Experimental warming effects on root nitrogen absorption and mycorrhizal infection in a subalpine coniferous forest

Abstract

ABSTRACTClimate warming may change soil nutrient supply and affect the biogeochemical processes, especially the nitrogen (N) cycle in forest ecosystems. However, little is still known about how root N uptake responds to climate warming, and whether forests will experience more intense N limitation under warming. We studied the N absorption and mycorrhizal infection rate in the roots of seedlings of a subalpine coniferous species, Picea asperata Mast., under experimental warming, four years after the seedlings were transplanted in the experimental plots. We found that warming had a significant positive effect on root N absorption, with increases of 151.1%, 99.6%, and 71.9% in May, July, and October of 2011, respectively, when compared to the control treatment. In addition, warming increased the N element content and reduced the C:N ratio of the roots over the warming period. Warming also increased mycorrhizal infections by 30.5%, 12.3%, and 108.1% in May, July, and October of 2011, respectively, when compared to the control treatment. Increases in the N absorption and mycorrhizal infection rates in roots may be an important adjustment to meet plant N demand in the subalpine coniferous forest under warming.