Insights into the Effects of Simulated Nitrogen Deposition on Leaf Functional Traits of Rhus Typhina

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Plant invasion succeeds because of such invader characteristics as fecundity and high-efficiency multiple reproduction modes. The acquisition of individual resources and the benefits of individual fitness are driven by optimum patterns of life history and trade-offs of reproductive allocation (RA) in plants, and variations in RA strategy play an key role in plant adaptation to environmental changes. Thus determining the RA strategy of invasive plants is important for understanding the successful mechanism underlying plant invasion. This study aims to determine the reproductive allocation (RA) strategy of two herbaceous invasive plants (Conyza canadensis and Solidago canadensis) across different cover classes in eastern China. Plant height, maximum branch length, the reproductive branch number, aboveground biomass, the amount of reproductive investment, and the coefficient of RA of the two plants decreased with increasing cover class (although the changes were not pronounced). Thus the two plants may decrease physiological investment on reproductive behavior and reduce RA under competitive conditions because of interspecies competition that progressively decreased and intraspecific competition that gradually increased with increasing cover class. The RA of the two plants may be principally influenced by plant community composition at low cover classes, but by soil pH at high cover classes. This may be the outcome that soil pH of the two plants decreased with increasing cover class significantly. Thus, intraspecific competition for resources may play an important role in the RA strategy of the two plants under high cover class.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Soil pH values and moisture were determined using a digital soil acidity-moisture meter (ZD instrument ZD-06, China) [41][42].…”

Section: Determining Plant Characteristics and Soil Physicochemical Pmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Allocation Strategy of Two Herbaceous Invasive Plants Across Different Cover Classes

Wang¹,

Zhou²,

Liu³

et al. 2017

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“…In most agricultural soils, soil available N is sufficient for early growth of legumes prior to the establishment of an effective N 2 fixation system. The application of N fertilizer improved the growth of invasive grass weeds that respond to N availability [22,24]. However, some studies have shown that alfalfa needs supplemental N when it is grown on extremely low N soils (e.g., salinealkali and sandy soils with nitrate levels below 15 mg kg -1 or organic matter below 15 g kg -1 ), or under conditions that limit the N 2 fixation symbiosis (e.g., low temperature) [35].…”

Section: Effect Of N Fertilizer On Yield Of Alfalfa and Weedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Applying N fertilizer to increase yield potential has been routine practice for many alfalfa growers [19]. Although applying more N helps achieve the desired yield [20][21], it also can increase the chances of invasive weed growth [22][23] and result in greater levels of environmental pollution [24].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Seeding Rate on Yield of Alfalfa and Weeds

Xie

2018

Weed infestation is a serious problem in an agroecosystem. It can decrease crop yield and degrade the environment. Under the background of global warming, weed management has become more complex and full of uncertainty. Though some studies show that CO 2 removal has been accomplished in a special urban city and park area, scientific observations show that the concentration of CO 2 is still increasing in the atmosphere [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial forage legumes cultivated in the world because of its high nutritive quality and yield [8]. Weed invasion also is a serious problem for alfalfa cultivation, especially in seeding year and older stands [8][9]. Weed affects the stability of alfalfa stands because of competition with alfalfa for light, nutrients, and water resources, which result in decreased yields and quality [10][11]. Herbicide application is a widespread practice in many production systems for efficient weed control, but they have the potential to cause serious environmental pollution [12], particularly of ground and surface water [13][14]. In addition, some weeds become Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 27, No. 2 (2018), 647-653 AbstractApplying nitrogen (N) to increase alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield is a general practice in China that has caused serious weed infestation problems. Our objective was to determine the effect of N fertilizer and seeding rate on yields of alfalfa and weeds. The effects of four N fertilizer gradients (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N hm -2 ) and five alfalfa seeding rates (0, 5, 7.5, 10, and 15 kg hm -2 ) were examined on dry matter of alfalfa and weeds using a three-year in situ controlled trial. The results showed:• There were no significant differences among N fertilizer (N) for dry matter of alfalfa (DMA) during three years. Dry matter of grassy weeds (DMGW) and broadleaf weeds (DMBW) were significantly increased with the N fertilizer gradient in the seeding year.• DMA was significantly increased with the seeding rates gradient in both 2012 and 2013. DMGW and DMBW were significantly decreased with the seeding rates gradient in all three years.• Interactions between N fertilizer and seeding rates on DMA and DMBW in 2012 and DMGW and DMT in 2013 are significant (p<0.05). Although the study demonstrated that increasing seeding rate can suppress weed invasions, N fertilizer facilitated them.

“…Leaf length is the maximum value along the large strengthened vein along the midline of a leaf, and leaf width is the maximum value perpendicular to the large strengthened vein along the midline of a leaf [17]. The leaf length and width of [18][19][20]. The plant biomass was measured using an electronic balance.…”

Section: Determining Plant Characteristics and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Traits and Reproductive Allocation Strategy of Conyza canadensis as they Vary by Invasion Degree Along a Latitude Gradient

Wang¹,

Zhou²,

Liu³

et al. 2017

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This study aims to determine the functional traits and reproductive allocation (RA) strategy of the invasive plant Conyza canadensis across different invasion degrees along a latitude gradient in China. Invasion degree did not affect the functional traits and RA strategy of C. canadensis significantly. The high proportion of reproductive biomass (allocating approximately 20% of total biomass into reproductive behaviors) of C. canadensis across different invasion degrees can achieve a fitness advantage in broadening its habitat niches and can eventually attain a successful invasion. The higher proportion of reproductive biomass of C. canadensis in warm temperate and subtropical monsoon climatic zones may play an important role in its successful invasion in the two climatic zones in China. One possible reason for this is that eastern China and northern China, in which C. canadensis vigorously occurs, have the same or similar climate as their natural habitat in the original distribution region. The proportion of reproductive biomass of C. canadensis positively correlated with its total biomass, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and vegetative biomass, as well as with its height and leaf size. Meanwhile, temperature rather than annual sunshine hours or annual precipitation was determined to be the most important environmental factor that triggers pronounced effects on the RA strategy of C. canadensis.