Aims Plant roots play a critical role in the uptake of nutrients, and nitrogen (N) absorption is considered as the first step and a pivotal process in N metabolism of plants. Our objective was to better understand the absorption of two major inorganic N forms (NH 4 + and NO 3 -) in subalpine coniferous forests under global warming. was promoted by NO 3 supply only in P. asperata roots under experimental warming.