Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings
Abstract Background Drought and nitrogen deposition are the major global change factors that alter forest dynamics by affecting tree growth and physiology. However, the impacts of increased nitrogen availability at pre-drought on trees remains poorly understood, and it remains unclear how these resp...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06952-6 |
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| author | Defu Wang Honglang Duan Yongju Zhao Wanbin Qiu Xiaorong Liu Jianping Wu Guomin Huang Wenfei Liu |
| author_facet | Defu Wang Honglang Duan Yongju Zhao Wanbin Qiu Xiaorong Liu Jianping Wu Guomin Huang Wenfei Liu |
| author_sort | Defu Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Drought and nitrogen deposition are the major global change factors that alter forest dynamics by affecting tree growth and physiology. However, the impacts of increased nitrogen availability at pre-drought on trees remains poorly understood, and it remains unclear how these responses are coordinated. In this study, we conducted the fertilization-drought microcosm experiment using a widely distributed evergreen broadleaf tree species seedlings (Schima superba) in southern China. The experiment was conducted at 3 stages. First, four levels of N fertilization treatments (without N fertilization-NF, low N fertilization-LF, moderate N fertilization-MF, high N fertilization-HF) were applied for 60 days. Second, all seedlings were allowed to grow under four levels of N fertilization treatments for another 60 days to ensure that the N was absorbed by seedlings. Third, all seedling were subjected to three levels of sustained drought treatments for further 60 days. Traits related to growth and physiology were monitored. Results Our findings indicate that drought alone inhibited the growth and leaf photosynthetic rate of S. superba, while N fertilization alone stimulated the growth and leaf photosynthetic rate. Antecedent N fertilization alleviated the drought limitation on growth, due to the increased leaf photosynthetic rate (A sat) and instantaneous water use efficiency. Moderate N fertilization mitigated the negative effects of drought on A sat due to improved performance in stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and cell membrane permeability. Additionally, moderate N fertilization increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and osmoprotectants concentration under drought condition. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest that increased N fertilization prior to drought can alleviate the negative effects of drought on growth and physiology, which is dependent on the magnitude of N fertilization and drought stress. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1231de80bde94de0a80793a63da012312025-08-20T03:46:04ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125111610.1186/s12870-025-06952-6Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlingsDefu Wang0Honglang Duan1Yongju Zhao2Wanbin Qiu3Xiaorong Liu4Jianping Wu5Guomin Huang6Wenfei Liu7Dazhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources Development and Ecological Conservation in Daba Mountain, Sichuan University of Arts and ScienceInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Guizhou UniversityInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Guizhou UniversityJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems & Watershed Ecohydrology, Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric PowerDazhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources Development and Ecological Conservation in Daba Mountain, Sichuan University of Arts and ScienceMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco-security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan UniversityJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems & Watershed Ecohydrology, Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric PowerJiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems & Watershed Ecohydrology, Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric PowerAbstract Background Drought and nitrogen deposition are the major global change factors that alter forest dynamics by affecting tree growth and physiology. However, the impacts of increased nitrogen availability at pre-drought on trees remains poorly understood, and it remains unclear how these responses are coordinated. In this study, we conducted the fertilization-drought microcosm experiment using a widely distributed evergreen broadleaf tree species seedlings (Schima superba) in southern China. The experiment was conducted at 3 stages. First, four levels of N fertilization treatments (without N fertilization-NF, low N fertilization-LF, moderate N fertilization-MF, high N fertilization-HF) were applied for 60 days. Second, all seedlings were allowed to grow under four levels of N fertilization treatments for another 60 days to ensure that the N was absorbed by seedlings. Third, all seedling were subjected to three levels of sustained drought treatments for further 60 days. Traits related to growth and physiology were monitored. Results Our findings indicate that drought alone inhibited the growth and leaf photosynthetic rate of S. superba, while N fertilization alone stimulated the growth and leaf photosynthetic rate. Antecedent N fertilization alleviated the drought limitation on growth, due to the increased leaf photosynthetic rate (A sat) and instantaneous water use efficiency. Moderate N fertilization mitigated the negative effects of drought on A sat due to improved performance in stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and cell membrane permeability. Additionally, moderate N fertilization increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and osmoprotectants concentration under drought condition. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest that increased N fertilization prior to drought can alleviate the negative effects of drought on growth and physiology, which is dependent on the magnitude of N fertilization and drought stress.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06952-6DroughtFertilizationGrowthGas exchangeBiochemical traits |
| spellingShingle | Defu Wang Honglang Duan Yongju Zhao Wanbin Qiu Xiaorong Liu Jianping Wu Guomin Huang Wenfei Liu Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings BMC Plant Biology Drought Fertilization Growth Gas exchange Biochemical traits |
| title | Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings |
| title_full | Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings |
| title_fullStr | Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings |
| title_short | Antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of Schima Superba seedlings |
| title_sort | antecedent moderate nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of drought on growth and leaf photosynthesis of schima superba seedlings |
| topic | Drought Fertilization Growth Gas exchange Biochemical traits |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06952-6 |
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