scholarly journals Trade-off strategy of leaf functional traits of desert halophyte Lycium ruthenicum in the lower reaches of Heihe River, Northwest China: response to soil moisture and salinity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanjia Li ◽  
Wei Gou ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Guoqiang Wu ◽  
Peixi Su

Abstract Abstract Background: Understanding salinity resistance and water utilization on shrub species is a challenge to the management and conservation of desert halophytes. Lycium ruthenicum Murr.with a significant soil and water conservation capacity, is one of the dominant shrubs and halophytes in the lower reaches of the Heihe River, Northwest China. In this paper, the effects of two depths (0-40 and 40-80 cm) of soil salinities and water contents on the leaf functional traits of eight L. ruthenicum communities in different distances from the main channel were studied. Fourteen leaf water physiological and ecological stoichiometric traits were investigated, linking with soil factors to explain desert plant trade-off strategies. Results: Specific leaf volume (SLV), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf thickness (LT), nitrogen (N), C:N, C:P could serve as good indicators of drought and saline resistance. Low N, specific leaf area (SLA) indicated that the plant was located at the slow investment-return axis of the species resource utilization. Low C:N, C:P showed that L. ruthenicum had a defensive life history strategy at drought and salinity areas. The RDA results showed that 0-40 and 40-80 cm soil properties respectively explained 93.45% and 99.96% leaf traits variation. Soil water contents, HCO3- had extremely positive correlation (P<0.01) with leaf functional traits. Shallow soil water contents significantly affects P, and deeper soil water contents significantly responds C and N; shallow soil salinity significantly affected LT, C and N contents, whereas deeper soil salinity significantly affected N and SLV. Conclusions: L. ruthenicum had a foliar resource acquisition and resource conservation trade-off with a defensive life history strategy in the area of drought and salinity. This finding provides baseline information to facilitate the management and restoration of arid-saline desert ecosystem.

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 453
Author(s):  
Shanjia Li ◽  
Wei Gou ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
James F. White ◽  
Guoqiang Wu ◽  
...  

Soil properties affect plant growth and cause variation in leaf functional traits. Lycium ruthenicum Murray is one of the desert dominant shrubs and halophytes in the lower reaches of Heihe River, Northwest China. We analyzed the trade-off relationships of 14 leaf functional traits of eight L. ruthenicum populations growing at varying distances from the river and discussed the effects that soil properties have on leaf functional traits. The results showed that: Lower leaf nitrogen (N) content indicated that L. ruthenicum was located at the slow investment–return axis of the species resource utilization graph. Compared with non-saline and very slightly saline habitats, populations of slightly saline habitats showed a higher carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N). Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed a relatively strong relationship between leaf functional traits and soil properties, the first RDA axis accounted for 70.99 and 71.09% of the variation in 0–40 and 40–80 cm of soil properties. Relative importance analysis found that in the 0–40 cm soil layer, leaf traits variations were mainly influenced by soil moisture (SWC), HCO3− and CO32− ions content, while leaf traits variations in the 40–80 cm soil layer were mainly influenced by HCO3− and SO42−. L. ruthenicum has a foliar resource acquisition method and a resource conservation trade-off with a flexible life history strategy in habitats with drought and salinity stress. In the shallow soil layers, water affects leaf traits variation greater than salt , and in both shallow and deep soil layers, HCO3− plays a dominant role on leaf traits. This study provides insights into the adversity adaptation strategies of desert plants and the conservation and restoration of arid-saline ecosystems.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanjia Li ◽  
Wei Gou ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Guoqiang Wu ◽  
Peixi Su

Abstract Background: Soil salinization affects plant growth and causes changes in leaf traits. Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is one of the dominant shrubs and halophytes in the lower reaches of the Heihe River in Northwest China. We analyzed the trade-off relationship of fourteen leaf functional traits of eight L.ruthenicum populations growing at varying distances from the Heihe River, and discussed the effects that soil moisture and salinity have on leaf functional traits. Results: Lower nitrogen (N) contents indicated that L.ruthenicum was located at the slow investment-return axis of the species resource utilization graph. Compared with non-saline and very slightly saline sites, populations of slightly saline sites showed higher carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N). Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed a relatively strong relationship between leaf functional traits and soil properties, the first RDA axis accounted for 70.99 % and 71.09 % of the variation in 0-40 cm and 40-80 cm of soil moisture and salinity. Populations in non-saline and very slightly saline habitats tended to have higher leaf C content, whereas populations in slightly saline habitats tended to have lower leaf C content, and the discrepancy was evident. Relative importance analysis found that in the 0-40 cm soil layer, leaf traits variations were mainly influenced by soil moisture (SWC), HCO3- and CO32- ions content, while leaf trait variations in the 40-80 cm soil layer were mainly influenced by HCO3- and SO42-. Conclusions: The leaf functional traits of L. ruthenicum in this region are mainly restricted by soil N content. The L.ruthenicum populations formed a pattern of increased C:N ratios and C content, reduced nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N:P) and N content from very slightly saline soil to slightly saline. L.ruthenicum has a foliar resource acquisition method and a resource conservation trade-off with a flexible life history strategy in habitats with drought and salinity stress. In the shallow soil layers, water affects greater than salt on leaf traits variation; in both shallow and deep soil layers, HCO3- plays a dominant role on leaf traits. We believe that these findings will provide some baseline information to facilitate the management and restoration of arid-saline desert ecosystems.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanjia Li ◽  
Wei Gou ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Guoqiang Wu ◽  
Peixi Su

Abstract Background: Soil salinization affects plant growth and causes changes in leaf traits. Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is one of the dominant shrubs and halophytes in the lower reaches of the Heihe River in Northwest China. We analyze the trade-off strategies of fourteen leaf functional traits of eight L.ruthenicum populations growing at varying distances from the Heihe River, and discussed the effects soil moisture and salinity on leaf functional traits. Results: Lower nitrogen (N) contents indicated that L.ruthenicum was located at the slow investment-return axis of the species resource utilization graph. Compared to non-saline and very slightly saline sites, populations of slightly saline sites showed higher carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N). Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed a relatively strong relationship between leaf functional traits and soil properties, the first RDA axis accounted for 70.99 % and 71.09 % of the variation in 0-40 cm and 40-80 cm of soil moisture and salinity. Populations in non-saline and very slightly saline habitats tended to have higher leaf C content, whereas populations in slightly saline habitats tended to have lower leaf C content, and the discrepancy was evident. Relative importance analysis found that in the 0-40 cm soil layer, leaf traits variations were mainly influenced by soil moisture (SWC), HCO3- and CO32- ions content, while leaf trait variations in the 40-80 cm soil layer were mainly influenced by HCO3- and SO42-. Conclusions: The leaf functional traits of L. ruthenicum in this region are mainly restricted by soil N content. The L.ruthenicum populations formed a pattern of increased C:N ratios and C content, reduced nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N:P) and N content from very slightly saline soil to slightly saline. L.ruthenicum has a foliar resource acquisition method and a resource conservation trade-off with a flexible life history strategy in habitats with drought and salinity stress. In the shallow soil layers, water has a greater effect than salt on leaf trait variation, in both shallow and deep soil layers, HCO3- have a relatively important effect on leaf traits. We believe that these findings will provide some baseline information to facilitate the management and restoration of arid-saline desert ecosystems.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanjia Li ◽  
Wei Gou ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Guoqiang Wu ◽  
Peixi Su

Abstract Background: Soil salinization affects plant growth and causes changes in leaf traits. Lycium ruthenicum Murr., a shrub with significant soil and water conservation capacities. In this paper, we analyze the trade-offs of leaf functional traits of eight L.ruthenicum populations growing at varying distances from the Heihe river by dividing the eight sites into three groups according to the average soil salinity and discussing the effects of soil factors at 0-40cm and 40-80cm on leaf trait patterns. We also attempt to explain desert L.ruthenicum trade-off strategies by choosing fourteen leaf traits to link with soil factors. Results: Low N contents indicated that L.ruthenicum was located at the slow investment-return axis of the species resource utilization graph. Compared to non-saline and very slightly saline sites, populations of slightly saline sites showed higher C:N. The redundancy analysis "RDA" results showed that 0-40cm and 40-80cm soil properties explained 70.99% and 71.09% of leaf trait variation, respectively. As soil salinity gradients increased, leaf C:N increased and N content decreased, and the difference was significant. Populations in non-saline and very slightly saline habitats tended to have higher leaf C content, while populations in slightly saline habitats tended to have lower leaf C content, and the discrepancy was evident. Relative importance analysis found that in the 0-40cm layer, leaf traits variations were mainly influenced by soil water content (SWC), HCO3-and CO32-, while leaf trait variations in the 40-80cm layer were mainly influenced by HCO3- and SO42-ions. Conclusions: The growth of L. ruthenicum in the Ejina desert is mainly restricted by N content, which determines soil fertility. L.ruthenicum has a foliar resource acquisition method and a resource conservation trade-off with a flexible life history strategy. Leaf traits can vary significantly due to different environments in a given habitat. As the environmental gradient changes from mild to severe, the populations present a pattern of increased C:N,increased C content, reduced N:P, and reduced N content. In the shallow soil layers of saline-stressed arid environments,water has a greater effect than salt on leaf trait variation.In both shallow and deep soil layers, HCO3- ions have a relatively large effect on leaf properties.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 52-60
Author(s):  
Jian Zhang

Variations in plant functional traits might reveal the adaptation strategies of vegetation under changing environment. However, few studies have focused on the variation of dominant plant functional traits in changing soil water content in marsh wetland of the arid regions. In this study, functional traits were investigated in the dominant species Phragmites australis growing at distinct soil water contents in marshes of the arid middle-lower reaches of the Shule River Basin in Northwest China. Three soil water gradients (33.38 ± 1.40, 15.97 ± 1.99 and 10.22 ± 1.61%) were identified from three marsh sites. Results showed that leaf thickness, specific leaf area, maximum height and leaf phosphorous content in P. australis were significantly varied from the high soil water to low soil water in arid marshes. Soil water content driven variations in functional traits of P. australis, mainly by its effect on soil salinity and available nitrogen, affected the functional traits of P. australis. In conclusion, in marshes of arid regions, P. australis adapted well to resource-poor habitats through the coordinated combination of multiple functional traits i.e., low specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen content and leaf phosphorous content, high leaf dry matter content and leaf thickness, which reflected that P. australis had conservative strategy. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1759
Author(s):  
Said A. Hamido ◽  
Kelly T. Morgan

The availability and proper irrigation scheduling of water are some of the most significant limitations on citrus production in Florida. The proper volume of citrus water demand is vital in evaluating sustainable irrigation approaches. The current study aims to determine the amount of irrigation required to grow citrus trees at higher planting densities without detrimental impacts on trees’ water relation parameters. The study was conducted between November 2017 and September 2020 on young sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) trees budded on the ‘US-897’ (Cleopatra mandarin x Flying Dragon trifoliate orange) citrus rootstock transplanted in sandy soil at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) demonstration grove, near Immokalee, Florida. The experiment contained six planting densities, including 447, 598, and 745 trees per ha replicated four times, and 512, 717, and 897 trees per ha replicated six times. Each density treatment was irrigated at 62% or 100% during the first 15 months between 2017 and 2019 or one of the four irrigation rates (26.5, 40.5, 53, or 81%) based on the calculated crop water supplied (ETc) during the last 17 months of 2019–2020. Tree water relations, including soil moisture, stem water potential, and water supplied, were collected periodically. In addition, soil salinity was determined. During the first year (2018), a higher irrigation rate (100% ETc) represented higher soil water contents; however, the soil water content for the lower irrigation rate (62% ETc) did not represent biological stress. One emitter per tree regardless of planting density supported stem water potential (Ψstem) values between −0.80 and −0.79 MPa for lower and full irrigation rates, respectively. However, when treatments were adjusted from April 2019 through September 2020, the results substantially changed. The higher irrigation rate (81% ETc) represented higher soil water contents during the remainder of the study, the lower irrigation rate (26.5% ETc) represents biological stress as a result of stem water potential (Ψstem) values between −1.05 and −0.91 MPa for lower and higher irrigation rates, respectively. Besides this, increasing the irrigation rate from 26.5% to 81%ETc decreased the soil salinity by 33%. Although increasing the planting density from 717 to 897 trees per hectare reduced the water supplied on average by 37% when one irrigation emitter was used to irrigate two trees instead of one, applying an 81% ETc irrigation rate in citrus is more efficient and could be managed in commercial groves.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 853-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Shi ◽  
S. Thorlacius ◽  
T. Keller ◽  
M. Keller ◽  
R. Schulin

Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD ASLAM ALI ◽  
SANJIT CHANDRA BARMAN ◽  
MD. ASHRAFUL ISLAM KHAN ◽  
MD. BADIUZZAMAN KHAN ◽  
HAFSA JAHAN HIYA

Climate change and water scarcity may badly affect existing rice production system in Bangladesh. With a view to sustain rice productivity and mitigate yield scaled CH4 emission in the changing climatic conditions, a pot experiment was conducted under different soil water contents, biochar and silicate amendments with inorganic fertilization (NPKS). In this regard, 12 treatments combinations of biochar, silicate and NPKS fertilizer along with continuous standing water (CSW), soil saturation water content and field capacity (100% and 50%) moisture levels were arranged into rice planted potted soils. Gas samples were collected from rice planted pots through Closed Chamber technique and analyzed by Gas Chromatograph. This study revealed that seasonal CH4 emissions were suppressed through integrated biochar and silicate amendments with NPKS fertilizer (50–75% of the recommended doze), while increased rice yield significantly at different soil water contents. Biochar and silicate amendments with NPKS fertilizer (50% of the recommended doze) increased rice grain yield by 10.9%, 18.1%, 13.0% and 14.2%, while decreased seasonal CH4 emissions by 22.8%, 20.9%, 23.3% and 24.3% at continuous standing water level (CSW) (T9), at saturated soil water content (T10), at 100% field capacity soil water content (T11) and at 50% field capacity soil water content (T12), respectively. Soil porosity, soil redox status, SOC and free iron oxide contents were improved with biochar and silicate amendments. Furthermore, rice root oxidation activity (ROA) was found more dominant in water stress condition compared to flooded and saturated soil water contents, which ultimately reduced seasonal CH4 emissions as well as yield scaled CH4 emission. Conclusively, soil amendments with biochar and silicate fertilizer may be a rational practice to reduce the demand for inorganic fertilization and mitigate CH4 emissions during rice cultivation under water stress drought conditions.


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