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Field evidence reveals conservative water use of poplar saplings under high aerosol conditions.

Field evidence reveals conservative water use of poplar saplings under high aerosol conditions.

Authors :
Wang, Bin
Wang, Zhenhua
Wang, Chengzhang
Wang, Xin
Li, Jing
Jia, Zhou
Li, Ping
Wu, Jin
Chen, Min
Liu, Lingli
Oliveras, Imma
Source :
Journal of Ecology; May2021, Vol. 109 Issue 5, p2190-2202, 13p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Anthropogenic aerosols could alter multiple meteorological processes such as radiation regime and air temperature, thereby modifying plant transpiration. However, the lack of field observations at leaf and plant level hinders our ability to understand how aerosols could affect plant water use.Aerosol concentrations in northern China fluctuate periodically over a wide range. Taking advantage of this unique natural experiment opportunity, we conducted a series of physiological and environmental measurements at different times of the day to explore diurnal aerosols' effect on leaf transpiration and sap flow of planted poplar saplings (Populus × canadensis Moench).We found that high aerosol concentrations suppressed sun leaf transpiration by reducing leaf‐to‐air vapour pressure deficit (VPDleaf), while had no effect on shade leaf transpiration mainly because the negative effect of reduced VPDleaf on transpiration offset the positive effects of the increased stomatal conductance (gs). As aerosol concentration increased, the gs of both sun and shade leaves decreased more rapidly with an increase in VPDleaf, which caused their transpiration rates to become less sensitive to VPDleaf. Similarly, aerosols reduced sap flow density and its sensitivity to VPD.Synthesis. Our study provided observational evidence on aerosols' effects on plant transpiration at the leaf and canopy scales. The reduced transpiration and stronger stomatal control indicated that plant water use becomes more conservative under elevated aerosol concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00220477
Volume :
109
Issue :
5
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of Ecology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
150296859
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13633