Effects of Soil Water Potential and Nitrogen Fertilization on Characteristics of Photosynthesis and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction in Schisandra chinensis Baillon

Abstract

Management of soil water and fertilization is known to primarily affect physiological properties and yield in plant. The effect of soil water potential and nitrogen application on characteristics of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in Schisandra chinensis Baillon was investigated on a sandy loam soil. Net photosyntheis rate and transpiration rate increased as a photon flux density and was highest at -50kPa of soil water potential. Light compensation point (<TEX>$1.5{\mu}molm^{-1}s^{-1}$</TEX>) and dark respiration (<TEX>$0.13{\mu}molCO_2m^{-1}s^{-1}$</TEX>) was lowest at -50 kPa but maximum photosynthesis rate (<TEX>$13.10{\mu}molCO_2m^{-1}s^{-1}$</TEX>) and net apparent quantum yield (<TEX>$0.083{\mu}molCO_</TEX><TEX>2m^{-1}s^{-1}$</TEX>) was highest at -50 kPa. As results of chlorophyll fluorescence by OJIP analysis, maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of photosystem II (PSII) and PIabs was higher in treatments of -50 kPa and -60 kPa respectively, which reflects the relative reduction state of PSII. But the relative activities per reaction center such as ABS/RC and DIo/RC were low with decreasing soil water potential. Net photosyntheis rate and transpiration rate were highest at treatment of soil testing 1.0 times (<TEX>$92kgha^{-1}$</TEX>). Application of nitrogen resulted in high Fv/Fm, <TEX>$PI_{abs}$</TEX> and low ABS/RC, DIo/RC. This result implies that -50 kPa of soil water potential and nitrogen fertilizer may improve the efficiency of photosynthesis through controlling a photosystem in Schisandra chinensis Baillon.