Conifer fine root and mycorrhizal root biomass within the forest floors of Douglas-fir stands of different ages and site productivities

Live and dead conifer fine root (≤2 mm) and mycorrhizal root biomasses were determined in the forest floors of 16 stands of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Dougl.) Forbes) of low (IV) or high (II) productivity. The maximum biomass of both live conifer and mycorrhizal root biomass occurred at canopy closure in site II and IV stands. After crown closure this biomass decreased significantly in site II but not in site IV stands. During and following crown closure, site IV stands generally had a significantly higher live conifer root biomass than site II stands. Only in the 65- to 75- and 150- to 163-year age groupings of stands was a significantly higher live mycorrhizal root biomass measured in site IV than in site II stands. The proportion of dead to total conifer fine root biomass fluctuated from 13 to 56% in site II stands and from 26 to 76% in site IV stands. The percentage of total mycorrhizal roots that were dead fluctuated from 25 to 57% in site II stands and from 19 to 76% in site IV stands. Generally the highest percentage of live root tips infected by mycorrhizal fungi occurred in the 45- and 46-year-old site II stands and in the 33-, 49-, 67-, and 69-year-old site IV stands.

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Effect of earthworms on mycorrhization, root morphology and biomass of silver fir seedlings inoculated with black summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85497-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tina Unuk Nahberger ◽

Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci ◽

Hojka Kraigher ◽

Tine Grebenc

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root ◽

Abies Alba ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Root Tip ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Tuber Aestivum ◽

Root Tips ◽

Root Parameters

AbstractSpecies of the genus Tuber have gained a lot of attention in recent decades due to their aromatic hypogenous fruitbodies, which can bring high prices on the market. The tendency in truffle production is to infect oak, hazel, beech, etc. in greenhouse conditions. We aimed to show whether silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) can be an appropriate host partner for commercial mycorrhization with truffles, and how earthworms in the inoculation substrate would affect the mycorrhization dynamics. Silver fir seedlings inoculated with Tuber. aestivum were analyzed for root system parameters and mycorrhization, how earthworms affect the bare root system, and if mycorrhization parameters change when earthworms are added to the inoculation substrate. Seedlings were analyzed 6 and 12 months after spore inoculation. Mycorrhization with or without earthworms revealed contrasting effects on fine root biomass and morphology of silver fir seedlings. Only a few of the assessed fine root parameters showed statistically significant response, namely higher fine root biomass and fine root tip density in inoculated seedlings without earthworms 6 months after inoculation, lower fine root tip density when earthworms were added, the specific root tip density increased in inoculated seedlings without earthworms 12 months after inoculation, and general negative effect of earthworm on branching density. Silver fir was confirmed as a suitable host partner for commercial mycorrhization with truffles, with 6% and 35% mycorrhization 6 months after inoculation and between 36% and 55% mycorrhization 12 months after inoculation. The effect of earthworms on mycorrhization of silver fir with Tuber aestivum was positive only after 6 months of mycorrhization, while this effect disappeared and turned insignificantly negative after 12 months due to the secondary effect of grazing on ectomycorrhizal root tips.

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Litterfall and fine root biomass contribution to nutrient dynamics in second- and old-growth Douglas-fir ecosystems

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-007-9243-3 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 294 (1-2) ◽

pp. 157-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jeffrey M. Klopatek

Keyword(s):

Root Biomass ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Fine Root ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Old Growth

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Seasonal changes in mycorrhizal and fibrous-textured root biomass in 23- and 180-year-old Pacific silver fir stands in western Washington

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x80-085 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 523-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Kristiina A. Vogt ◽

Robert L. Edmonds ◽

Charles C. Grier ◽

Stephen R. Piper

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Changes ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Early Summer ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Fibrous Root ◽

Mycorrhizal Root ◽

Young Stand ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Mycorrhizal Roots

Seasonal changes in mycorrhizal and fibrous root biomass were examined in 23- and 180-year-old Abiesamabilis (Dougl.) Forbes stands. Both stands had similar patterns of change in mycorrhizal root biomass with the lowest level in the summer and highest in the fall. The fall peak of fine root biomass was the result of increased mycorrhizal and not fibrous root biomass. High levels of active mycorrhizal root biomass were measured during the winter months under a snowpack at soil temperatures of 1 °C. In both stands mycorrhizal roots comprised the largest proportion of the weight of fine roots during the winter (29%) and the lowest during the summer (2%). Except during early summer, the old stand had significantly higher levels of mycorrhizal root biomass in comparison to the young stand throughout the year.

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Conifer and Angiosperm Fine-Root Biomass in Relation to Stand Age and Site Productivity in Douglas-Fir Forests

Journal of Ecology ◽

10.2307/2260210 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 857 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Kristiina A. Vogt ◽

Daniel J. Vogt ◽

Erin E. Moore ◽

Babatunde A. Fatuga ◽

Mark R. Redlin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Stand Age ◽

Site Productivity

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Distribution and chemistry of fine roots in a white spruce – subalpine fir stand in British Columbia: implications for management

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x78-042 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 265-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

J. P. Kimmins ◽

B. C. Hawkes

Keyword(s):

Vertical Distribution ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Fine Roots ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Root Tips ◽

Subalpine Fir ◽

Chemical Content ◽

The Vertical Distribution

The vertical distribution of fine-root biomass, its chemical content, and the vertical distribution of overstory root tips were measured in a mature white spruce – subalpine fir stand (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss – Abieslasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) growing on an infertile sandy soil near Prince George, British Columbia, during July and August, 1975. The study was part of a larger project which described the biomass and chemical content of the tree and minor vegetation. The objective of the project was to provide information on nutrient losses accompanying whole-tree logging and to estimate the possible consequences of such losses for future tree production. Questions concerning the magnitude of the soil nutrient capital available to the vegetation indicated the need for information on the exploitation of the soil by the roots. This paper reports the results of an investigation of the fine roots. Living fine roots (<6.4 mm) of overstory trees and understory plants were sampled separately from 11 soil pits to an average depth of 94 cm. Overstory fine-root biomass was estimated to be about 1870 kg/ha of which 67% was in the forest floor (LFH horizon) and the Ae horizon. The average combined depth of these two horizons was only 8.3 cm, but they contained 88% of the overstory root tips sampled. The 3.3-cm-thick forest floor alone contained half of the fine-root biomass and approximately 70% of the overstory root tips. Understory fine-root biomass was estimated to be about 7880 kg/ha of which 69% was in the forest floor and the Ae horizon. The concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg generally decreased with increasing depth, while Fe and Al exhibited the opposite pattern.The marked concentration of fine-root biomass and root tips in the forest floor is interpreted as reflecting the very low nutrient status of the mineral soil on the study site. The high value of fine-root biomass for understory vegetation results from the open structure of the stand and is thought to reflect the great importance of this vegetation in nutrient cycling on the study site. The biomass data, together with root chemical concentration data, are consistent with the hypothesis that the forest floor is the major source of several of the macronutrients for the vegetation on the site.

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Estimating Douglas-fir fine root biomass and production from living bark and starch

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x85-030 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 177-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

K. A. Vogt ◽

D. J. Vogt ◽

E. E. Moore ◽

W. Littke ◽

C. C. Grier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root ◽

Starch Content ◽

Wide Band ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Breast Height ◽

Indirect Technique

A potential indirect technique for determining fine root biomass and production is reported for Douglas-fir. Present data show a direct correlation between the starch content of a 1 cm wide band of living bark at breast height per hectare and fine root biomass per hectare (r2 = 0.85).

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