Effects of elevated CO2 concentration and nitrogen addition on the chemical compositions, construction cost, and payback time of subtropical trees in Cd-contaminated mesocosm soil.

Rising atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and nitrogen (N) deposition are changing plant growth, physiological characteristics, and chemical compositions; however, few studies have explored such impacts in a heavy-metal-contaminated environment. In this study, we conducted an open-top chamber experiment to explore the impacts of two years of elevated atmospheric [CO2] and N addition on the growth, physiological characteristics, and chemical compositions of five subtropical tree species in a cadmium (Cd)-contaminated environment. Results showed that N addition significantly increased concentration of leaf N and protein in five tree species, and also decreased payback time (PBT) and leaf C:N ratios and increased tree relative height growth rate (RGR-H) and basal diameter growth rate (RGR-B) in Liquidambar formosana and Syzygium hainanense. Elevated [CO2] increased leaf maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax) and concentration of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) and shortened PBT to offset the negative effect of Cd contamination on RGR-B in A. auriculiformis. The combined effects of elevated [CO2] and N addition did not exceed their separate effects on RGR-H and RGR-B in Castanopsis hystrix and Cinnamomum camphora. N addition significantly increased the concentration of leaf Cd by 162.1% and 338.0%, and plant Cd bio-concentration factor (BCF) by 464% and 861% in C. hystrix, and C. camphora, respectively, compared to Cd addition. Among the five tree species, the decreases in PBT and the increases in Amax, RGR-B, and concentrations of leaf protein in response to N and Cd addition under elevated [CO2] were average higher 86.7% in A. auriculiformis than other species, suggesting that the mitigation of the negative effects of Cd pollution by elevated [CO2] and N addition among five species was species-specific. Overall, we concluded that N addition and elevated [CO2] reduced Cd toxicity, and increased the growth rate in A. auriculiformis, S. hainanense and L. formosana, while maintained the growth rate in C. hystrix, and C. camphora by differently increasing photosynthetic rate, altering the leaf chemical compositions, and shortening PBT.