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Root carbon resources determine survival and growth of young trees under long drought in combination with fertilization
  • +5
  • Yue Yang,
  • Shengnan Ouyang,
  • Arthur Gessler,
  • Xiaoyu Wang,
  • Risu Na,
  • Hong S. He,
  • Zhengfang Wu,
  • Mai-He Li
Yue Yang
Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education - School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University Changchun China
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Shengnan Ouyang
South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
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Arthur Gessler
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL - Forest Dynamics Birmensdorf Switzerland
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Xiaoyu Wang
Jiyang College of Zhejiang A and F University
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Risu Na
Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education - School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University Changchun China
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Hong S. He
Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education - School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University Changchun, Jilin China
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Zhengfang Wu
Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education - School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University Changchun China
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Mai-He Li
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL - Forest Dynamics zurich Switzerland

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Current increases in not only the intensity and frequency but also the duration of drought events could affect the growth, physiology, and mortality of trees. We experimentally studied the effects of drought duration in combination with fertilization on leaf water potential, gas exchange, growth, tissue levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), tissue NSC consumption over winter, and recovery after drought release in oak (Quercus petraea) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) saplings. Long drought duration (> 1 month) decreased leaf water potential, photosynthesis, and NSC concentrations in both oak and beech saplings. Nitrogen fertilization did not mitigate the negative drought effects on both species. The photosynthesis and relative height increment recovered in the following rewetting year. Height growth in the rewetting year was significantly positively correlated with both pre- and post-winter root NSC levels. Root carbon reserve is critical for tree growth and survival under long-lasting drought. Our results indicate that beech is more sensitive to drought and fertilization than oak. The present study, in a physiological perspective, experimentally confirmed the view of Ellenberg (2009) that the European beech, compared to oak, may be more strongly affected by future environmental changes.