Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2023, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (8): 1793-1804.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20221220

• Horticultural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth and N, P, K stoichiometric characteristics of Cyphomandra betacea seedlings in response to light and fertilizer

SUN Lijuan(), LI Shimin, GUO Huanxian, JIN Youfan, LI Shuping, DONG Qiong*()   

  1. College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
  • Received:2022-08-22 Online:2023-08-25 Published:2023-08-29

Abstract:

To investigate the growth characteristics and N, P, K allocation patterns of Cyphomandra betacea seedlings in response to light and fertilizer, and to reveal the coordination mechanism between the growth regulation, physiological characteristics, and light and fertilizer of C. betacea seedlings, experiments were carried out using 3 fertilizer levels: no fertilizer (F0), moderate fertilizer (F1, 20 g per plant) and high fertilizer (F2, 40 g per plant), and 4 shading levels: no shading [L0, 100% natural light (NR)], light shading (L1, 75.0% NR), moderate shading (L2, 52.8% NR), and heavy shading (L3, 30.0% NR), with a total of 12 treatment combinations. Results showed that C. betacea seedlings adapted to low light environment by increasing investment in aboveground biomass and reducing investment in underground parts (roots). At 52.8% NR, adding 20 g compound fertilizer per plant resulted in the maximum growth index and biomass of C. betacea seedlings. N, P, K contents and their chemical stoichiometry ratios in different organs had their own changing patterns in different treatment combinations, with N, P, and K contents reaching the maximum in the leaves. There were significant correlations between N, P, K contents and their ratios in various organs. With changes in fertilizer and shading levels, there were balancing phenomena in nutrient allocation to various organs. Under full sunlight, moderate fertilizer benefited the allocation of N and K to the stem and P to the coarse root. After shading, N was distributed to the leaves, while P and K were allocated to the stem. Moderate shading and the addition of 20 g compound fertilizer per plant could promote the distribution of N, P, and K contents in various organs. Under heavy shading and after adding 40 g compound fertilizer per plant, nutrient contents significantly decreased. Overall, the functional traits of C. betacea showed a series of adaptive changes under different light and fertilizer treatments. Light and fertilizer had a significant (P<0.05) impact on the growth and chemical stoichiometry features of C. betacea seedlings. Moderate shading and fertilization treatments could effectively improve the growth, nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency, and the accumulation of N, P, and K contents in various organs of C. betacea seedlings, promoting their growth and development.

Key words: Cyphomandra betacea, light, fertilization, biomass, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, stoichiometry

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