Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2016, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 595-602.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2016.04.013

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Effects of Decomposing Walnut (Juglans regia) Leaf Litter on Growth, Photosynthesis and Resistance Physiology of Three Recipient Plants

ZHANG Ru-yi1,2, HU Hong-ling1, HU Ting-xing1, YANG Li-mei1, SHU Lan1, RUAN Ruo-yu1   

  1. 1. College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;
    2. Neijiang City Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Neijiang 641000, China
  • Received:2015-06-25 Online:2016-07-25 Published:2016-07-26

Abstract:

A pot experiment was conducted to study effects of decomposing walnut leaf litter on growth, photosynthesis and resistant physiology of three recipient crops, i.e. radish (Raphanus sativus), mustard (Brassica juncea) and Chinese cabbage (Brasicca pekinensis), and to compare the three crops in sensibility to allelopathy of the litter, with a view to choosing a crop suitable for interplantation with walnut trees so that ideal income can be obtained. The experiment was designed to have four litter application rates, i. e. Treatment T1 (4.5 g·pot-1), Treatment T2 (9.0 g·pot-1), Treatment T3 (18.0 g·pot-1) and CK (0 g·pot-1). Results show that: (1) The litter during its decomposing process displayed inhibiting effect on all the growth-related indices of the three recipient plants, and the effect increased with rising litter application rate, but declined with the decomposition process going on; (2) On D80 (80 days after application of the litter), it was found that the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid of the recipient crops in the treatments were significantly lower than their respective ones in CK, and so were the net photosynthetic rates (Pn), stomatal conductances (Gs) and transpiration rates (Rt) of the recipient plants; (3) The content of MDA in leaves of the recipient plants were higher in the treatments than in CK (P<0.05). The activities of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were inhibited in all the treatments, while the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was promoted. The content of soluble sugar (SS) increased, but the content of soluble protein (SP) decreased; and (4) The three recipient plants displayed an order of cabbage > radish > mustard in terms of sensitivity to the allelopathic inhibition of decomposing walnut leaf litter. Comprehensive analysis of all the indices shows that during the initial period of decomposition (about 80 days), the litter displayed strong allelopathic effects on all the three recipient plants. Growth of the recipient crops was inhibited by the litter through oxidative damage, and hinderance of synthesis and photosynthesis of chlorophyll, but with the decomposition going on, the litter released less allelopathic substances and as a result, the inhibitive effect of the litter weakened.

Key words: walnut, leaf litter, allelopathy, recipient plant, photosynthetic characteristic, resistant physiology

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