Effects of nitrogen content on growth and hydraulic characteristics of peach （Prunus persica L.） seedlings under different soil moisture condi- tions

• Published in: 林业研究：英文版 Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 365 - 375
• Main Author: Zhi-liang Zhang Guo-dong Liu Fu-cang Zhang Cai-xia Zheng Fu-quan Ni Yin-hong Kang Yun Zeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: 土壤水分条件; 土壤水分状况; 桃; 氮含量; 水力传导系数; 水力特性; 生长; 齿根圆直径
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen content [Nl （no fertilizer）, N2 （0.15 g.kg-l）, and N3 （0.3 g.kg 1）] on the growth and the hydraulic characteristics of peach seedlings under different soil moisture conditions （Wl, W2 and W3, in which the soil water content was 45% to 55%, 60% to 70%, and 75% to 80% of the field water capacity, respectively） by using a specialized high pressure flow meter with a root chamber and a coupling, which was connected to plant organs. Leaf area and leaf hydraulic conductivity （KL） increased significantly in the seedlings because of increased soil moisture and N content. KL increased with leaf area. A linear correlation was documented between KL and leaf area. KL was higher in the morning and began to decline sharply after 16：00, at which KL declined after an initial increase. Soil moisture and N content enhanced shoot （Ks） and root （Kr） hydraulic conductivities, thereby improving the low soil moisture condition to a large extent. Ks and Kr of the seedlings were reduced by 32% and 27% respectively in N~, and by 14.7% and 9.4%, respectively in N2, and both in Wb compared with the control treatment. N3 had no significant effect on Ks and Kr under similar conditions. Linear negative correlations were observed between Kr and the excised root diameter as well as between Ks and the shoot stem diameter. The shoot-to-root ratio increased with in- crease in N content. The shoot-to-root ratio in N3 was increased by 14.37%, compared with N1 in W1 as well as by 12% and 4.39% in Wz and W3, respectively. Knowledge of the effects of soil moisture and N fertilizer on hydraulic characteristics and growth is important. Our results provide basic guidelines for the implementation of water-saving irrigation and fertilization management of nursery stock.