To systematically reveal the synergistic regulatory mechanisms of thinning intensity and water-nitrogen addition on leaf functional traits in plantations, this study conducted a split-plot experiment with Populus tomentosa plantations in the Yellow River Flood Plain. Two thinning intensities(50% and 75%) and three water-nitrogen treatments(water-nitrogen addition, single water addition, and control) were established. The response characteristics and coupling relationships were analyzed from three dimensions: leaf water status, structural construction, and nutrient stoichiometry. The results indicate that: (1)Leaf relative water content remained generally stable, whereas leaf dry mass water content exhibited high sensitivity to thinning and its interaction with water-nitrogen treatments, showing a significant increase of 43.05% under 75% thinning with water-nitrogen addition. (2)Structural traits showed no significant overall changes, with low variation in leaf dry matter content and high variation in specific leaf mass, demonstrating potential plasticity. (3)Among nutrient traits, leaf carbon content remained relatively stable, whereas leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents as well as their stoichiometric ratios responded significantly to the treatments. The leaf N∶P ratio(mass ratio)ranged from 11.06 to 18.46, with an average value of 13.94, indicating that the P.tomentosa plantations in the study area were generally under nitrogen limitation. (4)Multivariate analysis revealed significant coupling relationships among leaf water content, structural traits, and nutrient allocation, with leaf dry mass water content and specific leaf mass identified as key traits driving nutrient partitioning. (5)Principal component analysis revealed that the first two principal components cumulatively explained 66.4% of the variation. Thinning at 75% promoted leaf adjustment towards high resource-use efficiency, while 50% thinning maintained a conservative strategy. Different water and nitrogen treatments primarily diverged along the nutrient structure dimension, with the single water addition treatment showing strong association with nutrient ratio traits. Overall, thinning and water-nitrogen regulation drive coordinated changes in leaf functional traits by altering resource availability, thereby influencing plant resource utilization strategies.
XuT Y, NiuX, WangB,et al.Variations in leaf functional traits and photosynthetic parameters of Cunninghamialanceolata provenances[J].Forests,2023,14(9):1708.
HeNianpeng, LiuCongcong, ZhangJiahui,et al.Perspectives and challenges in plant traits:from organs to communities[J].Acta Ecologica Sinica,2018,38(19):6787-6796.
LiYue, BiShuyi, WanXiufu,et al.Responses of the growth and leaf morphology of alfalfa seedlings to water stress[J].Acta Agrestia Sinica,2017,25(6):1232-1238.
[8]
刘明秀,梁国鲁.植物比叶质量研究进展[J].植物生态学报,2016,40(8):847-860.
[9]
LiuMingxiu, LiangGuolu.Research progress on leaf mass per area[J].Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology,2016,40(8):847-860.
TianDi, YanZhengbing, FangJingyun.Review on characteristics and main hypotheses of plant ecological stoichiometry[J].Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology,2021,45(7):682-713.
HeYunyu, GuoShuiliang, WangZhe.Research progress of trade-off relationships of plant functional traits[J].Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology,2019,43(12):1021-1035.
[15]
ChavesM M, FlexasJ, PinheiroC.Photosynthesis under drought and salt stress:regulation mechanisms from whole plant to cell[J].Annals of Botany,2009,103(4):551-560.
[16]
PoorterH, NiinemetsÜ, PoorterL,et al.Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA):a meta-analysis[J].New Phytologist,2009,182(3):565-588.
YangYuwei, HeBaohui, HanXuejiao,et al.Effects of stand age on functional traits and understory soil physicochemical properties of Populustomentosa and their coupling relationships[J].Bulletin of Botanical Research,2023,43(6):857-867.
YangLemei, ZhangBaogang, ChenYouchao,et al.Leaf functional traits of understory plants in a moso bamboo forests in response to simulated nitrogen deposition[J].Scientia Silvae Sinicae,2025,61(12):61-71.
LiuMinxia, LiLirong, CheYingdi,et al.Functional traits of plant leaves at different succession stages in alpine meadow[J].Bulletin of Botanical Research,2019,39(5):760-769.
[23]
Benedetti-RuizS, Loewe-MuñozV, Del RíoR,et al.Effect of thinning on growth and shape of Castaneasativa adult tree plantations for timber production in Chile[J].Forest Ecology and Management,2023,530:120762.
[24]
ForresterD I, CollopyJ J, BeadleC L,et al.Effect of thinning,pruning and nitrogen fertiliser application on transpiration,photosynthesis and water-use efficiency in a young Eucalyptusnitens plantation[J].Forest Ecology and Management,2012,266:286-300.
[25]
ForresterD I, CollopyJ J, BeadleC L,et al.Interactive effects of simultaneously applied thinning,pruning and fertiliser application treatments on growth,biomass production and crown architecture in a young Eucalyptusnitens plantation[J].Forest Ecology and Management,2012,267:104-116.
[26]
XiB Y, ClothierB, ColemanM,et al.Irrigation management in poplar (Populus spp.) plantations:a review[J].Forest Ecology and Management,2021,494:119330.
[27]
MoQ F, ZouB, LiY W,et al.Response of plant nutrient stoichiometry to fertilization varied with plant tissues in a tropical forest[J].Scientific Reports,2015,5:14605.
LiSuxin, ZhangYunxiang, GuoJinping.Effects of nitrogen addition on leaf stoichiometry and nutrients reabsorption efficiency of Larixprincipis-rupprechtii [J].Journal of Soil and Water Conservation,2021,35(5):249-254,263.
WangYafei, YangHongqing, ZhouOu,et al.Chemical stoichiometry characteristics of various organs of trees in high-density Populustomentosa pulp forests under water-nitrogen coupling[J].Journal of Beijing Forestry University,2023,45(12):68-79.
[32]
LiuJ Q, LiD D, FernándezJ E,et al.Variations in water-balance components and carbon stocks in poplar plantations with differing water inputs over a whole rotation:implications for sustainable forest management under climate change[J].Agricultural and Forest Meteorology,2022,320:108958.
[33]
HeY L, XiB Y, LiG D,et al.Influence of drip irrigation,nitrogen fertigation,and precipitation on soil water and nitrogen distribution,tree seasonal growth and nitrogen uptake in young triploid poplar (Populustomentosa) plantations[J].Agricultural Water Management,2021,243:106460.
[34]
XiB Y, BloombergM, WattM S,et al.Modeling growth response to soil water availability simulated by HYDRUS for a mature triploid Populustomentosa plantation located on the North China Plain[J].Agricultural Water Management,2016,176:243-254.
[35]
WangY, XiB Y, BloombergM,et al.Response of diameter growth,biomass allocation and N uptake to N fertigation in a triploid Populustomentosa plantation in the North China Plain:ontogenetic shift does not exclude plasticity[J].European Journal of Forest Research,2015,134(5):889-898.
[36]
ChavesM M, MarocoJ P, PereiraJ S.Understanding plant responses to drought: from genes to the whole plant[J].Functional Plant Biology,2003,30(3):239-264.
[37]
LiuY, LiY, GaoG Y,et al.Effects of thinning on soil water content and water use characteristics of artificial forest in the Loess Plateau of China[J].Catena,2025,254:108997.
[38]
HippsN A, DaviesM J, DunnJ M,et al.Effects of two contrasting canopy manipulations on growth and water use of London plane(Platanus×acerifolia) trees[J].Plant and Soil,2014,382(1):61-74.
[39]
PoorterH, NiklasK J, ReichP B,et al.Biomass allocation to leaves,stems and roots:meta-analyses of interspecific variation and environmental control[J].The New Phytologist,2012,193(1):30-50.
ZhaoHang, JiaYanlong, WangQiufeng.Statistical characteristics of C-N-P stoichiometry in Chinese zonal forest and farmland ecosystems[J].Quaternary Sciences,2014,34(4):803-814.
[42]
SchreegL A, SantiagoL S, WrightS J,et al.Stem,root,and older leaf N∶P ratios are more responsive indicators of soil nutrient availability than new foliage[J].Ecology,2014,95(8):2062-2068.
[43]
YuanZ Y, ChenH Y H, ReichP B.Global-scale latitudinal patterns of plant fine-root nitrogen and phosphorus[J].Nature Communications,2011,2:344.
MaYuzhu, ZhongQuanlin, JinBingjie,et al.Spatial changes and influencing factors of fine root carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of plants in China[J].Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology,2015,39(2):159-166.
[46]
ElserJ J, FaganW F, DennoR F,et al.Nutritional constraints in terrestrial and freshwater food webs[J].Nature,2000,408(6812):578-580.
[47]
HanW X, FangJ Y, GuoD L,et al.Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across 753 terrestrial plant species in China[J].New Phytologist,2005,168(2):377-385.
RenShujie, YuGuirui, TaoBo,et al.Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across 654 terrestrial plant species in NSTEC[J].Environmental Science,2007,28(12):2665-2673.
GüsewellS.N∶P ratios in terrestrial plants:variation and functional significance[J].New Phytologist,2004,164(2):243-266.
[52]
HeJ S, WangL, FlynnD F B,et al.Leaf nitrogen∶phosphorus stoichiometry across Chinese grassland biomes[J].Oecologia,2008,155(2):301-310.
[53]
QiuX C, WangH B, PengD L,et al.Thinning drives C∶N∶P stoichiometry and nutrient resorption in Larixprincipis-rupprechtii plantations in North China[J].Forest Ecology and Management,2020,462:117984.
[54]
OsnasJ L D, LichsteinJ W, ReichP B,et al.Global leaf trait relationships:mass,area,and the leaf economics spectrum[J].Science,2013,340(6133):741-744.