Abstract:
Objectives The effects of nitrogen supply forms and nitrate supply duration on nutrient uptake, photosynthetic efficiency, and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity in Phyllostachys edulis (P. edulis) seedlings were studied to preliminary reveal nitrogen form preference and to provide nutrient management strategies for regulating the excessive expansion of P. edulis in ecological forests.
Methods Pot experiments were conducted using P. edulis seedlings as test materials and vermiculite as growth substrates. Nitrogen treatments included 4 mmol/L (NH4)2SO4, 8 mmol/L NaNO3, and a no nitrogen control. Growth and nutrient accumulation in both aboveground and underground parts of P. edulis seedlings, nitrate reductase (NR) activity, and leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) were measured. The relationships among seedling growth, nitrate nitrogen content, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity were analyzed.
Results Compared with CK, nitrate treatments showed no significant promotion on seedling growth but significantly reduced chlorophyll content by 52.94%. Seedling height, SPAD values, leaf number, total biomass, root length and root surface area under nitrate treatment were significantly lower than those under ammonium treatments by 51.11%, 87.40%, 58.70%, 91.01%, 65.77% and 79.96%, respectively. Compared with CK, nitrate treatment significantly increased P, Ca, Mg, S, and Al content in P. edulis leaves by 50.53%, 75.21%, 12.49%, 18.17%, and 21.36%, respectively, while significantly decreasing N, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Na contents by 2.98%, 44.83%, 18.40%, 45.01%, 17.13%, and 51.63%, respectively. In roots, P, K, and Mg contents increased significantly by 13.23%, 10.89%, and 13.92%, respectively, whereas S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Na, and Al contents decreased significantly by 21.05%, 52.59%, 57.69%, 35.95%, 30.73%, and 51.79%, respectively. Compared with ammonium treatment, nitrate treatment significantly increased leaf P, Ca, Mg, and S contents by 98.46%, 51.23%, 13.99%, and 26.70%, respectively, while decreasing N, K, Fe, Mn, and Na contents by 5.00%, 20.30%, 29.58%, 64.15%, and 16.01%, respectively. In roots, P, K, and Mg contents increased significantly by 40.87%, 6.73%, and 44.62%, respectively, whereas N, S, Fe, Mn, Na, and Al contents decreased significantly by 5.24%, 18.30%, 46.88%, 81.62%, 25.56%, and 34.10%, respectively. During 0–42 days of nitrate treatment, seedling height, leaf number, biomass, and NR activity initially increased slightly and then declined. Compared with day 0, nitrate accumulation in leaves and roots significantly increased from day 28 to day 98, with increases of 146.89%–378.44% and 232.62%–516.60%, respectively. In contrast, NR activity sharply decreased by 1.43%–87.96% in leaves and 11.19%–89.39% in roots, accompanied by reduced biomass and an increased root-to-shoot ratio.
Conclusions During long-term evolution, P. edulis has developed a characteristic nitrogen preference of “ammonium over nitrate”. Under continuous NO3− supply, the accumulation of nitrate nitrogen in P. edulis seedlings coincide with a significant decline in nitrate reductase activity. This impairs nitrogen assimilation, hinders the uptake and accumulation of essential micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, and Zn, and drastically reduces chlorophyll content. Consequently, seedling growth is severely restricted, often leading to growth arrest. Therefore, the regulation of NO3− supply can be utilized as an effective technical strategy for controlling the growth of moso bamboo.