Leaf hydraulic acclimation to nitrogen addition of two dominant tree species in a subtropical forest

Highlights: • A forest canopy spraying system was manipulated for simulating atmospheric N deposition. • N addition enhanced leaf hydraulic conductance and transpiration rate. • N addition reduced leaf hydraulic safety margin and drought tolerance. • Vessel diameter and leaf thickness mediated leaf hydraulic responses to N addition. Plant hydraulic traits have been shown to be sensitive to changes in nitrogen (N) availability in short-term studies largely using seedlings or saplings. The extent and the magnitude of N-sensitivity of the field grown mature trees in long-term experiments, however, are relatively unknown. Here, we investigated responses of leaf water relations and morphological and anatomical traits of two dominant tree species (Castanopsis chinensis and Schima superba) to a six-year canopy N addition in a subtropical forest. We found that N addition increased leaf hydraulic conductivity in both species along with higher transpiration rate and less negative water potential at 50% loss of leaf hydraulic conductivity and at leaf turgor loss point. Examination of leaf morphological and anatomical traits revealed that increased leaf hydraulic efficiency was at least in part due to increased vessel diameter which also compromised the hydraulic safety under increased water stress. Moreover, reduced vessel reinforcement and increased thickness shrinkage index further interpreted the increases in leaf hydraulic vulnerability under N addition. Our results demonstrated that N deposition may lead to increases of plant water loss to the atmosphere as well as tree vulnerability to drought.