Optimal water and fertilizer applications improve growth of Tamarix chinensis in a coal mine degraded area under arid conditions

In this study we specifically addressed how different combinations of water (W), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) might affect morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of a native shrub species, Tamarix chinensis, grown on coal mine spoils. Our results show that under greenhouse conditions the application of moderate-to-high doses of W, N and P considerably improved growth-associated parameters (i.e. plant height, stemdiameter, dryweight), as well as gas-exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigment contents and leafwater status of T. chinensis. Under field conditions high W and low N, P doses led to significant increases in plant growth-associated traits, gas-exchange parameters and leaf water status. Our findings suggest that achieving optimal rates ofW, N and P application is crucial for promoting the ecological restoration of coal-mined areas with T. chinensis under arid environmental conditions.