Abstract
To evaluate the biological and physiological response of Picea koraiensis Nakai to elevated $CO_2$ and nitrogen.3-year old seedlings were planted in an ambient and 700 ppm $CO_2$ at low (2mM $NH_4NO_3$) or high nitrogen (16mM $NH_4NO_3$) supplying treatments for 3 months. Photosynthetic parameters were measured monthly. Seedlings were harvested at monthly intervals and growth parameters of root system, stem and needle fractions were evaluated. The result showed that height of the seedlings grown at both of elevated $CO_2Xhigh$ nitrogen and elevated CO2×low nitrogen supplying treatments increased significantly more than that of at ambient CO2 treatments. Seedlings grown at elevated $CO_2Xhigh$ nitrogen produced more root biomass than at elevated $CO_2Xlow$ nitrogen and ambient $CO_2Xhigh$ nitrogen treatments. This result suggested that the root growth response of Picea koraiensis seedlings was greater in elevated $CO_2{\times}high$ nitrogen regime, which is very important for carbon sequestration in soil. $A_{max}$ of the seedlings grown at elevated $CO_2Xhigh$ nitrogen increased during the three months significantly, and $A_{max}$ of the seedlings grown at the other three treatments decreased significantly, suggesting that the interaction between elevated $CO_2$ and high nitrogen supplying stimulates the $A_{max}$ of Picea koraiensis. $A_{max}$ of the seedlings grown at elevated $CO_2Xlow$ nitrogen showed higher than other three treatments in the first month of the experiment, but decreased in succedent two months, suggesting that elevated $CO_2$ promotes the photosynthesis of the seedlings. However long term growth in elevated $CO_2Xlow$ nitrogen supplying condition resulted in an acclimatory decreased in leaf photosynthesis.