Find in Library

Leaf structural and physiological traits, nutrients, and other functional properties reflect the ability of plants to self-regulate and adapt to the environment. Species diversity can positively affect plant growth by improving the habitat, and offers mutual interspecies benefits. Therefore, optimizing the types of plants grown in a specific area is conducive to achieving sustainable development goals for plant growth. In this study, companion planting of <i>Zanthoxylum planispinum</i> ‘dintanensis’ (hereafter <i>Z. planispinum</i>) with <i>Prunus salicina</i> Lindl., <i>Sophora tonkinensis</i> Gagnep., <i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L. and <i>Lonicera japonica</i> Thunb. was investigated, along with a monoculture <i>Z. planispinum</i> plantation. The effect of different planting combinations on the adaptive mechanisms of <i>Z. planispinum</i> and its response to the soil was explored. These results revealed that <i>Z. planispinum</i> preferred the slow growth strategy of small specific leaf area, high leaf water content, and high chlorophyll content after combination with <i>P. salicina</i>. Conversely, after combination with <i>S. tonkinensis</i>, <i>Z. planispinum</i> exhibited a fast growth strategy. Combination with <i>A. hypogaea</i> enabled <i>Z. planispinum</i> to adopt a transition from slow to fast growth. <i>Z. planispinum</i> regulated its economy of growth through multiple functional trait combinations, indicating that planting combinations impacted its adaptive strategies. The adaptability of <i>Z. planispinum</i> in combination with <i>P. salicina</i>, <i>L. japonica</i>, <i>A. hypogaea</i> and <i>S. tonkinensis</i> decreased in turn, with only the adaptability of <i>Z. planispinum</i> + <i>S. tonkinensis</i> lower than that of the pure forest. Leaf functional traits were jointly influenced by soil water content, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), MB nitrogen (N), MB phosphorus (P), available N, total P and available calcium (C:N:P). The main contributors were soil water content, the different component levels and stoichiometry of elements and the MB. The results demonstrated that companion planting can promote or inhibit the growth of <i>Z. planispinum</i> by adjusting its functional traits.