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Soil temperature limits nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and growth in a boreal actinorhizal shrub

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Abstract

Purpose

The short growing season and cold climate of the boreal forest can restrict soil nitrogen availability, limiting plant growth and ecosystem productivity. Vascular nitrogen-fixing plants should have an advantage in low nitrogen environments. Yet, their abundance in the boreal forest is low. How nitrogen fixation is affected when temperature differences occur between the soil and air, especially in the spring when soil temperatures remain cool, has not been documented in actinorhizal shrubs.

Methods

A lab study was performed on Alnus alnobetula subsp. crispa (Aiton) Raus. For 13 weeks, soil was kept at either 10˚C, 14˚C or 16˚C, independently of shoot temperature, at 20˚C.

Results

Soils at 14˚C and 10˚C inhibited whole-plant nitrogen fixation (by 53% and 68%) and photosynthesis (by 43% and 39%), respectively, compared to soils at 16˚C. Reductions in photosynthetic rate were mainly attributed to a reduction in the fixed nitrogen supply and subsequent reduction in chlorophyll formation. Photosynthesis was not reduced immediately, suggesting some utilization of a nitrogen source not supplied from current fixation. Reduced amounts of fixed nitrogen and photosynthates resulted in diminished biomass production and relative growth rate.

Conclusion

The assumed advantages of being a nitrogen-fixing plant in a low nitrogen environment may be constrained by soil temperature to a larger extent than previously considered. This may restrict the abundance of nitrogen-fixing species in the boreal forest.

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Data availability

Data available on Dryad: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tb2rbp01h

Code availability

Not applicable

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Markham and Renault lab members for your support in assisting with measurements during the experiment. Special thanks to Frauke Fehrmann for maintaining the environmental chamber.

Funding

This work was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant to JM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

    Paige Anderson & John Markham

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  1. Paige Anderson
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  2. John Markham
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PA and JM conceived the study. PA carried out the study and analyzed the data. PA and JM wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to John Markham.

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Anderson, P., Markham, J. Soil temperature limits nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and growth in a boreal actinorhizal shrub. Plant Soil 468, 411–421 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05127-0

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