Responses of the seedlings of five dominant tree species in Changbai Mountain to soil water stress

Soil water stress was studied on the potted seedlings of five dominant tree species (Pinus koraienes Sieb. et Zucc.,Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.,Juglans mandshurica Maxim,Tilia amurensis Rupr. andQuercus mongolica Fisch. ex Turcz) from the broadleaved/Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain. Leaf growth, water transpiration and photosynthesis were compared for each species under three soil moisture conditions: 85%–100% (high water, CK), 65%–85% (Medium water, MW) and 45%–65% (low water, LW) of 37.4% water-holding capacity in field. The results showed that the characteristic of typical drought-resistance of the leaves is significantly developed. The net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency ofFraxinus mandshurica were higher in MW than those in CK. But for the other four species, the net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency in CK were lower than those in MW and LW. The transpiration rate responding to soil moistures varied from species to species.