ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Elevation Effects on Growth Pattern and Resource
Allocation of Picea crassifolia in Qilian Mountains,
Northwest China
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1
College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University,
No. 967, Anning East Road, Lanzhou 730070, China
2
Geography Department, Xinzhou Teachers University, No.10 Heping West Street, Xinzhou 034000, China
Submission date: 2021-06-28
Final revision date: 2021-09-13
Acceptance date: 2021-09-21
Online publication date: 2022-01-12
Publication date: 2022-03-22
Corresponding author
Liang Jiao
1College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, No.967, Anning East Road, Lanzhou 730070, China, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(2):1791-1803
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ABSTRACT
Environmental variances in temperature, moisture, and soil fertility caused by elevation gradients
affect tree growth. However, the variability in regional climate and differences in tree physiology
give rise to much uncertainty regarding the effects of elevation on tree growth patterns and resource
allocation. In order to clarify the growth-limiting factors and physiological mechanisms of trees at
different elevations, we selected Picea crassifolia (Qinghai spruce) at high (3300 m), middle (2850 m)
and low (2585 m) elevations to analyze the interannual trends of tree radial growth and the resource
allocation trade-offs involving nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC). The results were as follows:
1) the limiting factor for the growth of Qinghai spruce changed from growth limitation to carbon
limitation with an increase in elevation; this was supported by the higher concentrations of NSC and its
components in the whole plant and all tissues at middle and low elevations compared to high elevation,
while the basal area increment (BAI) showed a decreasing trend at middle and low elevations and an
increasing trend at high elevation. 2) The greatest concentrations of NSC were found in the leaves
and thick roots at all three elevations, but soluble sugar (SS) and starch (ST) mainly accumulated in
overground tissues (leaves and trunks) and underground tissues (fine and thick roots), respectively. 3)
The ratios of soluble sugar to starch (SS/ST) at high elevations were significantly greater than those at
middle and low elevations, indicating that more carbon was used for growth at high elevations, while
more carbon was used for long-term energy storage at middle and low elevations. The results elucidate
the growth constraints of Qinghai spruce at different elevations and the resource allocation trade-off
mechanism, and offer reference points for ecological adaptation theory and conservation measures for
trees at different elevations.