Variation in nitrogen supply changes water-use efficiency of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Populus x euroamericana; a comparison of three approaches to determine water-use efficiency

• Published in: Tree physiology 2004-06, Vol.24 (6), p.671-679
• Main Authors: Ripullone, F, Lauteri, M, Grassi, G, Amato, M, Borghetti, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: application rate; Biomass; dry matter accumulation; equations; forest trees; mathematical models; measurement; net assimilation rate; Nitrogen - physiology; nitrogen fertilizers; nutrient availability; photosynthesis; plant cuttings; Plant Leaves - physiology; Plant Transpiration - physiology; Populus; Populus - physiology; Populus canadensis; Pseudotsuga - physiology; Pseudotsuga menziesii; seedlings; soil water content; stomatal conductance; transpiration; Trees - physiology; Water - physiology; water use efficiency
• ISSN: 0829-318X; 1758-4469
• DOI: 10.1093/treephys/24.6.671

We studied the effects of three nitrogen (N) supply rates (low, intermediate and high) on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings and poplar clone "I-214" (Populus x euroamericana (Dole) Guinier) cuttings growing in mini-stands. Our specific objectives were to: (1) evaluate the effects of N supply on water-use efficiency (WUE) and biomass production; (2) determine if N affects WUE through control of carbon assimilation rates or through stomatal control of water loss; and (3) compare three methods of estimating WUE: one short-term method (WUEi, based on gas exchange measurements) and two long-term methods (WUE(T), based on the ratio between biomass production and transpired water, and delta, based on leaf carbon isotope discrimination tested as a proxy of WUE). In both species, biomass production, WUEi and WUE(T) increased with increasing N supply, but there was no effect of N supply on either transpiration or stomatal conductance and delta was negatively related to leaf N concentration. Plots of delta versus both WUEi and WUE(T) revealed negative trends, but the regression between WUEi and delta was significant only for Douglas-fir, and the regression between WUET and delta was significant only for poplar. Thus, the mechanisms underlying the response of WUE to N supply were mainly related to a positive effect of N supply on photosynthetic rates. The data confirm that carbon isotope discrimination may be a useful proxy of WUE. The finding that N availability enhances both biomass production and WUE may have practical implications in regions where these factors impose constraints on forest productivity.