過剰窒素が樹木の干ばつ耐性を低下させる可能性(Too Much Nitrogen May Leave Trees More Vulnerable to Drought)

2026-05-08 中国科学院応用生態学研究所(IAE)

中国科学院応用生態学研究所の厳涛教授らは、長期的な窒素添加が森林樹木の乾燥耐性を低下させることを明らかにした。研究対象は中国・塞罕壩のカラマツ人工林で、若齢林から成熟林までを含む長期窒素添加実験に基づく。若齢木では高窒素条件下で炭素配分が根へ移行し、水やリン獲得能力の向上が示唆された一方、道管塞栓への脆弱性が増し、水輸送機能の安全性が低下した。成熟木では炭素再配分は顕著でなかったが、水ポテンシャルや水輸送効率が低下し、根から葉までの水輸送系全体が弱体化していた。若齢木は急激な干ばつ時の水輸送破綻、成熟木は慢性的な機能低下という異なる経路で乾燥リスクが高まることが示された。研究は、窒素沈着が森林成長を一律に促進するとの従来認識に疑問を投げかけ、森林管理では林齢を考慮した干ばつリスク評価が必要であると示唆している。

Too Much Nitrogen May Leave Trees More Vulnerable to Drought

<関連情報>

対照的な戦略、共通のリスク:12年間の窒素添加は、異なる経路を介して、幼木と成木における水力学的安全性を低下させる Contrasting strategies, shared risk: 12-yr nitrogen addition weakens hydraulic safety in young and mature trees via distinct pathways

Tao Yan ,Shijie Ning ,Tianyu Zhong ,Peilin Wang ,Jiaojun Zhu
Tree Physiology  Published:23 April 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpag054

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition is widely assumed to stimulate growth in N-limited temperate forests, yet how N deposition interacts with tree ontogeny to regulate the carbon–water processes shaping tree resilience, decline, and mortality under environmental stress remains unclear. We used a 12-year anthropogenic N addition (control; N20: 20 kg N ha−1 year−1; and N50: 50 kg N ha−1 year−1) experiment spanning young, intermediate, and mature larch plantations in northern China to test age-dependent effects on hydraulics and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) reserves. In young trees, N50 decreased soluble sugars in leaves, twigs, and branches, but increased in roots, suggesting a preferential belowground allocation, whereas N20 responses were limited. However, this apparent adaptive response was accompanied by increased xylem embolism vulnerability, indicating a potential trade-off between greater root carbon investment and hydraulic safety. In contrast, mature trees exhibited a tendency of systemic impairment of hydraulic function but with no signs of NSC reallocation. Our results demonstrate that decadal N addition disrupts carbon-water balance age-dependently: young trees trade hydraulic safety for carbon reallocation while mature trees undergo hydraulic decline. These findings challenge the view that N deposition uniformly benefits temperate forests and show that incorporating age-specific physiology is essential for predicting temperate forest dynamics.

1304森林環境
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