Responses to defoliation of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Sophora japonica L. is soil water condition dependent

W1D0:
75% of field capacity × undefoliation treatment;

W1D1:
75% of field capacity × 50% leaf defoliation treatment;
W1D2:
75% of field capacity × 100% leaf defoliation treatment;
W2D0:
55% of field capacity × undefoliation treatment;
W2D1:
55% of field capacity × 50% leaf defoliation treatment;
W2D2:
55% of field capacity × 100% leaf defoliation treatment;
W3D0:
35% of field capacity × undefoliation treatment;
W3D1:
35% of field capacity × 50% leaf defoliation treatment;
W3D2:
35% of field capacity × 100% leaf defoliation treatment;
0,
1, 2 and 3: before defoliation, 2 weeks, 5 weeks and 8 weeks after defoliation.
Amax: maximum net
photosynthetic rate (μmol m−2 s−1);
E:
transpiration rate (mmol m-2 s-1);
Gs:
stomatal conductance (mmol m-2 s-1);
chl
a/b: ratio of chlorophyll a and b (mg g-1);
Leaf
NSC concentration: leaf non-structural carbohydrates concentration (%);
Stem
NSC concentration: stem non-structural carbohydrates concentration (%);
Root
NSC concentration: root non-structural carbohydrates concentration (%);
TB:
total biomass (g);
LB:
leaf biomass (g);
LMR:
leaf mass ratio;
SMR:
stem mass ratio;
RMR:
root mass ratio;
R/S:
root to shoot mass ratio;

RGRH:
relative growth rate in the height (cm d-1).
Defoliation clearly affects biomass allocation of the two species, but not leaf physiology. Considering the carbon or sink limitation, the growth of S. japonica and R. pseudoacacia may be limited by future global climate change scenarios.