13063
10.30848/PJB2026-2(2)
<p>
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on <em>Castanopsis sclerophylla</em> seedlings growth and water physiology in north subtropical, Chizhou, China</p>
Cheng Huang, Zhaocheng Wang, Fan Yang, Yuhua Ma, Han Sheng, Junfeng Yuan, Luis Carlos Ramos Aguila, Xu Li and Muhammad Sadiq Khan
<p>
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key elements required for plant growth and development and are the most common limiting nutrients that constrain net primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. As a result of anthropogenic activities, N deposition has increased in subtropical regions of China; however, the impact of forest P associated with N is relatively scarce. Four treatments, including control, were set up in the forest of <em>Castanopsis sclerophylla</em> (seedlings) to evaluate the effects of long-term N and P applications on plant growth and water physiological characteristics. In the forest's understory, N, P, and combined N+P additions were applied to similar growth conditions in the 50-year-old secondary forest. The results show that the mid-day water potential of <em>C. sclerophylla</em> seedlings under the N+P addition treatments was significantly higher (<em>p</em><0.05) than in the P and N treatments, and found significant (<em>p</em><0.05) variation in seasonal growth. In the dry season, the conduit density of young <em>C. sclerophylla</em> seedlings under P inputs and control was significantly higher (<em>p</em><0.05) than combined N+P addition. N addition, it possibly signifies the drought resistance of <em>C. sclerophylla</em> seedlings in seasons. Remarkably, without adding nutrients, the <em>C. sclerophylla </em>seedlings showed the strongest resistance to drought conditions in all seasons. Therefore, under the influence of global climate change in the future, drought and N deposition will negatively affect the understory regeneration of <em>C. sclerophylla</em> in subtropical secondary forests. The outcomes of this study direct the forest manager and silviculturist regarding the adverse situation ahead regarding the <em>C. sclerophylla</em> regrowth in subtropical forests and help prioritize plant species for future drought conditions.</p>
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Published
2026
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