The vertical and horizontal distribution of roots in northern hardwood stands of varying age

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 450-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth D Yanai ◽  
Byung B Park ◽  
Steven P Hamburg

Coring methods cannot reveal the distribution of roots with depth in rocky soil, and fine roots are typically sampled without regard to the location of trees. We used quantitative soil pits to describe rooting patterns with soil depth and distance to trees in northern hardwood stands. We sited three 0.5 m2 quantitative soil pits in each of three young (19–27 years) and three older (56–69 years) stands developed after clear-cutting. Live roots were divided into diameter classes delimited at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 100 mm; dead roots were not distinguished by size. Mean total live-root biomass was 2900 ± 500 g·m–2 in older stands and 1500 ± 400 g·m–2 in young stands. The root mass in the 2–20 mm class was 2.7 times greater in the older stands (p = 0.03); fine-root (<2 mm) biomass was 1.5 times greater (p = 0.12), suggesting that fine-root biomass continues to increase past the age of canopy closure in this forest type. Root biomass density declined with soil depth, with the finest roots (<0.5 mm) declining most steeply; roots were found at low densities well into the C horizon. We analyzed root biomass density as a function of the influence of nearby trees (represented as the sum of basal area divided by the distance from the pit) and found that fine as well as coarse roots reflected this influence. In systems where this is the case, root measurements should be made with attention to patterns of tree distribution.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maša Zorana Ostrogović Sever ◽  
Doroteja Dimoski ◽  
Mislav Anić ◽  
Hrvoje Marjanović

&lt;p&gt;Fine root biomass (FRB) is a small but important forest ecosystem pool due to its direct role in ecosystem functioning through belowground carbon and soil nutrient cycling. At the global scale there is evidence that FRB correlates with meteorological parameters, e.g. precipitation and air temperature. Moving from global to regional and local scales other environmental parameters, primarily related to site soil characteristics, become more important.&lt;br&gt;In this research, we investigated which soil parameters are important as drivers of fine root biomass in three different biogeographical regions in Croatia, namely the Continental, the Alpine and the Mediterranean. &amp;#160;We collected data on soil and site characteristics at 242 locations. Soil parameters include bulk density, texture, pH and C, N and P content, while site parameters were latitude, longitude, elevation, precipitation, air temperature and forest type (Coniferous, Broadleaves, and Maquis/Garigues). Fine root biomass was estimated from soil samples collected at 2-8 positions at each location. Soil was sampled down to 30 cm depth in the mineral layer with a split-tube sampler, and analysed for three depths, i.e. 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm depth.&lt;br&gt;Across entire dataset, FRB was affected by precipitation, elevation, forest type, soil depth, and soil C/P and N/P relations. Moving down to each biogeographical region separately, a stronger effect of soil phosphorus was observed for the Mediterranean region.&lt;/p&gt;


2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 502-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jaloviar ◽  
L. Bakošová ◽  
S. Kucbel ◽  
J. Vencurik

The fine root biomass represents 3,372 kg/ha in the intermediate stage of the beech virgin forest with different admixture of goat willow, where the vast majority of this biomass is located in the uppermost mineral soil layer 0–10 cm. The variability of the fine root biomass calculated from 35 sample points represents approximately 90% of the mean value and reaches the highest value within the humus layer. The total fine root length investigated in 10 cm thick soil layers decreases with increasing soil depth. A significant linear relationship between the fine root length (calculated per 1 cm thick soil layer and 1 m<sup>2</sup> of stand area) and the soil depth was confirmed, although the correlation is rather weak. The number of root tips decreases with increasing soil depth faster than the root length. As the number of tips per 1 cm of root length remains in the finest diameter class without significant changes, the reason is above all a decreased proportion of the finest root class (diameter up to 0.5 mm) from the total fine root length within the particular soil layer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai ◽  
Tej Narayan Mandal ◽  
Tilak Prasad Gautam

The present study was conducted to understand the effect of altitude on the nutrient concentration, nutrient stock, and uptake in the fine root of the Terai Sal forest (TSF) and Hill Sal forest (HSF) in eastern Nepal. Annual mean fine root biomass in 0-30 cm soil depth was found higher in HSF (6.27 Mg ha-1) than TSF (5.05 Mg ha-1). Conversely, fine root production was higher in TSF (4.8 Mg ha-1 y-1) than HSF (4.12 Mg ha-1 y-1). Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in fine roots were slightly higher in TSF than HSF. Nutrient concentration in fine roots of smaller size (<2 mm diameter) was nearly 1.2 times greater than that of larger size (2–5 mm diameter) in both forests. In HSF total stock of different nutrients (kg ha-1) in fine root was 55.62 N, 4.99 P, and 20.15 K whereas, these values were 49.49 N, 4.14 P, and 19.27 K only in TSF. However, total nutrient uptake (kg ha-1y-1) by fine root (both size classes) was greater in TSF (48.5 N, 4.3 P, and 18.6 K) than HSF (36.9 N, 3.3 P, and 13.5 K). The variability in fine root nutrient dynamics between these two forests was explained by the differences in fine root biomass and production which were influenced by the combined effect of varied altitude and season. The fine root, as being a greater source of organic matter, the information on its nutrient dynamics is inevitable for the management of soil nutrients in the forest ecosystem.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachita Pandey ◽  
Surendra Singh Bargali ◽  
Kiran Bargali

Abstract Fine roots (≤ 2 mm of diameter) contribute diminutive fractions of the overall tree biomass but are highly zestful and functionally remarkable component for assessing forest carbon and nutrient budgets. This study assessed how tree girth influenced fine root biomass (FRB), production (FRP) and turnover rate (FRT) in sub tropical sal forest.Four sites (S1, S2, S3, S4) were established in the bhabhar region of Nainital district, Uttarakhand, India within an elevational range of 405m and 580m. On the basis of girth size, sal trees were categorized in five girth size classes. Fine roots were sampled seasonally to a depth of 60 cm and divided into 3 layers (0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm).FRB was significantly affected by tree girth size (p< 0.05) while FRP and FRT showed insignificant effect. FRB was higher in lower girth classes (A-C) as compared to higher girth classes (D-E).Seasonal variation of FRB in all girth sizes showed a keen resemblance as the standing FRB reached pinnacle during rainy season and reached bottom-line in the winter season. Maximum FRB was reported for uppermost organo-mineralic soil depth (0-20 cm) at 1 m distance from tree bole and decreased with increasing soil depth and distance from tree bole while FRT showed a reverse trend. The present study will provide a holistic outlook on variations in FRB, FRP and FRT and the impact of edaphic characteristics and tree girth on fine root dynamics with respect to the studied forest stands.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 882-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Li ◽  
Helge Bruelheide ◽  
Thomas Scholten ◽  
Bernhard Schmid ◽  
Zhenkai Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Tree species richness has been reported to have positive effects on aboveground biomass and productivity, but little is known about its effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. Methods To close this gap, we made use of a large biodiversity–ecosystem functioning experiment in subtropical China (BEF-China) and tested whether tree species richness enhanced SOC accumulation. In 2010 and 2015, vertically layered soil samples were taken to a depth of 30 cm from 57 plots ranging in tree species richness from one to eight species. Least squares-based linear models and analysis of variance were used to investigate tree diversity effects. Structural equation modeling was used to explore hypothesized indirect relationships between tree species richness, leaf-litter biomass, leaf-litter carbon content, fine-root biomass and SOC accumulation. Important Findings Overall, SOC content decreased by 5.7 and 1.1 g C kg−1 in the top 0–5 and 5–10 cm soil depth, respectively, but increased by 1.0 and 1.5 g C kg−1 in the deeper 10–20 and 20–30 cm soil depth, respectively. Converting SOC content to SOC stocks using measures of soil bulk density showed that tree species richness did enhance SOC accumulation in the different soil depths. These effects could only to some extent be explained by leaf-litter biomass and not by fine-root biomass. Our findings suggest that carbon storage in new forests in China could be increased by planting more diverse stands, with the potential to contribute to mitigation of climate warming.


CERNE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio Viera ◽  
Mauro Valdir Schumacher ◽  
Edenilson Vieira Liberalesso ◽  
Roque Rodríguez-Soalleiro

The aim of this study was to evaluate fine root biomass density (FRBD) in mixed and monospecific stands of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla and Acacia mearnsii(black wattle) in Bagé-RS (Southern Brazil). An experimental trial was installed with three treatments: 100% Eucalyptus (100E); 100% Acacia mearnsii (100A); 50% Eucalyptus + 50% Acacia mearnsii (50E:50A). The trial was carried using a randomized block design with three replicates. The fine root (&le; 2.0mm) biomass density was determined 8 and 18 months after planting the trees. Soil samples were collected, with a cylindrical extractor auger (d = 7.0 cm), from four depths (0 - 5, 5 - 10, 10 - 20 and 20 - 30 cm) at each sampling point. After 8 months, the FRBD distribution was the same in both species and in all soil layers, reaching the maximum projection at 125 cm from the tree trunk. After 18 months, the root biomass density was higher in the monospecific black wattle stand than in the monospecific eucalyptus stand and the mixed stand. The fine root biomass density was highest in the 5 - 10 cm layer close to the trunk, for the planting row spacing, the planting line and the diagonals between two planting lines. Knowledge about fine root growth and distribution in soil at initial stages of stand development may help in decision-making for intensive forestry, thus ensuring more efficient use of soil resources.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 1939-1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Major ◽  
Kurt H. Johnsen ◽  
Debby C. Barsi ◽  
Moira Campbell

Total belowground biomass, soil C, and N mass were measured in plots of 32-year-old black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.) from four full-sib families studied previously for drought tolerance and differential productivity on a dry and a wet site. Stump root biomass was greater on the wet than on the dry site; however, combined fine and coarse root biomass was greater on the dry than on the wet site, resulting in no site root biomass differences. There were no site differences in root distribution by soil depth. Drought-tolerant families had greater stump root biomass and allocated relatively less to combined coarse and fine roots than drought-intolerant families. Fine roots (<2 mm) made up 10.9% and 50.2% of the belowground C and N biomass. Through 50 cm soil depth, mean total belowground C mass was 187.2 Mg·ha–1, of which 8.9%, 3.4%, 0.7%, and 87.0% were from the stump root, combined fine and coarse roots, necromass, and soil, respectively. Here, we show that belowground C sequestration generally mirrors (mostly from stump roots) aboveground growth, and thus, trends in genetic and genetic × environment productivity effects result in similar effects on belowground C sequestration. Thus, tree improvement may well be an important avenue to help stem increases in atmospheric CO2.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 959-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-David Moore ◽  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Daniel Houle ◽  
Claude Camiré

The impact of selective cutting (6 and 8 years after treatment) and strip clear-cutting (12 and 13 years after treatment) on abundance and diversity of carabid beetles was evaluated in a northern hardwood forest of Quebec, Canada. A total of 1078 individuals belonging to 14 species were captured with pitfall traps from June to September 1996 during 2568 day-trap. Abundance of Synuchus impunctatus Say was significantly higher in clear-cut compared with uncut control strips. There were no within-species differences between selectively cut and uncut plots. None of these two silvicultural systems had any significant impacts on species diversity and richness 6–13 years after treatment. Although we observed an effect of strip clear-cutting on the abundance of S. impunctatus in this northern hardwood forest, the discrepancy between the response of carabids to forest disturbance in this study compared with other studies in different ecological regions suggests that the same carabid beetle species cannot be used as an indicator of forest disturbance over a large region. Our results suggest the use of carabid beetles as a disturbance indicator at the ecological-type scale (relatively similar soil and forest type) in a given region.


Nematology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imelda Kashaija ◽  
Beverley McIntyre ◽  
Henry Ssali ◽  
Fred Kizito

Abstract Banana root distribution, nematodes, and necrosis were assessed in banana (Musa AAA) monoculture and banana-legume intercrops in Uganda, with the aim of establishing their relationship in order to enhance decision making with regard to management practices and sampling for nematode population and damage assessment. The intercrops had no effect on the vertical or the horizontal distribution of banana roots and nematodes. Approximately 90% of the root biomass was in the upper 0.3 m and none was below 0.7 m. Within 0.5 m of the banana mat, the majority of root mass was in the surface 0.15 m, but outside this radius more were found from 0.15-0.3 m. This spatial distribution suggests that fertiliser applications would be most effectively applied within a 0.5 m radius of the banana mat. Nematode species and root necrosis were uniformly distributed horizontally on the roots; vertical distribution differed among species. Significantly larger populations of Radopholus similis were found in the upper 0.3 m; none was present below 0.5 m. Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Pratylenchus goodeyi were found throughout the rooting profile; H. multicinctus density being high in the upper 0.5 m, while P.goodeyi was generally low throughout. More root necrosis was noted in the upper 0.3 m, coinciding with the greatest population density of R. similis and the greatest amount of root biomass. The spatial distribution of nematodes indicates that root sampling and nematicide application should be concentrated within 0.5 m of the banana mat.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shun Liu ◽  
Da Luo ◽  
Hongguo Yang ◽  
Zuomin Shi ◽  
Qianli Liu ◽  
...  

Fine roots play a crucial role in plant survival potential and biogeochemical cycles of forest ecosystems. Subalpine areas of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have experienced different forest re-establishment methods after clear-cutting primary forest. However, little is known about fine root dynamics of these forests originating from artificial, natural and their combined processes. Here, we determined fine root traits (biomass, production and turnover rate) of three subalpine forest types, i.e., Picea asperata Mast. plantation forest (artificial planting, PF), natural secondary forest (natural without assisted regeneration, NF) and P. asperata broadleaved mixed forest (natural regeneration after artificial planting, MF) composed of planted P. asperata and naturally regenerated native broadleaved species. At the soil depth of 0–30 cm, fine root biomass was the highest in PF and fine root production was the highest in NF, and both were the lowest in MF. Fine root dynamics of the three forest types tended to decrease with soil depth, with larger variations in PF. Fine root biomass and production were the highest in PF in 0–10 cm soil layer but were not significantly different among forest types in the lower soil layers. There were positive correlations between these parameters and aboveground biomass across forest types in soil layer of 0–10 cm, but not in the lower soil layers. Fine root turnover rate was generally higher in mixed forests than in monocultures at all soil depths. In conclusion, the natural regeneration procedure after clear-cutting in the subalpine region of western Sichuan seems to be superior from the perspective of fine root dynamics.


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