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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (8): 70-79.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240362

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Osmotic Regulation Mechanism of Pinus tabuliformis Seedlings under the Joint Effects of Nitrogen Addition and Drought Stress

Yan Zeng1,Jirong Mao1,Xianglin Chen1,Xinyu Xu2,Jing Liang1,Ying Liu1,*()   

  1. 1. College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A & F University Yangling 712100
    2. School of Life Sciences, Yan’an University Yan’an 716000
  • Received:2024-06-13 Online:2025-08-25 Published:2025-09-02
  • Contact: Ying Liu E-mail:ying.liu@nwafu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective: This study explored the effect of nitrogen addition on the content of osmoregulatory substances in a typical tree species, Pinus tabuliformis, in the Loess Plateau region, for revealing the mechanism by which nitrogen addition alleviates drought stress by maintaining hydraulic function, and thereby exploring the response of forest ecosystems in the region to global change. This research aimed to provide a scientific basis for managing P. tabuliformis plantations in the Loess Plateau region. Method: Two-year-old P. tabuliformis seedlings were used as the research object, and four levels of drought stress treatments (control CK, mild stress RE25, moderate stress RE50, and severe stress RE75) and three nitrogen addition levels (N0, N3, N6 with concentrations of 0, 3, 6 g·m–2a–1, respectively) were set up to analyze the changes in physiological growth characteristics, osmoregulatory substances, and hydraulic function of the seedlings under the interactive effects of nitrogen addition and drought stress, along with their interrelationships. Result: 1) Under CK treatment, the total biomass at N3 and N6 levels significantly increased by 3.69% and 10.56% (P<0.05) compared to the N0 level, and the net photosynthetic rate increased by 22.16% and 79.61% (P<0.05). At the N0 level, the root-to-shoot ratio under RE75 treatment significantly increased by 54.9% (P<0.05) compared to the CK group. 2) Correlation analysis proved that high-concentration nitrogen application significantly increased the proline content in new branches under CK treatment, mild and moderate drought stress; nitrogen application significantly increased the content of non-structural carbohydrates under each drought treatment but had no significant effect on the content of potassium ions. The effect of nitrogen application on osmotic regulation of new branches of P. tabuliformis seedlings was greater than that of drought. 3) Under nitrogen application conditions, the total amount of soluble sugars and non-structural carbohydrates showed a significant positive correlation with net photosynthetic rate, biomass, hydraulic conductivity, and water use efficiency, indicating that nitrogen application increased the formation of soluble substances and non-structural carbohydrates by enhancing the net photosynthetic rate above ground, promoting biomass accumulation, and maintaining hydraulic function through osmotic regulation by soluble sugars, thereby improving the water use efficiency of P. tabuliformis. 4) Redundancy analysis showed that proline (P<0.05) and soluble sugar (P<0.05) had significant effects on hydraulic function under the coupled effects of nitrogen addition and drought stress, with an explanation rate of 38.5% and 12.9%, respectively. Conclusion: New branches are the most vulnerable organs under drought stress. Among nitrogen addition levels, the concentration of 6 g·m?2a?1 is the optimal nitrogen addition level for alleviating mild drought stress in P. tabuliformis seedlings.

Key words: drought stress, nitrogen addition, hydraulic conductivity, Pinus tabuliformis, osmotic regulation

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