Photosynthetic Properties of Miscanthus condensatus at Volcanically Devastated Sites on Miyake-jima Island

How photosynthetic-related leaf traits of non-nitrogen (N)-fixing pioneer species respond to extreme habitat conditions of primary succession is still not well-elucidated, especially in volcanically N-deplete habitats. The effect of N-deplete soil on photosynthetic-related leaf traits can provide a basis for predicting how plants adjust their strategies to adapt to such habitats. To examine the responses of leaf traits to extreme conditions, we investigated Miscanthus condensatus (a non-N-fixing C4 pioneer grass) which grows on a volcanically devastated area on Miyake-jima Island, Japan, in which the volcanic ash has been deposited for 17–18 years since the 2000-year eruption. Leaf N content (Narea), light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Amax), and photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) in three contrasting study sites: bare land (BL), shrub land gap (SLG), and shrub land under canopy (SLUC) were determined. Results indicated that compared to previous studies and internal comparison of Miyake Island, M. condensatus in BL was able to maintain a relatively high Amax, Narea and PNUE. The higher Amax was in part a result of the higher PNUE. This is a characteristic necessary for its successful growth in N-deplete soils. These results suggest that M. condensatus has photosynthetic-related advantages for adaptation to volcanically N-deplete habitats.

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Leaf nitrogen allocation and partitioning in three groundwater-dependent herbaceous species in a hyper-arid desert region of north-western China

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt11181 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jun-Tao Zhu ◽

Xiang-Yi Li ◽

Xi-Ming Zhang ◽

Qiang Yu ◽

Li-Sha Lin

Keyword(s):

Leaf Nitrogen ◽

Western China ◽

Alhagi Sparsifolia ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Karelinia Caspica ◽

Arid Desert ◽

Leaf N Content ◽

North Western ◽

N Use ◽

Leaf N

Groundwater-dependent vegetation (GDV) is useful as an indicator of watertable depth and water availability in north-western China. Nitrogen (N) is an essential limiting resource for growth of GDV. To elucidate how leaf N allocation and partitioning influence photosynthesis and photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE), three typical GDV species were selected, and their photosynthesis, leaf N allocation and partitioning were investigated in the Taklamakan Desert. The results showed that Karelinia caspica (Pall.) Less. and Peganum harmala L. had lower leaf N content, and allocated a lower fraction of leaf N to photosynthesis. However, they were more efficient in photosynthetic N partitioning among photosynthetic components. They partitioned a higher fraction of the photosynthetic N to carboxylation and showed higher PNUE, whereas Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. partitioned a higher fraction of the photosynthetic N to light-harvesting components. For K. caspica and P. harmala, the higher fraction of leaf N was allocated to carboxylation and bioenergetics, which led to a higher maximum net photosynthetic rate, and therefore to a higher PNUE, water-use efficiency (WUE), respiration efficiency (RE) and so on. In the desert, N and water are limiting resources; K. caspica and P. harmala can benefit from the increased PNUE and WUE. These physiological advantages and their higher leaf-area ratio (LAR) may contribute to their higher resource-capture ability.

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Morphological and physiological plasticity response to low nitrogen stress in black cottonwood (Populus deltoides Marsh.)

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-021-01338-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cun Chen ◽

Yanguang Chu ◽

Qinjun Huang ◽

Changjun Ding ◽

Weixi Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Negative Correlation ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Populus Deltoides ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Nitrogen Level ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Normal Nitrogen ◽

Low Nitrogen

AbstractIt is important to evaluate nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen tolerance of trees in order to improve their productivity. In this study, both were evaluated for 338 Populus deltoides genotypes from six provenances. The plants were cultured under normal nitrogen (750 μM NH4NO3) and low nitrogen (5 μM NH4NO3) conditions for 3 months. Growth, chlorophyll content and glutamine synthetase activity of each genotype were measured. Under low nitrogen, heights, ground diameter, leaf area, leaf and root biomass, and chlorophyll contents were significantly lower than those under normal nitrogen level. Correlation analysis showed that nutrient distribution changed under different nitrogen treatments. There was a negative correlation between leaf traits and root biomass under normal nitrogen level, however, the correlation became positive in low nitrogen treatment. Moreover, with the decrease of nitrogen level, the negative correlation between leaf morphology and chlorophyll levels became weakened. The growth of the genotypes under the two treatments was evaluated by combining principal component analysis with a fuzzy mathematical membership function; the results showed that leaf traits accounted for a large proportion of the variation in the evaluation model. According to the results of comprehensive evaluation of plants under the two treatments, the 338 P. deltoides genotypes could be divided into nine categories, with wide genotypic diversity in nitrogen use efficiency and low nitrogen tolerance. As a result, 26 N-efficient genotypes and 24 N-inefficient genotypes were selected. By comparative analysis of their morphological and physiological traits under the two treatments, leaf traits could be significant indicators for nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen tolerance, which is of considerable significance for breeding poplar varieties with high nitrogen use efficiencies.

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Effects of ontogenetic stage and leaf age on leaf functional traits and the relationships between traits in Pinus koraiensis

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-021-01308-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Meng Ji ◽

Guangze Jin ◽

Zhili Liu

Keyword(s):

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Leaf Age ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Ontogenetic Stage ◽

Pinus Koraiensis ◽

Mature Trees ◽

N Content ◽

Ontogenetic Stages ◽

Leaf N Content ◽

Leaf N

AbstractInvestigating the effects of ontogenetic stage and leaf age on leaf traits is important for understanding the utilization and distribution of resources in the process of plant growth. However, few studies have been conducted to show how traits and trait-trait relationships change across a range of ontogenetic stage and leaf age for evergreen coniferous species. We divided 67 Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. of various sizes (0.3–100 cm diameter at breast height, DBH) into four ontogenetic stages, i.e., young trees, middle-aged trees, mature trees and over-mature trees, and measured the leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and mass-based leaf nitrogen content (N) and phosphorus content (P) of each leaf age group for each sampled tree. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to describe the variation in leaf traits by ontogenetic stage and leaf age. The standardized major axis method was used to explore the effects of ontogenetic stage and leaf age on trait-trait relationships. We found that LMA and LDMC increased significantly and N and P decreased significantly with increases in the ontogenetic stage and leaf age. Most trait-trait relationships were consistent with the leaf economic spectrum (LES) at a global scale. Among them, leaf N content and LDMC showed a significant negative correlation, leaf N and P contents showed a significant positive correlation, and the absolute value of the slopes of the trait-trait relationships showed a gradually increasing trend with an increasing ontogenetic stage. LMA and LDMC showed a significant positive correlation, and the slopes of the trait-trait relationships showed a gradually decreasing trend with leaf age. Additionally, there were no significant relationships between leaf N content and LMA in most groups, which is contrary to the expectation of the LES. Overall, in the early ontogenetic stages and leaf ages, the leaf traits tend to be related to a "low investment-quick returns" resource strategy. In contrast, in the late ontogenetic stages and leaf ages, they tend to be related to a "high investment-slow returns" resource strategy. Our results reflect the optimal allocation of resources in Pinus koraiensis according to its functional needs during tree and leaf ontogeny.

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A STELLA-Based Model to Simultaneously Predict Hydrological Processes, N Uptake and Biomass Production in a Eucalyptus Plantation

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050515 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 515

Author(s):

Ying Ouyang ◽

Gary Feng ◽

Heidi Renninger ◽

Theodor D. Leininger ◽

Prem Parajuli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Net Primary Production ◽

N Uptake ◽

Hydrological Processes ◽

Modeling Tools ◽

Eucalyptus Plantation ◽

Simulation Scenario ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Use

Eucalyptus is one of the fastest growing hardwoods for bioenergy production. Currently, few modeling tools exist to simultaneously estimate soil hydrological processes, nitrogen (N) uptake, and biomass production in a eucalyptus plantation. In this study, a STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation)-based model was developed to meet this need. After the model calibration and validation, a simulation scenario was developed to assess eucalyptus (E. grandis × urophylla) annual net primary production (ANPP), woody biomass production (WBP), water use efficiency (WUE), and N use efficiency (NUE) for a simulation period of 20 years. Simulation results showed that a typical annual variation pattern was predicted for water use, N uptake, and ANPP, increasing from spring to fall and decreasing from fall to the following winter. Overall, the average NUE during the growth stage was 700 kg/kg. To produce 1000 kg eucalyptus biomass, it required 114.84 m3 of water and 0.92 kg of N. This study suggests that the STELLA-based model is a useful tool to estimate ANPP, WBP, WUE, and NUE in a eucalyptus plantation.

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Improvement of Maize Productivity and N Use Efficiency in a No-Tillage Irrigated Farming System: Effect of Cropping Sequence and Fertilization Management

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1459

Author(s):

Heba S. A. Salama ◽

Ali I. Nawar ◽

Hassan E. Khalil ◽

Ahmed M. Shaalan

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Faba Bean ◽

Farming System ◽

No Tillage ◽

Maize Crop ◽

Egyptian Clover ◽

Maize Grain Yield ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Maize Grain ◽

N Use

The sequence of the preceding crops in a no-tillage farming system, could interact with the integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen (N) sources in a way that improves the growth and productivity of the terminal maize crop, meanwhile, enhancing its N use efficiency (NUE). In the current study, six legume-cereal crop sequences, including faba bean, soybean, Egyptian clover, wheat, and maize were evaluated along two experimental rotations that ended up by planting the terminal maize crop. In addition, the effects of applying variable mineral nitrogen (MN) rates with and without the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM) on the productive performance of maize and its NUE were tested. The field experiments were conducted in a no-tillage irrigated farming system in Northern Egypt, a location that is characterized by its arid, Mediterranean climate. Results revealed that increasing the legume component in the evaluated crop sequences, up to 75%, resulted in improved maize ear leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index, thus, a higher final grain yield, with the inclusion of Egyptian clover was slightly better than faba bean. Comparing the crop sequences with 50% legume contribution uncovered the positive effects of soybean preceding crop on the terminal maize crop. Substituting 25% of the applied MN with FYM resulted in similar maize yields to the application of the equivalent 100% MN rates. The fertilizer treatments significantly interacted with the crop sequences in determining the maize grain yield, where the highest legume crop contribution in the crop sequence (75%) equalized the effects of the different fertilizer treatments on maize grain yield. The integrated use of FYM with MN in maize fertilization improved the NUE compared to the application of MN alone. Comparing fertilization treatments with similar MN content, with and without FYM, revealed that the difference in NUE was attributed to the additional amount of FYM. In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to grow faba bean two years before maize, while Egyptian clover could be grown directly preceding maize growth, with frequent inclusion of soybean in the sequence, this could be combined with the application of an average of 200 kg MN ha−1 in addition to FYM.

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Evaluation of the CERES-Rice Model for Precision Nitrogen Management for Rice in Northeast China

Advances in Animal Biosciences ◽

10.1017/s2040470017000024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 328-332

Author(s):

J. Zhang ◽

Y. Miao ◽

W.D. Batchelor

Keyword(s):

Northeast China ◽

Weather Data ◽

Cool Season ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Optimum N Rate ◽

Management Recommendations ◽

N Management ◽

N Rates ◽

N Use

Over-application of nitrogen (N) in rice (Oryza sativaL.) production in China is common, leading to low N use efficiency (NUE) and high environmental risks. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of the CERES-Rice crop growth model to simulate N response in the cool climate of Northeast China, with the long term goal of using the model to develop optimum N management recommendations. Nitrogen experiments were conducted from 2011–2015 in Jiansanjiang, Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China. The CERES-Rice model was calibrated for 2014 and 2015 and evaluated for 2011 and 2013 experiments. Overall, the model gave good estimations of yield across N rates for the calibration years (R2=0.89) and evaluation years (R2=0.73). The calibrated model was then run using weather data from 2001–2015 for 20 different N rates to determine the N rate that maximized the long term marginal net return (MNR) for different N prices. The model results indicated that the optimum mean N rate was 120–130 kg N ha–1, but that the simulated optimum N rate varied each year, ranging from 100 to 200 kg N ha–1. Results of this study indicated that the CERES-Rice model was able to simulate cool season rice growth and provide estimates of optimum regional N rates that were consistent with field observations for the area.

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Optimization of Topdressing for Winter Wheat by Accurate Growth Monitoring and Improved Production Estimation

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13122349 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2349

Author(s):

Jingchun Ji ◽

Jianli Liu ◽

Jingjing Chen ◽

Yujie Niu ◽

Kefan Xuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Crop Production ◽

Optimization Method ◽

Growth Potential ◽

N Use Efficiency ◽

Growth Monitoring ◽

Aerial Vehicle ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Improved Model ◽

N Use

Topdressing accounts for approximately 40% of the total nitrogen (N) application of winter wheat on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China. However, N use efficiency of topdressing is low due to the inadaptable topdressing method used by local farmers. To improve the N use efficiency of winter wheat, an optimization method for topdressing (THP) is proposed that uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing to accurately acquire the growth status and an improved model for growth potential estimation and optimization of N fertilizer amount for topdressing (NFT). The method was validated and compared with three other methods by a field experiment: the conventional local farmer’s method (TLF), a nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm (NFOA) proposed by Raun and Lukina (TRL) and a simplification introduced by Li and Zhang (TLZ). It shows that when insufficient basal fertilizer was provided, the proposed method provided as much NFT as the TLF method, i.e., 25.05% or 11.88% more than the TRL and TLZ methods and increased the yields by 4.62% or 2.27%, respectively; and when sufficient basal fertilizer was provided, the THP method followed the TRL and TLZ methods to reduce NFT but maintained as much yield as the TLF method with a decrease of NFT by 4.20%. The results prove that THP could enhance crop production under insufficient N preceding conditions by prescribing more fertilizer and increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by lowering the fertilizer amount when enough basal fertilizer is provided.

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Gross Ammonification and Nitrification Rates in Soil Amended with Natural and NH4-Enriched Chabazite Zeolite and Nitrification Inhibitor DMPP

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11062605 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 2605

Author(s):

Giacomo Ferretti ◽

Giulio Galamini ◽

Evi Deltedesco ◽

Markus Gorfer ◽

Jennifer Fritz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrification Inhibitor ◽

Natural State ◽

Silty Clay ◽

Short Term ◽

N Losses ◽

15N Pool Dilution ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Silty Clay Soil ◽

N Use ◽

15N Pool Dilution Technique

Using zeolite-rich tuffs for improving soil properties and crop N-use efficiency is becoming popular. However, the mechanistic understanding of their influence on soil N-processes is still poor. This paper aims to shed new light on how natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolites alter short-term N-ammonification and nitrification rates with and without the use of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP). We employed the 15N pool dilution technique to determine short-term gross rates of ammonification and nitrification in a silty-clay soil amended with two typologies of chabazite-rich tuff: (1) at natural state and (2) enriched with NH4+-N from an animal slurry. Archaeal and bacterial amoA, nirS and nosZ genes, N2O-N and CO2-C emissions were also evaluated. The results showed modest short-term effects of chabazite at natural state only on nitrate production rates, which was slightly delayed compared to the unamended soil. On the other hand, the addition of NH4+-enriched chabazite stimulated NH4+-N production, N2O-N emissions, but reduced NO3−-N production and abundance of nirS-nosZ genes. DMPP efficiency in reducing nitrification rates was dependent on N addition but not affected by the two typologies of zeolites tested. The outcomes of this study indicated the good compatibility of both natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolite with DMPP. In particular, the application of NH4+-enriched zeolites with DMPP is recommended to mitigate short-term N losses.

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