The response of fine root morphological and physiological traits to added nitrogen in Schrenk’s spruce (Picea schrenkiana) of the Tianshan mountains, China

Study site

The study was conducted on the Tianshan Mountain (83–94°E, 42–45°N), Xinjiang, China, in the coniferous natural forest dominated by Shrenk’s spruce (Picea shrenkiana Fisch. & CA. May, Pinaceae). The altitude ranges from 1,300 to 4,200 m. The climate is temperate with a long cold winter, short cool spring and autumn. Annual precipitation is 500 mm, with most rainfall in the summer and more snowfall in winter. The soil is gray-brown forest soil with weak acidity, with high fertility and strong aeration, because there are so many soil animals.

Experimental addition of nitrogen

To examine the effect of nitrogen addition on fine root morphology and physiology, a randomized complete block design with three replicates was employed. Four nitrogen treatments were used: control, low nitrogen, medium nitrogen, and high nitrogen. The control (CK) was 0 kg hm⁻² a⁻¹_. The low nitrogen treatment (N1) was 5 kg hm⁻² a⁻¹, which was background nitrogen level. The medium nitrogen treatment was twice this level (N2) (10 kg hm⁻² a⁻¹). The high nitrogen treatment was four times the background nitrogen level (N3) (20 kg hm⁻² a⁻¹). Since the nitrogen absorbed by spruce is mostly ammonium nitrogen, urea (CO(NH₂)₂ ) solution was used to simulate nitrogen deposition.

In the study area, three 20 m × 20 m plots were established at the same altitude and the same slope. There was at least a 10 m buffer zone between plots. Within each plot, four 3 m × 3 m subplots were set up, each with a different nitrogen treatment, with a one m buffer zone between any two subplots, for a total of 12 subplots. In October 2017, nitrogen fertilizer was applied in solution form, and fertilization was carried out once every 2 months, for a total of six times throughout the year. Subplots were sprayed with a total of 500 mL deionized water solution each time (which is the equivalent of annual rainfall), and spraying was performed evenly around the subplot using a hand-held sprayer.

Root sample collection

In October 2018, fine root samples were collected. In each subplot, an area surrounding a tree trunk (within 1–1.5 m) was randomly selected. To obtain intact fine root segments, three locations within each subplot were chosen and then soil blocks of 100 cm (length) × 100 cm (width) × 60 cm (depth) were cut using a machete and gently removed using a shovel, after clearing away the leaf litter. The fine root samples collected in the three subplots (same nitrogen addition group and same soil layer) were thoroughly mixed for each 10 cm layer. The collected roots were placed in a numbered plastic bag to maintain activity. Each root sample was stored in a 2–4 °C cold storage box and immediately taken back to the laboratory. The soil on the root surface was cleaned with distilled water. The diameter of each fine root sample was measured with a vernier caliper and graded according to diameter: 0–1, 1–1.5, or 1.5–2 mm, samples were then placed in labeled plastic bags, for a total of 72 bags of fine root samples. Each bag was divided in half: (1) samples for morphological analysis, and (2) samples for physiological indicators. All fine root samples were temporarily stored in a refrigerator at 2–4 °C.

Root morphological traits

In the laboratory, for morphological trait analysis, the root samples were carefully chosen with forceps based on diameter and soil layer. From each sample bag, firstly, 10–20 fine roots were randomly selected. Next, all roots were scanned with an Epson scanner. Three characteristics of each root sample (total length, superficial area and volume) were analyzed using the root system analyzer software (WinRhizo 2009b; Regent Instruments Inc., Quebec, Canada). Over 1,080 fine root samples for each plot from six soil depths and three diameter classes were analyzed for morphological traits. All these root samples were weighed to determine fresh and dry biomass (after oven-drying at 65 °C to a constant weight). SRL (cm g⁻¹) = the total root length/dry mass. SRA (cm² g⁻¹) = the superficial area/dry mass. RTD (g cm⁻³) = the dry mass divided/total volume. RDMC = the dry mass/fresh mass.

Root physiological traits

In the laboratory, root samples for the physiological trait analysis were carefully selected with forceps based on diameter and soil layer. Fine root activity FRV, SP, MDA content, FP content, fine root fresh water content, and SS content were determined. The fine root activity was determined by TTC staining (Comas, Eissenstat & Lakso, 2000). SP was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 (Bradford, 1976). MDA content was determined with thiobarbituric acid (Hodges et al., 1999). The FP content was estimated with ninhydrin (Bates, Waldren & Teare, 1973). The SS content was determined by anthrone colorimetry (Hansen & Møller, 1975). The TWC was determined subtracting the dry root mass from the fresh root mass. Fine root activity, SP content, MDA content, and FP content all required fresh fine root samples. After these tests were completed, the samples were dried and weighed. Finally, they were crushed and sieved (80 mesh) for the determination of SS content.

Data analysis

The software SPSS version 19.0 (2010, SPSS Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was used for all statistical analyses. Multi-way ANOVA was performed to determine the effects of N treatment, soil depth, fine root diameter, and their interactions on the fine root morphological and physiological traits. Significant differences between means were compared using Tukey’s honest significant differences test. A main effect analysis was used to determine the interacting effects of different concentrations of added nitrogen, soil layer, and diameter class for fine root morphological and physiological traits. Pearson’s correlations were carried out to determine the relationships among the morphological and physiological traits under different nitrogen treatments.

Effects of added nitrogen on root morphological traits for different diameter classes and soil depths

The morphological traits of roots in different soil layers and different diameter classes varied in their response to N addition (Fig. 1). For example, considering fine roots from the same soil layer but different N addition treatments, SRL and RTD were significantly greater in N2 and N1 than in N3 (Figs. 1A and 1E). SRA showed the opposite pattern (Fig. 1B), whereas no significant differences were observed for RDMC (Fig. 1G). Considering roots from the same N treatment but different soil layers, less variation was observed (Figs. 1A, 1C, 1E and 1G). Only RDMC exhibited a significant response to the interaction of N addition treatment and soil layer.

The morphological characteristics SRL, SRA, and RTD varied among roots of different diameter classes (Figs. 1B, 1D, 1F and 1H). For example, the SRL was significantly lower in the control and low N addition treatment for roots in the 1.5–2 mm diameter class vs roots <1 mm diameter (Fig. 1B). For N2 and N3, the SRL for roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter was significantly higher than that for roots <1 mm diameter and roots 1.5–2 mm in diameter (Fig. 1D). In N0 and N3, the SRA in roots of 1–1.5 mm in diameter was significantly or marginally significantly higher than in roots <1 mm diameter and of 1.5–2 mm in diameter (Fig. 1D), with the exception of N1 (Fig. 1D). The RTD in roots <1 mm diameter was significantly or marginally significantly higher than in roots <1–1.5 mm diameter and 1.5–2 mm in diameter in all N addition treatments (Fig. 1F). SRL, SRA, and RTD exhibited a significant response to the interaction of N addition treatment and diameter class.

Effects of added nitrogen on root physiological traits for different diameter classes and soil depths

There were significant differences among soil layers and root diameter classes in SS, SP, FRV, FP, and TWC in response to N addition (Fig. 2). For instance, SS, FRV, and TWC were significantly greater in N1 and N2 compared to N0 and N3 (Figs. 2A, 2B, 2E, 2F, 2K and 2L). Conversely, MDA was greater in N0 and N3 (Figs. 2E and 2J). SP and FP both appeared to increase with increasing N addition (Figs. 2C, 2D, 2G and 2H). Nitrogen addition significantly affected SP, FRV, FP, and MDA, but did not impact root SS or TWC (Table 1).

There was significant variation in some root physiological traits among soil layers, but not others (Fig. 2A). FRV, MDA, and TWC varied significantly, but SP, FP, and TWC did not (Figs. 2C, 2G and 2K). In deeper soil layers, the SS first decreased and then increased, with the exception of for N2 (Fig. 2A). In contrast, a pattern of increasing then decreasing concentration was observed for FRV (Fig. 2E). In N0, as soil depth increased, TWC decreased, and a similar pattern was seen in N3 (Fig. 2K). However, in N1, TWC first increased and then decreased (Fig. 2K).

Root diameter had a significant effect on the physiological traits. SS, SP, FP, and TWC varied among roots of different diameters (Figs. 2B, 2D, 2H and 2L). However, no significant difference was observed for MDA and FRV (Figs. 2F and 2J). For example, in N0, SS was significantly higher in roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter than in roots <1 mm in diameter and 1.5–2 mm in diameter (Fig. 2B). However, in N1 and N2, SS was significantly lower in roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter than in roots <1 mm in diameter and 1.5–2 mm in diameter (Fig. 2B). In N3, SS was highest in roots 1.5–2 mm in diameter and lowest in roots <1 mm in diameter (Fig. 2B). In N1 and N0, the roots of 1.5–2 mm were higher in SP than roots <1 mm and 1–1.5 mm. In N2 and N3, roots of 1–1.5 mm were slightly higher in SS than roots <1 and 1.5–2 mm (Figs. 2B and 2D). In all N addition treatments, the smaller the fine root diameter, the larger the FRV value (Fig. 2F). In N0, SP values were higher in roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter and 1.5–2 mm in diameter than in roots <1 mm in diameter (Fig. 2D). In N1 and N3, SP values were higher in roots 1.5–2 mm in diameter than in roots <1 mm in diameter and 1–1.5 mm in diameter (Fig. 2D). Lastly, in N2, SP values were higher in roots <1 mm diameter than in roots 1–1.5 and 1.5–2 mm in diameter (Fig. 2D). MDA had the highest value for fine roots 1.5–2 mm in diameter in all N addition treatments (Fig. 2J). In the control, TWC had the highest value for roots <1 mm in diameter. After adding N, roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter had greater TWC than roots <1 mm in diameter and 1.5–2 mm in diameter (Fig. 2L) for all N addition treatments. Similarly, SS, SP, FP, and TWC also exhibited a significant response to the interaction of N addition treatment and diameter class (Table 1). FP and TWC exhibited a significant response to the interaction of N addition treatment and diameter class (Table 1).

Correlations between morphological and physiological traits

In N0, significant positive correlations were found between SRL, SRA, and SS, between FP and SP, and between FRV and both MDA and TWC (Fig. 3). Similarly, significant negative correlations were found between RTD and each of SRL, SRA, FRV, and TWC, between TWC and RDMC and FP, and between FP and FRV (Fig. 3). In N1, significant positive correlations were found between SRL and SRA, FP, and MDA, between SRA and FP, between SS and FP, and between FRV and both FP and TWC (Fig. 4). Similarly, significant negative correlations were also shown between RTD and SRA and SS, and between FRV and RDMC (Fig. 4). In N2, significant positive correlations were found between SRL and both SRA and TWC, and between FRV and both MDA and TWC (Fig. 5). Similarly, significant negative correlations were found between SRL and both RTD and FP, between SRA and RTD, and between FP and both FRV and TWC (Fig. 5). In N3, significant positive correlations were shown between SRL and both RTD and FP, between RTD and FP, and between FRV and MDA (Fig. 6). Similarly, significant negative correlations were found between SRL and both SRA and MDA, and between SRA and FP (Fig. 6).

Effects of nitrogen addition on root morphological traits

The experimental results demonstrated that all soil layers and root diameters showed a similar pattern, small amounts of nitrogen addition decreased SRL, SRA, and RTD of the fine roots of Schrenk’s spruce trees, but continuous additions enhanced SRL, SRA, and RTD. In general, higher SRL and SRA indicate greater efficiency of plant roots in absorbing nutrients and water. Perhaps a certain amount of added nitrogen can act to increase root length, surface area, and volume in Schrenk’s spruce, allowing them to absorb more nutrients. However, when the added nitrogen exceeds the nitrogen demands of the Schrenk’s spruce trees, root length, surface area, and volume may decrease because nutrient levels are sufficient for growth (Ostertag, 2001; Ostonen et al., 2007). Interestingly, RTD showed the opposite pattern of SRL and SRA following N addition. Higher SRL and SRA may enhance the absorption of other soil nutrients, possibly indicating functional compensation in the fine roots to maintain resource uptake, increases in SRL and SRA may compensate for RTD reductions, allowing for adequate absorption of nutrients and water (Eissenstat, 1992). Increased amounts of N can improve tree growth and the photosynthetic and transpiration rates, thus making the requirements of plants for water and nutrients are increasing. Trees can thus improve the functional traits of roots to meet these requirements (Burton et al., 2002; Adamtey et al., 2010; Jia et al., 2010; Bekku et al., 2011).

The interaction between nitrogen addition treatment and root diameter class also had a significant impact on morphological traits, perhaps because fine roots of different diameter classes have different functions (Guo et al., 2008; Fornara, Tilman & Hobbie, 2009; Jia et al., 2013).

Effects of nitrogen addition on root physiological traits

Root FRV varied across soil layers and diameter classes. Appropriate nitrogen addition can promote tree root activity, but excessive nitrogen levels inhibit root activity (Ghimire et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2018c; Dybzinski et al., 2018). Environmental stress can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in plants and induce cell membrane lipid peroxidation (Xu & Zhou, 2006). MDA is the product of membrane lipid peroxidation (Xu et al., 2016). MDA content indicates the level of peroxidation and reflects the degree of damage to the cell membrane system (Xu et al., 2016). In this study, the MDA content of Schrenk’s spruce fine roots increased following N addition, indicating an increasing degree of damage to the cell membrane system (Yin et al., 2005; Yin, Pang & Lei, 2009). Another important finding from this study is that fine root FP and SP content varied among soil layers and root diameter classes. Soluble substances in plants, such as SS and FP, can remove active oxygen by osmoregulation and relieve stress by maintaining membrane stability (Shane et al., 2009; Keel et al., 2012). Higher root SP in plants can also fix more water and reduce the chance of death. FP reflects the degree of environmental stress adaptation (Kreyling, 2010), but how fine roots deal with environmental stress appears to be different depending on soil layer and root diameter. The water tissue content of the fine roots also varied among soil layers and root diameter classes, which may be related to variation in the water content of the soil environment as well as the water retention capacity of roots of different diameters (Blouin, Barot & Roumet, 2007).

In our study, a significant impact on physiological trait was observed in the interaction between nitrogen treatment and root diameter class. Changes in physiology represent an adaptive plant response to environmental stress, which can reflect both plant growth and the degree of damage from the external environment (Dudley, 1996; Rennenberg et al., 2006; Ghimire et al., 2016; Banik et al., 2018). Adding nitrogen changed the soil environment, but the roots of different diameter classes responded to this change differently (Blouin, Barot & Roumet, 2007).

Effects of nitrogen addition on the correlation between morphological and physiological traits

The fine root morphology can reflect the fine root physiology of plants, and their relationship can reflect the strategies of plants adapting to the soil environment. Fine root morphological traits are closely related to the physiological activities of fine roots, directly affecting the ability of fine roots to absorb nutrients and water. Physiological changes in fine roots can cause external changes in fine roots, and changes in morphology can also affect physiological indicators (Hishi, 2007; Makita et al., 2011). Morphological traits were significantly changed following N fertilization, which indicate the potential alternations of physiological functions and their relationship. In this study, correlations between SRL and FP, MDA and TWC, between SRA and FP, and between RTD and FRV and FP were altered following nitrogen fertilization, indicating the potential plasticity of root morphology and physiology (Dudley, 1996; Rennenberg et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2018b). The amount of added nitrogen affects the correlation between morphological and physiological characteristics of fine roots (Blanes et al., 2013). Fine root functional characteristics respond differently to changes in the form and availability of soil nutrients owing to anthropogenic N addition and experimental nutrient addition (Blanes et al., 2013). Different levels of nitrogen addition had different effects on root structure, which will inevitably affect the relationships between plant root morphology and physiology, as well as the carbon cycle of the soil ecosystem (Wang et al., 2018b). However, the degree of impact varied. An increase in atmospheric nitrogen deposition will lead to soil acidification, which can resist external interference via changes to root morphology and physiology (Hishi, 2007; Makita et al., 2011). At the same time, plant functional traits affect many terrestrial ecosystem processes, including carbon cycling, by controlling carbon assimilation, transformation, storage, and release (McCormack et al., 2012; Kong et al., 2014; Taugourdeau et al., 2014; Ramalho et al., 2018).

Nitrogen deposition in the atmosphere mainly settles in both dry and wet forms. In this study, the main method is to simulate wet deposition (Silva et al., 2015; Matsumoto, Sakata & Watanabe, 2019). During the process of atmospheric wet deposition, nitrogen will increase and precipitation will increase (Silva et al., 2015). Therefore, the use of nitrogen in water, the water standard is the local precipitation. This research focus on the nitrogen deposition, and the issue of precipitation has not been studied in detail. However, this issue should be studied in depth in future research.