Water transport time lag in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum(SPAC)significantly impacts ecosystem hydrology and plant water relations,yet the relative contributions of different segments(soil vs.plant)to the total ...Water transport time lag in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum(SPAC)significantly impacts ecosystem hydrology and plant water relations,yet the relative contributions of different segments(soil vs.plant)to the total lag and their response mechanisms under drought remain unclear.This study aimed to quantitatively partition the total SPAC water transport time lag through controlled experiments,identify the dominant component driving the drought response,and compare coexisting tree species with contrasting hydraulic strategies:Platycladus orientalis and Quercus variabilis.We conducted potted plant isotope(δ^(2)H)labeling experiments under normal water and drought stress treatments for both species.Using high-frequency isotope sampling and synchronous sap flow monitoring,we quantified the total water transport time lag from the soil surface to canopy branches(T_(iso),based on initial isotope arrival)and the internal plant transport time lag(T_(sap),based on sap flow path integration).An independent laboratory soil mixing experiment determined the baseline soil mixing time lag(T_(mix)),and the lag associated with soil infiltration and root uptake initiation was estimated(T_(soil)=T_(iso)−T_(sap)).The physical mixing of old and new soil water introduced a baseline time lag(T_(mix))of approximately 8-12 h.Under normal water conditions,the internal plant lag(T_(sap):37-40 h)constituted the major part of the total lag(T_(iso):43-46 h),with the estimated soil process lag(T_(soil))being relatively short(3-9 h).Drought stress significantly prolonged the total time lag.Crucially,this increase was primarily driven by a dramatic increase in the internal plant transport time lag(T_(sap)):T_(sap) increased by 77 h(193%)for P.orientalis and 33 h(89%)for Q.variabilis.In contrast,the estimated soil process lag(T_(soil))showed minimal increase(or even decreased)under drought.Consequently,the increase in T_(sap) almost entirely accounted for the prolongation of T_(iso)(T_(iso) increased by 188%for P.orientalis and 63%for Q.variabilis).Furthermore,the shallow-rooted P.orientalis was more sensitive to drought in terms of internal time lag increase compared to the deep-rooted Q.variabilis.Our direct experimental evidence demonstrates that internal plant physiological and hydraulic processes,rather than soil processes,dominantly regulate the response of total SPAC water transport time lag to drought stress.Tree species with different hydraulic strategies exhibit distinct time lag response mechanisms.These findings challenge traditional perspectives potentially overemphasizing soil limitations and highlight the critical importance of understanding internal plant dynamics for accurately predicting the temporal responses of ecosystem water relations.展开更多
基金financial supports from the National Science Foundation of China(42277062,41977149 and 42230714).
文摘Water transport time lag in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum(SPAC)significantly impacts ecosystem hydrology and plant water relations,yet the relative contributions of different segments(soil vs.plant)to the total lag and their response mechanisms under drought remain unclear.This study aimed to quantitatively partition the total SPAC water transport time lag through controlled experiments,identify the dominant component driving the drought response,and compare coexisting tree species with contrasting hydraulic strategies:Platycladus orientalis and Quercus variabilis.We conducted potted plant isotope(δ^(2)H)labeling experiments under normal water and drought stress treatments for both species.Using high-frequency isotope sampling and synchronous sap flow monitoring,we quantified the total water transport time lag from the soil surface to canopy branches(T_(iso),based on initial isotope arrival)and the internal plant transport time lag(T_(sap),based on sap flow path integration).An independent laboratory soil mixing experiment determined the baseline soil mixing time lag(T_(mix)),and the lag associated with soil infiltration and root uptake initiation was estimated(T_(soil)=T_(iso)−T_(sap)).The physical mixing of old and new soil water introduced a baseline time lag(T_(mix))of approximately 8-12 h.Under normal water conditions,the internal plant lag(T_(sap):37-40 h)constituted the major part of the total lag(T_(iso):43-46 h),with the estimated soil process lag(T_(soil))being relatively short(3-9 h).Drought stress significantly prolonged the total time lag.Crucially,this increase was primarily driven by a dramatic increase in the internal plant transport time lag(T_(sap)):T_(sap) increased by 77 h(193%)for P.orientalis and 33 h(89%)for Q.variabilis.In contrast,the estimated soil process lag(T_(soil))showed minimal increase(or even decreased)under drought.Consequently,the increase in T_(sap) almost entirely accounted for the prolongation of T_(iso)(T_(iso) increased by 188%for P.orientalis and 63%for Q.variabilis).Furthermore,the shallow-rooted P.orientalis was more sensitive to drought in terms of internal time lag increase compared to the deep-rooted Q.variabilis.Our direct experimental evidence demonstrates that internal plant physiological and hydraulic processes,rather than soil processes,dominantly regulate the response of total SPAC water transport time lag to drought stress.Tree species with different hydraulic strategies exhibit distinct time lag response mechanisms.These findings challenge traditional perspectives potentially overemphasizing soil limitations and highlight the critical importance of understanding internal plant dynamics for accurately predicting the temporal responses of ecosystem water relations.
