Effects of experimental warming on growth, biomass allocation, and needle chemistry of Abies faxoniana in even-aged monospecific stands

Abstract

The response and adaption mechanisms of seedlings under long-term warming have remained largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of warming for 6 years on growth, and needle carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll, and carbohydrate levels in a coniferous tree species, Abies faxoniana. Seedlings were grown in even-aged monospecific stands under ambient and warming (ambient +2.2°C) temperature in climate control chambers. Warming caused statistically significant increases in the specific leaf area, leaf area ratio, root biomass, leaf biomass, branch biomass, stem biomass, and total mass of the seedlings, and reduced the root/shoot ratio. Warming also increased total chlorophyll concentrations, specific chlorophyll pigments, and Chlorophyll a/b ratios in both studied needle age classes. In addition, C/N ratios of current-year and 1-year-old needles increased by warming. In contrast, warming decreased the levels of N, sugar, cellulose, and starch in needles, while warming had no effect on the height, stem diameter, needle mass ratio, root mass ratio, and root/needle ratio. We conclude that warming increases branch growth and changes needle chemistry, which enhances the light capture potential of seedlings.