杨树人工林细根数量和形态特征的季节动态及代际差异

采集欧美杨107Ⅰ代和Ⅱ代人工林细根样品,分析杨树不同根序细根数量特征(根长度、表面积和生物量)和形态特征(比根长、根长密度、根组织密度)对季节波动的响应及其代际差异.结果表明： 杨树各根序细根数量特征(根长度、表面积和生物量)均呈明显的季节变化,且具有明显的根序差异性.低级根序细根数量特征季节差异显著,细根生物量在生长季显著增加而生长季后显著下降.高级根序细根比根长季节波动显著,而根长密度和根组织密度等形态特征波动较小.连作导致人工林杨树1～2级细根长度、生物量、比根长和根长密度在生长季显著增大.1级细根数量特征与土壤温湿度呈显著正相关,与土壤有机质和速效氮含量呈显著负相关;而2级细根数量特征仅与土壤养分显著相关.杨树人工林细根特征的季节动态及代际差异体现了杨树对细根的碳投入变化,因连作引发的土壤养分匮乏可能引发植株对根系的碳投入增加,这种碳分配格局与人工林地上部分生产力形成密切相关.     

连作杨树人工林细根寿命的代际差异及其影响因素

细根寿命是调控森林生产力形成的关键。通过在连作Ⅰ、Ⅱ代杨树人工林固定样地内埋设微根管,对杨树不同根序细根年度生长动态开展连续观测并进行生存分析。结果表明,杨树不同根序细根累积生存率存在显著差异,高级根(3—5级)寿命较长,其累积生存率显著高于1级和2级细根。杨树细根寿命存在显著的代际差异,连作Ⅱ代人工林活根量、死根量和细根总量均高于Ⅰ代林。连作Ⅱ代人工林细根中位值寿命为(90±16)d,显著低于Ⅰ代人工林((102±22)d)。连作Ⅱ代林各根序细根数量、分布比例均高于Ⅰ代林,低级细根累积生存率低于Ⅰ代林而高级细根累积生存率显著高于Ⅰ代林。连作杨树人工林细根寿命显著受制于土壤环境,1级细根寿命与土壤速效氮相关性极显著(r=-0.861),2级细根寿命与土壤物理性状相关性较强且与土壤酚酸含量呈现极显著相关(r=0.870),高级根序细根寿命与土壤物理性质和养分状况等也具有一定相关性。连作杨树人工林土壤酚酸累积和养分有效性下降影响了细根寿命和周转,并进而造成净初级生产力损耗,相关结论为连作杨树人工林生产力衰退机理模型的建立提供了科学依据。     

杨树人工林下根系的氮素循环与动态特征

研究了辽宁沈阳地区人工林杨树细根及林下草本植物根系的N循环、积累和动态变化特征。结果表明,杨树人工林分条件下活细根中N储量为20．3kg·h^-2,净积累量10kg·hm^-2,吸收量14．7kg·hm^-2,年存留量和归还量分别为9．6和5．1kg·hm^-2周转期4年,整个生长季节杨树细根中N含量与土壤中水解N、NH3-N无明显相关,杨树细根中N浓度与活细根生物量的变化趋势大体一致,两者呈显著正相关。根据杨树活细根中N含量可以估测杨树活细根生物量,该林分下的草本植物根系主要吸收NH3-N,草根中N含量浓度变化与土壤中NH3-N的变化趋势相同,两者呈显著正相关。     

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。     

施肥对日本落叶松不同根序细根养分浓度的影响

以辽宁东部山区16年生日本落叶松人工林为对象,探讨施肥对落叶松1～5级不同根序等级细根养分浓度的变化.结果表明：不同根序等级细根全碳浓度差异不显著,施肥对各级根序全碳浓度没有显著影响;在前5级根序中,1级根非结构性碳水化合物（TNC）浓度最低,N和P浓度最高;而5级根TNC浓度最高,N和P浓度最低.TNC浓度随着根序增加而升高,N和P浓度则相应下降.施肥仅对1级根组织中N和P浓度有显著影响;不同根序根组织中C/N/P具有明显差异,1级根平均C/N/P为423∶16∶1,5级根为726∶16∶1,随着根序增加,C在3种元素中的比例显著增加,而N的比例变化不大.施N肥并没有改变C的比例;但施P肥或施N+P肥均降低了前3级根（0～10 cm）或前2级根（10～20 cm）C和N在3种元素中的比例.     

施肥对日本落叶松不同根序细根养分浓度的影响

以辽宁东部山区16年生日本落叶松人工林为对象,探讨施肥对落叶松1～5级不同根序等级细根养分浓度的变化.结果表明：不同根序等级细根全碳浓度差异不显著,施肥对各级根序全碳浓度没有显著影响;在前5级根序中,1级根非结构性碳水化合物（TNC）浓度最低,N和P浓度最高;而5级根TNC浓度最高,N和P浓度最低.TNC浓度随着根序增加而升高,N和P浓度则相应下降.施肥仅对1级根组织中N和P浓度有显著影响;不同根序根组织中C/N/P具有明显差异,1级根平均C/N/P为423∶16∶1,5级根为726∶16∶1,随着根序增加,C在3种元素中的比例显著增加,而N的比例变化不大.施N肥并没有改变C的比例;但施P肥或施N+P肥均降低了前3级根（0～10 cm）或前2级根（10～20 cm）C和N在3种元素中的比例.     

氮添加对油松幼苗不同径级细根碳水化合物含量的影响

氮(N)沉降正在对全球森林生态系统产生显著影响。目前关于氮沉降如何通过影响树木不同径级细根碳水化合物含量,进而影响树木生理特征及生长的机制尚不清楚。本文以2年生油松(Pinus tabuliformis)幼苗细根为对象,研究了短期(2年)氮添加(0、3、6、9g N·m~(-2)·a~(-1),分别记为N0、N3、N6、N9)对不同径级(0~0.5、0.5~1和1~2 mm)细根中非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)和结构性碳水化合物(SC)含量的影响。结果表明:(1)0~0.5 mm细根中碳水化合物含量(512.97 mg·g~(-1))显著低于1~2 mm细根中碳水化合物含量(638.83 mg·g-1)。0~0.5 mm细根中NSC、可溶性糖和淀粉含量显著低于0.5~1及1~2mm;(2)随着细根径级的增加,SC含量和纤维素含量呈增加趋势,而木质素含量呈降低趋势。N添加对3个径级细根中不同碳水化合物组分的影响不同。N添加对0~0.5和0.5~1mm细根中NSC、可溶性糖和淀粉含量均无显著影响,但N9处理显著降低了1~2 mm细根中NSC和可溶性糖含量(16.20%和29.90%),对淀粉含量无显著影响。此外,N3处理显著增加了0~0.5 mm细根中可溶性糖含量(69.65%);(3)N添加对细根中SC、木质素含量没有显著影响,但N3处理显著增加了最细两级根(0~0.5和0.5~1 mm)纤维素含量(35.3%和57.0%),N9处理显著降低了1~2 mm细根中纤维素含量(30.39%);(4)N3处理显著增加了0~0.5 mm细根中NSC/SC,而对另两级根系中该比率无显著影响。结果表明,N添加可能通过影响最细两级根(0~0.5和0.5~1 mm)中NSC、可溶性糖含量及NSC/SC影响植物细根的生理功能和生长。     

酚酸和氮素交互作用下欧美杨107细根形态特征

树木细根生长与根际过程的关系十分密切。该研究仿生欧美杨107 (Populus × euramericana ‘Neva’)人工林根际土壤酚酸沉降与氮素有效性变化, 通过设置3种酚酸梯度(0X、0.5X、1.0X, X为田间土壤酚酸含量)与3种氮素水平(缺氮0 mmol·L^-1、正常氮10 mmol·L^-1、高氮20 mmol·L^-1), 探究酚酸和氮素对欧美杨107细根形态的影响, 以期为阐明树木根系生长对根-土界面过程的响应奠定基础。结果表明: (1)在无酚酸(0X)环境中, 缺氮和高氮均可抑制欧美杨107细根生长, 尤其对1-3级细根的影响更为显著。比根长随氮素水平升高逐渐减小, 但其他细根特征并未呈现与氮素水平的线性关系。(2) 0.5X和1.0X酚酸梯度相比, 欧美杨107的1-2级细根直径和体积随酚酸浓度增加而显著增大(p < 0.05)。酚酸和氮素对杨树细根的影响存在交互作用, 1-2级细根直径、体积受酚酸的影响显著, 而4-5级细根长度、表面积受氮素影响显著。双因素方差分析结果表明, 酚酸和氮素对细根形态建成具有协同或拮抗效应。(3)主成分分析(PCA)和冗余分析(RDA)结果表明, 在酚酸和氮素交互效应下, 杨树1-3级、 4级、 5级细根之间具有显著的形态差异。第一主成分主要体现细根觅食性状特征, 可解释细根形态变异的60.9%的信息; 第二主成分主要体现细根形态构建特征, 可解释25.3%的信息。杨树细根形态变化与根序高度相关, N素影响杨树细根形态的主效应较酚酸更强。因此, 根际环境中酚酸累积和氮素有效性变化会影响杨树细根的形态构建和细根对水分、养分的吸收, 而氮素有效性是影响杨树细根生长的重要因素, 开展杨树人工林土壤养分管理是林分生产力长期维持的关键。     

土壤增温对杉木幼苗细根生理生态性质的影响

为了揭示我国最重要人工林树种杉木对全球变暖的地下响应及其适应性,通过在福建省三明市陈大国有林场设置杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)幼苗土壤增温实验(增温+5℃和不增温两个处理,各5个重复),用土钻法和内生长环法探讨土壤增温约1年后的杉木幼苗细根生物量和形态特征(比根长,SRL;比表面积,SRA),化学计量学特征(C、N、P)和代谢特征(包括呼吸和非结构性碳水化合物,NSC)的变化。结果表明:1)与对照相比,土壤增温处理0—1 mm细根生物量显著下降,1—2 mm细根生物量没有变化,细根形态亦未有显著变化;2)土壤增温处理细根N浓度显著增加,细根P浓度没有显著变化,细根C/N显著降低而N/P显著增加;3)土壤增温处理细根呼吸没有出现驯化现象,细根NSC显著下降。可见,土壤增温改变了杉木细根生物量分配格局,并引起一定的营养失衡和代谢失衡现象,从而对杉木生长和生产力产生影响。     

樟子松林根际与非根际土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

为揭示呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松根际与非根际土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征,以不同林龄(28、37、46年生)樟子松人工林为研究对象,以樟子松天然林为对照,研究根际与非根际土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量及其化学计量比,分析土壤性质与土壤化学计量特征间的相关性。结果表明：在樟子松人工林中,根际效应显著影响土壤N∶P,林龄显著影响土壤有机碳含量;各林龄人工林的土壤有机碳含量均显著低于天然林。人工林的根际与非根际土壤有机碳、全氮含量均随林龄增加先降低再升高;全磷含量在根际土壤中先升高再降低,在非根际土壤中先降低再升高。C∶N与C∶P在根际土壤中呈显著正相关,但在非根际土壤中不存在显著相关关系,说明根际土壤氮磷限制具有更高的协同性。根际与非根际土壤N∶P均值分别为4.98与8.40,表明樟子松人工林的生长受土壤N限制,且根际土壤受N限制程度更高。根际与非根际土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征受土壤性质的显著影响,其中,速效磷是最主要的驱动因子。呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松生长受N限制,其植物根系对土壤养分的富集与维持有明显作用,建议在樟子松生长阶段适当补充土壤氮素,并根据根际土壤氮磷限制的协同性适当补充磷素。     

大气CO2浓度升高对红桦幼苗根系的影响

应用封闭式生长室系统,研究了CO2浓度升高对红桦(Betula albosinensis)幼苗的根/冠、粗根和细根的干质量、非结构性碳水化合物类含量、碳含量和碳/氮、氮和磷的含量及氮磷吸收量的影响。结果表明:CO2浓度升高使红桦幼苗粗根和细根的干质量增加,同时根/冠值显著升高,表明CO2浓度升高使红桦幼苗生物量向根系的分配增加;与对照相比,粗根的还原糖、蔗糖和总可溶性糖含量显著增加,而在细根中没有显著变化;粗根、细根的淀粉和总的非结构性碳水化合物含量显著增加;CO2浓度升高下粗根和细根的碳含量有升高的趋势但未达到显著水平,同时氮含量降低,碳/氮值升高;氮的吸收量在粗根和细根中均无显著变化。上述结果表明,CO2浓度升高下红桦幼苗根系氮含量下降是由非结构性碳水化合物(主要是淀粉)含量升高和(或)根系生物量增加产生的稀释效应引起的。     

柏木根系分泌物对栾树细根形态及N、P含量的影响

为研究混交过程中柏木根系分泌物对栾树细根生长的影响,以一年生栾树盆栽幼苗为研究对象,通过施加1株、2株、4株、8株4个浓度柏木根系分泌物(分别记为G1、G2、G4、G8)于栾树盆栽中,探讨柏木根系分泌物对栾树幼苗1～5级细根形态及N、P含量的影响。结果表明:(1)栾树细根直径随根序的增加而增大,施加根系分泌物显著减小了1～2级细根的直径(P0.05);细根比根长、比表面积均随根序的增加而减小,施加根系分泌物显著增大了1～2级细根的比根长及比表面积(P0.05);随根系分泌物施加浓度的提高,栾树比根长及比表面积先增大,而直径先减小,然后均趋于平缓波动的态势。(2)栾树细根N、P含量均随根序的增加而减小,而N/P在根序间的变化不显著;施加柏木根系分泌物显著增大了栾树1～2级细根的N、P含量(P0.05),但减小了1～5级细根的N/P;随根系分泌物施加浓度的提高,栾树细根P含量增大,N/P减小,而N含量先增加后呈现平缓变化的趋势。(3)栾树细根N、P含量均与其比根长、比表面积和直径等形态特征之间呈显著的相关关系(P0.05)。研究发现,柏木根系分泌物可改善土壤养分的有效性,从而缓解栾树植株的缺P症状,细根通过调整其形态以提高养分利用效率;柏木根系分泌物主要影响栾树1～2级细根的形态及N、P含量;4株柏木根系分泌物的剂量更有利于栾树根系的生长。     

Response of Fine Root Carbohydrate Content to Soil Nitrogen Addition and Its Relationship with Soil Factors in a Schrenk (Picea schrenkiana) Forest

Fine roots are vital for water and nutrient uptake in plants. Understanding the responses of metabolic traits to changing environmental conditions is critical, but little is known. In this study, the carbohydrate content of fine roots was characterized for six soil layers and three diameter classes in a Schrenk spruce (Picea schrenkiana) forest on the Tianshan Mountains of China. Soil nitrogen addition can influence carbohydrate content, but the degree is related to soil layer and fine root diameter. Specifically, as nitrogen (N) levels increased, the soluble sugar, cellulose, lignin and structural carbohydrate content (SC) all increased and then decreased; the starch and non-structural carbohydrate content (NSC) decreased gradually. In addition, N addition had significant effects on starch and cellulose content, as well as total carbohydrates. The interaction between root diameter and N addition also influenced soluble sugars, cellulose and NSC, while the three-way interaction among N addition, soil layer and diameter only affected cellulose content and NSC/SC. In the control treatment (no nitrogen addition), the following soil factors influenced fine root metabolism in order of decreasing importance: C:N, C:P, N:P, C, N, water content, bulk density, pH, conductivity, and P. In the N addition treatments, the soil conductivity, pH, and N content were strongly correlated with root metabolic characteristics.

     

根系分泌物C∶N对刺槐林地土壤理化特征和土壤呼吸的影响

为探究根系分泌物C∶N对土壤养分循环及微生物活性的影响,本研究以黄土高原人工刺槐林为对象,在生境条件基本一致的15、25、35、45 a刺槐林地取原位土壤,通过模拟不同C∶N的根系分泌物(只添加N、C∶N=10、C∶N=50、C∶N=100和只添加C)添加至土壤,以去离子水作为对照,分析根系分泌物C∶N对土壤碳、氮、磷、pH值等理化特征和土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明: 1)有机碳含量与根系分泌物C∶N呈正相关,根系分泌物C∶N=10时土壤有机碳(SOC)分解较快,高根系分泌物C∶N(C∶N=100)能延缓SOC分解,而只添加C处理对SOC无显著影响。2)不同C∶N根系分泌物处理对全氮的影响不明显,碳添加能促进微生物对铵态氮的吸收,氮添加能促进铵态氮的硝化,随着根系分泌物C∶N增加,土壤中铵态氮含量下降。3)氮添加会导致土壤pH值下降,增加土壤全磷含量。4)刺槐林地土壤呼吸值与根系分泌物C∶N呈正相关,随着C∶N增加,根系分泌物对25和35 a人工刺槐林土壤呼吸的促进作用更显著。综上,根系分泌物C∶N值越高,对人工刺槐林土壤呼吸的促进作用越显著。研究结果进一步加深了对森林根系-土壤-微生物互作过程的认识。     

Fine root branch orders respond differentially to carbon source-sink manipulations in a longleaf pine forest

Fine roots are a key component of carbon (C) flow and nitrogen (N) cycling in forest ecosystems. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of the fine root branching system have hampered the assessment and prediction of C and N dynamics at ecosystem scales. We examined how root morphology, biomass, and chemistry differed with root branch orders (1–5 with root tips classified as first order roots) and how different root orders responded to increased C sink strength (via N fertilization) and reduced carbon source strength (via canopy scorching) in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris L.) ecosystem. With increasing root order, the diameter and length of individual roots increased, whereas the specific root length decreased. Total root biomass on an areal basis was similar among the first four orders but increased for the fifth order roots. Consequently, total root length and total root surface area decreased systematically with increasing root order. Fine root N and lignin concentrations decreased, while total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) and cellulose concentrations increased with increasing root order. N addition and canopy disturbance did not alter root morphology, but they did influence root chemistry. N fertilization increased fine root N concentration and content per unit area in all five orders, while canopy scorching decreased root N concentration. Moreover, TNC concentration and content in fifth order roots were also reduced by canopy scorching. Our results indicate that the small, fragile, and more easily overlooked first and second order roots may be disproportionately important in ecosystem scale C and N fluxes due to their large proportions of fine root biomass, high N concentrations, relatively short lifespans, and potentially high decomposition rates.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)连栽地力退化和杉阔混交林的土壤改良作用

收集了有关杉木连栽的地力退化和连栽杉阔混交林的对比研究文献,并进行分析表明,杉阔混交林土壤容重平均比杉木纯林降低5％;连栽杉木人工林随代数的增加呈现容重变大的趋势,2代比1代平均增加6％,3代比2代平均增加9％。这种容重的变化使看似具有可比性的对比样地之间失去了可比性,可能导致对杉木连栽人工林地力退化和杉阔混交林的土壤改良作用的评价产生偏差。通过对这种容重变化产生的影响进行校正,对杉木连栽人工林地力退化和杉阔混交林的土壤改良作用进行了重新评估。结果表明,采用固定深度采样的杉阔混交林与对照的杉木纯林、多代连栽杉木人工林不同代次问土壤有机碳和全氮贮量的相对变化均出现不同程度的低估现象。固定深度采样时,与对照的纯林相比,杉阔混交林对土壤的改良作用被低估,土壤有机碳和全氮贮量的相对变化平均低估6％和5％;杉木连栽引起的地力退化也被低估,土壤有机碳和全氮贮量从1代到2代分别低估5％和7％,从2代到3代分别低估7％和8％。经t-检验表明,杉阔混交林与对照的杉木纯林、多代连栽杉木人工林不同代次间土壤有机碳和全氮贮量的相对变化在土壤容重影响校正前后有明显差异（P=0．05）。     

扁刺栲不同根序细根形态和化学特征及其对短期氮添加的响应

研究川西亚热带次生常绿阔叶林优势树种扁刺栲1～5级细根形态和化学特征,及其对氮添加的响应.结果表明: 随根序等级的增加,扁刺栲根直径、根组织密度、K含量增加,而比根长、比表面积及N、P、Mg含量降低.氮添加显著增加了扁刺栲细根N含量,降低了Mg含量和C/N,使细根Ca含量呈下降趋势,对根序C、P、K、Na、Al、Mn、Fe含量无显著影响.氮添加未显著影响扁刺栲细根直径、比根长、比表面积和根组织密度.在所有处理中,细根P含量均与各形态特征呈显著线性回归关系.氮添加处理下,细根Mg含量与形态特征之间的线性关系由不显著变为显著,而细根N含量与形态特征之间的线性关系由显著变为不显著.氮添加会影响根系营养元素含量,并增强植物对P和Mg的需求.     

Interactive effects of phenolic acid and nitrogen on morphological traits of poplar (Populus × euramericana ‘Neva’) fine roots

Aims The relationship between rhizosphere process and fine root growth is very close but still obscure. In poplar plantation, phenolic acid rhizodeposition and soil nutrient availability were considered as two dominant factors of forest productivity decline. It is very hard to separate them in the field and they might show an interactive effect on fine root growth. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of phenolic acids and nitrogen on branch orders of poplar fine roots and to give a deeper insight into how the ecological process on root-soil interface affected fine root growth as well as plantation productivity. Methods The cuttings of health annual poplar seedlings (I-107, Populus × euramericana ‘Neva’) serve as experiment materials, and were cultivated under nine conditions, including three concentration of phenolic acids at 0X, 0.5X, 1.0X (here, X represented the contents of phenolic acids in the soil of poplar plantation) and three concentration of nitrogen at 0 mmol·L^-1, 10 mmol·L^-1, 20 mmol·L^-1, based on Hoagland solution. The roots were all separated from poplar seedlings after 35 days, and 30 percent of total fine roots of every treatment were taken as fine root samples. These fine roots were grouped according to 1 to 5 branch orders, and then the morphological traits of each group of fine roots were scanned via root analyzer system (WinRHIZO, Regent Instruments Company, Quebec, Canada) including total length, surface area, volume and average diameter. Meanwhile, the dry mass of fine root samples of every order was measured to calculate specific root length (SRL), root tissue density (RTD). All data were analyzed via SPSS 17.0 software, and interactive effect of phenolic acids and nitrogen on roots was analyzed through univariate process module. Principal component analysis (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were conducted via Canoco 4.5 software. Important findings Under the conditions without phenolic acids application, the fine roots growth was significantly inhibited in deficiency and higher nitrogen treatments, especially for 1-3 order roots. Only specific root length appeared decreased with nitrogen level, and other traits of fine roots did not demonstrate linear relationship with nitrogen concentrations. Compared to 0.5X phenolic acids treatment, 1.0X phenolic acids significantly promoted the diameter and volume of 1-2 order roots (p < 0.05). Both phenolic acids and nitrogen demonstrated influence on poplar fine root traits. However, the diameter and volume of 1-2 order roots were significantly affected by phenolic acids, while the total length and surface area of 4-5 order roots was affected by nitrogen. Two way ANOVA showed that phenolic acids and nitrogen made a synergistic or antagonistic effect on morphological building of fine roots. Furthermore, PCA and RDA indicated that the interactive effects of phenolic acids and nitrogen led to significant differences among 1-3 order, 4th order and 5th order of poplar fine roots. The PC1 explained about 60.9 percent of root morphological variance, which was related to foraging traits of roots. The PC2 explained 25.3 percent of variance, which was related to root building properties. The response of poplar roots to phenolic acids and nitrogen was closely related to root order, and nitrogen played more influence on poplar roots than phenolic acids. Thus, phenolic acids and nitrogen level would affect many properties of root morphology and foraging in rhizosphere soil of poplar plantation. But nitrogen availability would serve as a dominant factor influencing root growth, and soil nutrient management should be critical to productivity maintenance of poplar plantation.