Fig 1.
Performance of birch and larch seedlings cultured in heterogeneous and homogeneous nutrient environments in pots with drought and well-watered conditions.
Fig 2.
Net growth in height (A), root-collar diameter (RCD) (B), and biomass (C) in birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings subjected to drought vs well-watered conditions. Bars indicate standard deviations. Different letters indicate significant difference of raw transformed data (see S1 Table) according to Duncan test at 0.05 level. Lower case letters stand for differences for birch seedlings and capital letters for larch seedlings.
Table 1.
F values from Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of nutrient distribution pattern (P), water condition (W), and their interaction (P × W) on growth, biomass, and nitrogen (N) concentration in shoots of birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings.
Fig 3.
Nitrogen (N) concentration in shoots of birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings subjected to drought vs well-watered conditions in heterogeneous or homogeneous nutrient patterns.
Bars indicate standard deviations. Different letters indicate significant difference of raw transformed data (see S1 Table) according to Duncan test at 0.05 level. Lower case letters stand for differences for birch seedlings and capital letters for larch seedlings.
Fig 4.
Fine root length (A, B), surface-area (C, D), tip-number (E, F), and biomass (G, H) in birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings subjected to heterogeneous or homogeneous nutrient patterns (left) or in drought vs well-watered conditions (right). Bars indicate standard deviations. Different letters indicate significant difference of raw transformed data (see S1 Table) according to Duncan test at 0.05 level. Lower case letters stand for differences for birch seedlings and capital letters for larch seedlings.
Table 2.
F values from analysis of variance (ANOVA) of patchy nutrient availability (PA), water condition (W), and their interaction (PA × W) on morphology, biomass, and nitrogen (N) concentration in roots of birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings.
Fig 5.
Nitrogen (N) concentration in roots of birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings subjected to heterogeneous or homogeneous nutrient patterns (top) or in drought vs well-watered conditions (bottom).
Bars indicate standard deviations. Different letters indicate significant difference of raw transformed data (see S1 Table) according to Duncan test at 0.05 level. Lower case letters stand for differences for birch seedlings and capital letters for larch seedlings.
Fig 6.
Fine root mass difference (FRMD) in birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings subjected to drought vs well-watered conditions in heterogeneous or homogeneous nutrient patterns.
Bars indicate standard deviations. Different letters indicate significant difference of raw transformed data (see S1 Table) according to Duncan test at 0.05 level. Lower case letters stand for differences for birch seedlings and capital letters for larch seedlings.
Table 3.
F values from analysis of variance (ANOVA) of nutrient distribution pattern (P), water condition (W), and their interaction (P × W) on variables assessing root foraging plasticity and nutrient utilization in birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings.
Fig 7.
Nutrient uptake per fine root length (NUPL) and per fine root mass (NUPM) and N utilization index (NUI) in birch (Betula Platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings subjected to heterogeneous vs homogeneous nutrient patterns in drought or well-watered conditions.
Bars indicate standard deviations. Different letters indicate significant difference of raw transformed data (see S1 Table) according to Duncan test at 0.05 level. Lower case letters stand for differences for birch seedlings and capital letters for larch seedlings.