Influence of the size of clonal fragment on the nitrogen turnover processes in a bamboo ecosystem

Abstract

Different sizes of clonal fragments contain various number of ramets with different spacer lengths, which strongly affects the redistribution of photosynthetic assimilates. Although clonal integration significantly affects rhizosphere processes via microbial enzymes under heterogeneous conditions, the effects of clonal fragment size (ramet number and spacer length) on rhizosphere N turnover processes remain poorly understood. Here, we sampled clonal fragments of Phyllostachys bissetii with different ramet numbers and spacer lengths to determine the relative effects of clonal integration and fragment size on rhizosphere processes and resource availability. We found that clonal integration had positive effects on the C and N availability of shaded ramets in clonal fragments with different ramet numbers, owing to the large resource storage in the fragment. However, it only promoted the dissolved organic carbon of the shaded ramets in clonal fragments with different spacer lengths. Results of regression analyses indicated that the response ratios of the soil variables of the shaded ramets first increased when the spacer length was about less than 30 cm and then decreased when the spacer became longer (about >30 cm), suggesting a cost–benefit tradeoff in the fragment. The contribution of the size of clonal fragment to the soil N turnover process was higher than that of clonal integration, whereas its contribution to soil C availability had the opposite effect. These results further revealed the mechanism of the size of clonal fragment in affecting the rhizosphere processes of stressed ramets, which is critical for the adaptation of P. bissetii to stressed habitats and further bamboo ecosystem N turnover under climate change.