SpringerLink
Log in

Research on the water use efficiency and foliar nutrient status of Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima in the extreme arid region of China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seasonal variations in foliar stable carbon composition (δ13C) and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations of Populus euphratica Olivier and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb, as well as correlations between foliar δ13C values and N, P and K concentrations were studied in the E**a oasis in the lower reaches of the Heihe River, northwestern China. Foliar δ13C values, and P and K concentrations significantly differed between species. Foliar δ13C signatures in T. ramosissima were significantly more enriched than those in P. euphratica, but P and K concentrations of P. euphratica were higher. The seasonal variations and patterns of these were similar. The total foliar δ13C values and N, P and K concentrations in both P. euphratica and T. ramosissima showed a descending trend. There were significantly positive correlations between foliar δ13C values and N and P concentration of both P. euphratica and T. ramosissima. For the relationship between foliar δ13C and K concentration, there appeared oppositely positive and negative correlations in P. euphratica and T. ramosissima, respectively, but they were not significant. The simple positive correlations of δ13C–P% and δ13C–N% suggested that N and P in P. euphratica and T. ramosissima behave in a similar manner. This study also showed that there were nutrient deficiencies; N and P nutriments were the co-limiting factors in P. euphratica, while it was P nutriment in T. ramosissima.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aerts R, Chapin FS III (2000) The mineral nutrition of wild plants revisited: a re-evaluation of processes and patterns. Adv Ecol Res 30:1–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alifragis D, Smiris P, Maris F, Kavvadias FV (2001) The effect of stand age on the accumulation of nutrients in the aboveground components of an Aleppo pine ecosystem. For Ecol Manag 141:259–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bei**g Agricultural University (1994) Agricultural chemistry (pandect). Agricultural Press, Bei**g (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boerner REJ (1985) Foliar nutrient dynamics, growth and nutrient use efficiency of Hammamelis virginiana in three forest microsites. Can J Bot 63:1476–1481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bollmark L, Sennerby-Forsse L, Ericsson T (1999) Seasonal dynamics and effects of nitrogen supply rate on nitrogen and carbohydrate reserves in cutting-derived willow (Salix viminalis L.) plants. Can J For Res 29:85–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JR, Flanagan LB, Buchmann N, Ehleringer JR (1997) Carbon isotope composition of boreal plants: functional grou** of life forms. Oecologia 110:301–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cerling DC, Wang Y, Quade J (1993) Expansion of C4 ecosystems as an indicator of global ecological change in the late Miocene. Nature 361:344–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen T, Qin DH, Ren JW, Sun WZ, Chen X (2000) The altitudinal and temporal variation of δ13C values in leaves of Plantago medial. Acta Bot Boreal Occident Sin 20(4):672–675 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen SP, Bai YF, Han XG (2002) Applications of stable carbon isotope techniques to ecological research. Acta Phytoecol Sin 26(5):549–560 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen SL, Li JK, Wang SS, Fritz E, Hüttermann A, Altman A (2003) Effects of NaCl on shoot growth, transpiration, ion compartmentation, and transport in regenerated plants of P. euphratica and Populus tomentosa. Can J For Res 33(6):967–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen GS, Zeng DH, Chen FS (2004a) Concentration of tree foliar and soil nutrients in Pinus spp. plantations in relation to species and stand age in Zhanggutai sandy land, northeast China. J For Res 15(1):11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YH, Hu J, Li YS, Xu B, Yan CL (2004b) Application of stable carbon isotope techniques to research into water stress. Acta Ecol Sin 24(5):1027–1033 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi WJ, Chang SX, Allen HL, Kelting DL, Ro HM (2005) Irrigation and fertilization effects on foliar and soil carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in a loblolly pine stand. For Ecol Manag 213:90–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Condon AG, Farquhar GD, Richards RA (1990) Genotypic variation in carbon isotope discrimination and transpiration efficiency in wheat. Leaf gas exchange and whole plant studies. Aust J Plant Physiol 17:9–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham SA, Summerhayes B, Westoby M (1999) Evolutionary divergences in leaf structure and chemistry, comparing rainfall and soil nutrient gradients. Ecol Monogr 69:569–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DaMatta FM, Loos RA, Silva EA, Loureiro ME, Ducatti C (2002) Effects of soil water deficit and nitrogen nutrition on water relations and photosynthesis of pot-grown Coffea canephora Pierre. Trees Struct Funct 16:555–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Damesin C, Rambal S, Joffre R (1997) Between-tree variations in leaf δ13C of Quercus pubescens and Quercus ilex among Mediterranean habitats with different water availability. Oecologia 111:26–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng X, Li XM, Zhang XM, Ye WH (2002) A study of the gas exchange characteristics of four desert plants. Acta Phytoecol Sin 26:605–612 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng X, Li XM, Zhang XM, Ye WH, Foezki A, Runge M (2003) The studies about the photosynthetic response of the four desert plants. Acta Ecol Sin 23(3):598–605 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Devitt DA, Salal A, Mace KA, Smith SD (1997) The effect of applied water on the water use of saltcedar in a desert riparian environment. J Hydrol 192:233–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duquesnay A, Breda N, Stievenard M, Dupouey JL (1998) Changes of tree-ring δ13C and water use efficiency of beech in north-eastern France during the past century. Plant Cell Environ 21:565–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elumalai RP, Nagpal P, Reed JW (2002) A mutation in the Arabidopsis KT2/KUP2 potassium transporter gene affects shoot cell expansion. Plant Cell 14:119–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans JR (1989) Photosynthesis and nitrogen relationships in leaves of C3 plants. Oecologia 78:9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans RD (2001) Physiological mechanisms influencing plant nitrogen isotope composition. Trends Plant Sci 6:121–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989a) Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 40:503–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar GD, Hubick KT, Condon AG et al (1989b) Carbon isotope fractionation and plant water use efficiency [A] stable isotopes in ecological research [C]. Springer, Berlin, pp 21–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Fay MF, Lledó MD, Kornblum MM, Crespo MB (1999) From the waters of Babylon? Populus euphratica in Spain is clonal and probably introduced. Biodivers Conserv 8(6):768–778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng Q, Cheng GD (1998) Current situation, problems and rational utilization of water resources in arid northwestern China. J Arid Environ 40:373–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foulds W (1993) Nutrient concentration of foliage and soil in south-west Australia. New Phytol 125:529–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garten CT, Taylor GE (1992) Foliar δ13C with in a temperate deciduous forest: spatial, temporal, and species source of variation. Oecologia 90:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnansiri S, Hirohumi S (1990) Cell membrane stability and leaf water relation as affected by phosphorus nutrition under water stress in maize. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 36(4):661–666

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu RS, Liu QL, Pei D, Jiang XN (2004) Understanding saline and osmotic tolerance of P. euphratica suspended cells. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 78:261–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güsewell S, Koerselman W (2002) Variation in nitrogen and phosphorus concentration of wetland plants. Perspect Plant Ecol 5:37–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han WX, Fang JY, Guo DL, Zhang Y (2005) Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across 753 terrestrial plant species in China. New Phytol 168:377–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He ZB, Zhao WZ (2006) Characterizing the spatial structures of riparian plant communities in the lower reaches of the Heihe River in China using geostatistical techniques. Ecol Res 21:551–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holtum JAM, Winter K (2005) Carbon isotope composition of canopy leaves in a tropical forest in Panama throughout a seasonal cycle. Trees Struct Funct 19:545–551

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang JH, Lin GH, Zhao W, Han XG (2005) Application of stable isotope technique in the study of plant water use. Acta Ecol Sin 25(9):2362–2371 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal MM, Akhter J, Mohammad W, Shah SM, Nawaz H, Mahmood K (2005) Effect of tillage and fertilizer levels on wheat yield, nitrogen uptake and their correlation with carbon isotope discrimination under rainfed conditions in north-west Pakistan. Soil Tillage Res 80:47–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail AM, Hall AE, Bray EA (1994) Drought and pot size effects on transpiration efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination of cowpea accessions and hybrids. Aust J Plant Physiol 21:23–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kayahare GJ, Carter RE, Klinka K (1995) Site index of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) in relation to soil nutrient and foliar chemical measures. For Ecol Manag 74:161–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koerselman W, Meuleman AFM (1996) The vegetation N:P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrients limitation. J Appl Ecol 33:1441–1450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Körner CH, Farquhar GD, Wong SC (1991) Carbon isotope discrimination by plants follows latitudinal and altitudinal trends. Oecologia 88:30–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korol RL, Kirschbaum MUF, Farquhar GD, Jeffreys M (1999) Effects of water status and soil fertility on the C-isotope signature in Pinus radiata. Tree Physiol 19:551–562

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawlor DW (2002) Carbon and nitrogen assimilation in relation to yield: mechanisms are the key to understanding production systems. J Exp Bot 53:773–787

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZJ, Lu CX, Duan HJ (1996) Anatomical studies on the vegetative organs of P. euphratica Oliv. and Populus pruinosa Schrenk. J Talimu Univ Agric Reclam 8(2):21–33 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma HC, Wang SS, Jiang XN (1998) The diurnal pattern of gas exchange in P. euphratica. J Southwest For Coll 18(1):24–32 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Máguas C, Griffiths H (2003) Applications of stable isotopes in plant ecology. Prog Bot 64:473–505

    Google Scholar 

  • McKee KL (1993) Soil physicochemical patterns and mangrove species distribution: reciprocal effects. J Ecol 81:477–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNulty SG, Swank WT (1995) Wood δ13C as a measure of annual basal area growth and soil water stress in a Pinus strobes forest. Ecology 76:1581–1586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monneveux P, Reynolds MP, Trethowan R, González-Santoyo H, Peña RJ, Zapata F (2005) Relationship between grain yield and carbon isotope discrimination in bread wheat under four water regimes. Eur J Agron 22:231–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parolin P (2001) Morphological and physiological adjustments to waterlogging and drought in seedlings of Amazonian floodplain trees. Oecologia 128:326–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu CM, Han XG, Su B, Huang JH, Jiang GM (2001) The characteristics of foliar δ13C values of plants and plant water use efficiency indicated by δ13C values in two fragmented rainforests in **shuangbanna, Yunnan. Acta Bot Sin 43(2):186–192 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Raeini-Sarjaz M, Barthakur NN, Arnold NP, Jones PJH (1998) Water stress, water use efficiency, carbon isotope discrimination and leaf gas exchange relationships of the Bush Bean. J Agron Crop Sci 180:173–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Kloeppel BD, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB (1995) Different photosynthesis–nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species. Oecologia 104:24–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB (1998) Leaf structure (specific leaf area) modulates photosynthesis–nitrogen relations: evidence from within and across species and functional groups. Funct Ecol 12:948–958

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rottenberg A, Nevo E, Zohary D (2000) Genetic variability in sexually dimorphic and monomorphic populations of P. euphratica (Salicaceae). Can J For Res 30(3):482–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saito Y, Shiraishi S, Tanimoto T, Yin L, Watanabe S, Ide Y (2002) Genetic diversity of P. euphratica populations in northwestern China determined by RAPD DNA analysis. New For 23:97–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauter JJ, van Cleve B, Apel K (1988) Protein bodies in ray cells of Populus × canadensis Moench ‘Robusta’. Planta 173:31–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwinning S, Ehleringer JR (2001) Water use trade-off and optimal adaptations to pulse-driven arid ecosystems. J Ecol 89:464–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaheen R, Hood-Nowotny RC (2005) Effect of drought and salinity on carbon isotope discrimination in wheat cultivars. Plant Sci 168:901–909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shangguan ZP, Shao MA, Dyckmans J (2000) Nitrogen nutrition and water stress effects on leaf photosynthetic gas exchange and water use efficiency in winter wheat. Environ Exp Bot 44:141–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Si JH, Chang ZQ, Su YH, ** HY, Feng Q (2008) Stomatal conductance characteristics of P. euphratica leaves and response to environmental factors in the extreme arid region. Acta Bot Boreal Occident Sin 28(1):125–130 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith SD, Nowak RS (1990) Ecophysiology of plants in the inter-mountain lowlands. In: Osmond CB, Pitelka LF, Hidy GM (eds) Plant biology of the basin and range. Ecological studies, vol 80. Springer, Berlin, pp 179–241

  • Sparks JP, Ehleringer JR (1997) Leaf carbon isotope discrimination and nitrogen content for riparian trees along elevational transects. Oecologia 109:362–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su YH (2007) Study on the soil organic carbon dynamics of typical vegetation communities in E** Banner. PhD, Cold and Arid Region Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, CAS, China (in Chinese)

  • Su PX, Yan QD, Chen HS (2005) δ13C values and water use efficiency of the leaves and assimilating shoots of desert plants. Acta Bot Boreal Occident Sin 25(4):727–732 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tausz M, Trummer W, Wonisch A, Goessler W (2004) A survey of foliar mineral nutrient concentration of Pinus canariensis at field plots in Tenerife. For Ecol Manag 189:49–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier JT, Raynal DJ (2003) Use of nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in plant tissue as an indicator of nutrient limitation and nitrogen saturation. J Appl Ecol 40:523–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thumma BR, Naidu BP, Cameron DF, Bahnisch LM (1998) Transpiration efficiency and its relationship with carbon isotope discrimination under well-watered and water-stressed conditions in Stylosanthes scarab. Aust J Agric Res 49:1039–1045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tognetti R, Peñuelas J (2003) Nitrogen and carbon concentration, and stable isotope ratios in Mediterranean shrubs growing in the proximity of a CO2 spring. Biol Plant 46(3):411–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner NC (1997) Further progress in crop water relations. Adv Agron 58:293–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Aplet G, Turner D et al (1992) The Mauna Loa environmental matrix: foliar and soil nutrients. Oecologia 89:372–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Fircks Y, Sennerby-Forsse L (1998) Seasonal fluctuations of starch in root and stem tissues of coppiced Salix viminalis plants grown under two nitrogen regimes. Tree Physiol 18:243–249

    Google Scholar 

  • von Fircksa YH, Tom E, Lisa SF (2001) Seasonal variation of macronutrients in leaves, stems and roots of Salix dasyclados Wimm. grown at two nutrient levels. Biomass Bioenergy 21:321–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SM, Wan CG, Wang YR et al (2004) The characteristics of Na+, K+ and free proline distribution in several drought-resistant plants of the Alxa Desert, China. J Arid Environ 56:525–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wassen MJ, Olde Venterink HGM, de Swart EOAM (1995) Nutrient concentration in mire vegetation as a measure of nutrient limitation in mire ecosystems. J Veg Sci 6:5–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe S, Kojima K, Ide YJ, Sasaki S (2000) Effects of osmotic stress on praline and sugar accumulation in Populus euphratlca in vitro. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 63:199–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu SJ, An LZ, Feng HY (2002) The seasonal effects of water stress on Ammopiptanthus mongolicus in a desert environment. J Arid Environ 51:437–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan CR, Han XG, Chen LZ et al (1998) Foliar δ13C with in temperate deciduous forest: its spatial change and interspecies variation. Acta Bot Sin 40(9):853–859 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan CR, Han XG, Chen LZ (2001) Water use efficiency of six woody species in relation to micro-environmental factors of different habitats. Acta Ecol Sin 21(11):1952–1956 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XY, Gong JD, Zhou MX, Si JH (2003) A study on the stem sap flow of P. euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima by heat pulse technique. J Glaciol Geocryol 25(5):585–590 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang F, Yang YL, He WL (2004) Effect of salinity on growth and compatible solutes of callus induced from P. euphratica. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol 40(5):491–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao LJ, **ao HL, Liu XH (2006) Variations of foliar carbon isotope discrimination and nutrient concentration in Artemisia ordosica and Caragana korshinskii at the southeastern margin of China’s Tengger Desert. Environ Geol 50:285–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng SX, Shangguan ZP (2005) Studies on variety in the δ13C value of typical plants in Loess plateau over the last 70 years. Acta Phytoecol Sin 29(2):289–295 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng SX, Shangguan ZP (2007) Spatial patterns of foliar stable carbon isotope compositions of C3 plant species in the Loess Plateau of China. Ecol Res 22:342–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler H (1995) Stable isotopes in plant physiology and ecology. Prog Bot 56:1–2

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40901048, 40725001, 40671010, and 40701054).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hydrology and Water-Land Resources in Cold and Arid Regions, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Sheng Kui Cao, Qi Feng, Yong Hong Su, Zong Qiang Chang & Hai Yang **

  2. College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, **ning, 810008, China

    Sheng Kui Cao

Authors
  1. Sheng Kui Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qi Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Hong Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zong Qiang Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hai Yang **
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sheng Kui Cao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cao, S.K., Feng, Q., Su, Y.H. et al. Research on the water use efficiency and foliar nutrient status of Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima in the extreme arid region of China. Environ Earth Sci 62, 1597–1607 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0643-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0643-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation