Silicon supply promotes differences in growth and C:N:P stoichiometry between bamboo and tree saplings

BACKGROUND: Si can be important for the growth, functioning, and stoichiometric regulation of nutrients for high-Si-accumulating bamboo. However, other trees do not actively take up dissolved silicic acid [Si(OH)(4)] from the soil, likely because they have fewer or no specific Si transporters in their roots. It is unclear what causes differential growth and C:N:P stoichiometry between bamboo and other trees across levels of Si supply. RESULTS: Si supply increased the relative growth rate of height and basal diameter of bamboo saplings, likely by increasing its net photosynthetic rate and ratios of N:P. Moreover, a high concentration of Si supply decreased the ratio of C:Si in bamboo leaves due to a partial substitution of C with Si in organic compounds. We also found that there was a positive correlation between leaf Si concentration and its transpiration rate in tree saplings. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that Si supply can decrease the ratio of C:Si in bamboo leaves and increase the ratio of N:P without altering nutrient status or the N:P ratio of tree saplings. Our findings provide experimental data to assess the different responses between bamboo and other trees in terms of growth, photosynthesis, and C:N:P stoichiometry. These results have implications for assessing the growth and competition between high-Si-accumulating bamboo and other plants when Si availability is altered in ecosystems during bamboo expansion. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-023-04443-0.