-1在10 g尿素/株的根、茎、叶生物量及总生物量分别为89.44 g、61.30 g、79.97 g、230.71 g,是CK的1.48、1.52、2.09、1.66倍;根长、根表面积和根体积为22667 cm、6260 cm2、578.14 cm3,是CK的1.94、1.54、2.43倍.(2)指数施肥和无性系的遗传差异明显影响楸树不同无性系生物量的分配格局.适量施氮明显促进3个楸树无性系生物量的积累,而氮素缺乏或过量均不利于生物量的积累.8月同一无性系的根冠比均随施氮量的增加而降低;同一处理下无性系7080的根冠比高于无性系1-4和015-l.无性系1-4和7080的生物量主要向叶和茎分配,而无性系015-1主要向叶分配.(3)指数施肥在6月和7月主要促进细根根长和根表面积的增加;指数施肥在8月主要促进细根、中等根和粗根体积的急剧增加,分别比7月高达36.88％、124.96％、154.79％.这利于根系在中后期吸收更多养分,从而引起生物量分配格局的变化.(4)生物量参数和根系形态参数关系密切.根生物量、地上生物量、总生物量分别和根长、根表面积、根体积、根平均直径极显著正相关;根冠比和根长、根表面积、根体积、根平均直径极显著负相关;比根长和地上生物量、总生物量显著正相关,和根冠比极显著负相关.     

施肥对盆栽香樟幼苗不同根序细根养分的影响

以盆栽的1年生香樟实生苗为研究对象,采用指数施肥的方式,测定1~5级细根的C、N、P、K含量,并探讨施肥对香樟幼苗细根养分浓度的影响。结果表明:(1)不同根序细根的全C浓度差异不显著,施肥对细根全C浓度影响不显著(P0.05);(2)在所有根序中,N、P浓度最高的是1级根,但其K浓度却最低;N、P含量最低的是5级根;(3)细根的N、P含量随着根序的增加呈显著的下降趋势(P0.05);(4)施N肥能显著增加1~2级细根的N含量,施P肥能显著增加1级根的P含量,N+P肥较之P肥更能提高1级根对P的吸收;(5)C∶N∶P受根序的影响非常明显,1级根平均为366∶16∶1,5级根则为807∶12∶1,而且C∶N∶P随着根序增加而显著升高,但N∶P无显著影响;(6)虽然施肥对细根C含量无影响,但施N肥或N+P肥对1~2级细根中N的含量有显著性增加。综合分析可知,处理9对香樟苗期养分浓度指标影响最为显著,即施肥量为氮素4g·株-1、磷素4g·株-1、钾素2g·株-1时,对香樟幼苗细根的生长发育有较好地促进作用。研究结果可为香樟的速生丰产及资源的高效利用提供理论依据。     

模拟氮沉降对杉木幼苗细根的生理生态影响

细根对氮沉降的生理生态响应将显著影响森林生态系统的生产力和碳吸存。为了揭示氮沉降对杉木细根的生理生态影响,对一年生杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)幼苗进行了模拟氮沉降试验,并测定施氮1年后杉木幼苗细根生物量、细根形态学特征(比根长、比表面积)、元素化学计量学指标(C、N、P、C/N、C/P、N/P)、细根代谢特征(细根比呼吸速率、非结构性碳水化合物)。结果表明:(1)杉木细根生物量随氮添加水平的升高而显著降低,尤其是0—1 mm细根生物量;细根比根长和比表面积随氮添加水平升高而显著增大。(2)氮添加后杉木细根C含量、C/N、C/P显著降低,高氮添加导致1—2 mm细根N含量和N/P显著升高,而低氮添加导致1—2 mm细根P含量显著升高、N/P显著降低,而0—1 mm细根的N、P含量则保持相对稳定。(3)氮添加后杉木细根比呼吸速率无显著变化,细根可溶性糖含量随氮添加增加而显著增加,而淀粉含量和NSC显著降低。综合以上结果表明:氮添加后用于细根形态构建的碳分配减少,这可能会减少土壤中有机碳的保留,0—1 mm细根的形态更易发生变化,但是其内部N、P养分含量相对更稳定以维持生理活动,细根NSC对氮添加的响应表明施氮可能导致细根受光合产物的限制。     

Wheat root biomass and nitrogen dynamics—effects of daily irrigation and fertilization

Root biomass, root nitrogen content, and root distribution down to 50 cm depth in winter wheat were determined by soil coring on five dates in four different treatments: control (C), drought (D), daily irrigation (I), and daily irrigation and fertilization (IF). The first three treatments received the N fertilizer application as a single dose in spring, whereas in IF daily doses of N were supplied in the irrigation water using a drip-tube system, according to the estimated nutrient demand of the crop. All treatments received 20 g N m⁻² year⁻¹. The maximum root biomass (104 g m⁻²) was reached earliest in IF. On 6 June, root samples were taken down to a depth of 100 cm, and the proportion of deep roots (50–100 cm) was least in I, indicating that it had the shaklowest root system. The root biomass as a fraction of the total plant mass decreased during crop development in all treatments down to about 4% at harvest. The decrease was more rapid in I and C than in D and IF. The higher proportion of roots during spring in D and IF coincided with a low nitrogen concentration in the roots, which was attributed to the restricted water supply and to the relative shortage of nitrogen during early crop development in D and IF, respectively. The dynamics of mass and nitrogen in macroscopic organic debris in the soil suggested that root turnover rates were high. ei]{gnB E}{fnClothier}     

Belowground responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea asperata</Emphasis> seedlings to warming and nitrogen fertilization in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

The impacts of global climatic change on belowground ecological processes of terrestrial ecosystems are still not clear. We therefore conducted an experiment in the subalpine coniferous forest ecosystem of the eastern edges of the Tibetan Plateau to study roots of Picea asperata seedlings and rhizosphere soil responses to soil warming and nitrogen availability from April 2007 to December 2008. The seedlings were subjected to two levels of temperature (ambient; infrared heater warming) and two nitrogen levels (0 or 25 g m⁻²year⁻¹ N). We used a free air temperature increase from an overhead infrared heater to raise both air and soil temperature by 2.1 and 2.6°C, respectively. The results showed that warming alone significantly increased total biomass, coarse root biomass and fine root biomass of P. asperata seedlings. Both total biomass and fine root biomass were increased, but coarse root biomass was significantly decreased by nitrogen fertilization and warming combined with nitrogen fertilization. Warming induced a prominent increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) and NO₃ ⁻-N of rhizosphere soil, while nitrogen fertilization significantly decreased SOC and NH₄ ⁺-N of rhizosphere soil. The warming, fertilization and warming × N fertilization interaction decreased soil microbial C significantly, but substantially increased soil microbial N. These results suggest that nitrogen deposition combined with warmer temperatures under future climatic change possibly will have no effect on fine root production of P. asperata seedlings, but could enhance the nitrification process of their rhizosphere soils in subalpine coniferous forests.     

Long‐term biochar application promotes rice productivity by regulating root dynamic development and reducing nitrogen leaching

Biochar is beneficial for improving soil quality and crop productivity. However, the long‐term effects of biochar addition on temporal dynamics of plant shoot and root growth, and the changes in soil properties and nitrogen (N) leaching are still obscure. Here, based on a long‐term (7 years) biochar field experiment with rice in northwest China, we investigated the effects of two biochar rates (0 and 9 t ha^?1 year^?1) and two N fertilizer rates (0 and 300 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) on shoot and root growth, root morphology, N leaching, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that both biochar and N fertilizer significantly promoted rice growth, with their interaction significant only in some cases. Both fertilizers enhanced rice shoot biomass and N accumulation in various growth stages as well as increased grain yield. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly promoted root growth regardless of biochar application. However, biochar application without N fertilizer increased root biomass and length during the whole growth period, except in the booting stage; biochar with N application promoted root growth at tillering, reduced root biomass but maintained root length with low root diameter and high specific root length during the jointing and booting stages, and then delayed root senescence in the grain filling stage. Long‐term applications of biochar and N fertilizer reduced 10%–12% bulk density of topsoil compared to the control treatment with no N fertilizer and no biochar. Long‐term biochar application also improved soil total organic carbon and concentrations of available N, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition, biochar and N fertilizer applied together significantly reduced nitrate and ammonium concentration in leachate at different soil depths. In conclusion, biochar could regulate root growth, root morphology, soil properties, and N leaching to increase rice N fertilizer‐use efficiency.     

Plant roots and GHG mitigation in native perennial bioenergy cropping systems

Native perennial bioenergy crops can mitigate greenhouse gases (GHG) by displacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and sequestering atmospheric carbon (C) in soil and roots. The relative contribution of root C to net GHG mitigation potential has not been compared in perennial bioenergy crops ranging in species diversity and N fertility. We measured root biomass, C, nitrogen (N), and soil organic carbon (SOC) in the upper 90 cm of soil for five native perennial bioenergy crops managed with and without N fertilizer. Bioenergy crops ranged in species composition and were annually harvested for 6 (one location) and 7 years (three locations) following the seeding year. Total root biomass was 84% greater in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and a four‐species grass polyculture compared to high‐diversity polycultures; the difference was driven by more biomass at shallow soil depth (0–30 cm). Total root C (0–90 cm) ranged from 3.7 Mg C ha^?1 for a 12‐species mixture to 7.6 Mg C ha^?1 for switchgrass. On average, standing root C accounted for 41% of net GHG mitigation potential. After accounting for farm and ethanol production emissions, net GHG mitigation potential from fossil fuel offsets and root C was greatest for switchgrass (?8.4 Mg CO2e ha^?1 yr^?1) and lowest for high‐diversity mixtures (?4.5 Mg CO2e ha^?1 yr^?1). Nitrogen fertilizer did not affect net GHG mitigation potential or the contribution of roots to GHG mitigation for any bioenergy crop. SOC did not change and therefore did not contribute to GHG mitigation potential. However, associations among SOC, root biomass, and root C : N ratio suggest greater long‐term C storage in diverse polycultures vs. switchgrass. Carbon pools in roots have a greater effect on net GHG mitigation than SOC in the short‐term, yet variation in root characteristics may alter patterns in long‐term C storage among bioenergy crops.