Biotic and Abiotic Determinants of Soil Organic Matter Stock and Fine Root Biomass in Mountain Area Temperate Forests—Examples from Cambisols under European Beech, Norway Spruce and Silver Fir (Carpathians, Central Europe)

Forest ecosystems significantly contribute to the global organic carbon (OC) pool, exhibiting high spatial heterogeneity in this respect. Some of the components of the OC pool in a forest (woody aboveground biomass (wAGB), coarse root biomass (CRB)) can be relatively easily estimated using readily available data from land observation and forest inventories, while some of the components of the OC pool are very difficult to determine (fine root biomass (FRB) and soil organic matter (SOM) stock). The main objectives of our study were to: (1) estimate the SOM stock; (2) estimate FRB; and (3) assess the relationship between both biotic (wAGB, forest age, foliage, stand density) and abiotic factors (climatic conditions, relief, soil properties) and SOM stocks and FRB in temperate forests in the Western Carpathians consisting of European beech, Norway spruce, and silver fir (32 forest inventory plots in total). We uncovered the highest wAGB in beech forests and highest SOM stocks under beech forest. FRB was the highest under fir forest. We noted a considerable impact of stand density on SOM stocks, particularly in beech and spruce forests. FRB content was mostly impacted by stand density only in beech forests without any discernible effects on other forest characteristics. We discovered significant impacts of relief-dependent factors and SOM stocks at all the studied sites. Our biomass and carbon models informed by more detailed environmental data led to reduce the uncertainty in over- and underestimation in Cambisols under beech, spruce, and fir forests for mountain temperate forest carbon pools.

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Nitrogen Alters Initial Growth, Fine-Root Biomass and Soil Organic Matter Properties of a Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden Plantation in a Recently Afforested Grassland in Southern Brazil

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9020062 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 62 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gabriel Ferreira ◽

Fernanda Oliveira ◽

Lucas Silva ◽

José Souza ◽

Emanuelle Soares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Initial Growth ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Eucalyptus Dunnii

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Problems and options in modelling fine-root biomass of single mature Norway spruce trees at given points from stand data

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x01-229 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 581-590 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Christian Ammer ◽

Sven Wagner

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Fine Root ◽

Soil Water Potential ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Stand Density ◽

Fine Root Biomass ◽

Maximum Distance ◽

Root Spread

In a 75-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand, three different single-tree models were tested to predict the fine-root biomass of root samples. This approach is based on the assumption that the fine-root biomass at a given point determines the availability of belowground resources as, for example, soil water. All models assume a monotonously decreasing function describing the distribution of the fine-root biomass of a subject tree depending on the distance to the trunk of the tree. To the contrary, the models differ in the maximum distance from the stem where roots can be found. There were high correlations between the observed and the predicted fine-root biomasses for all models in a part of the stand where the trees are distributed less uniformly and where root biomasses are most heterogeneous. In a section with medium stand density, the model of diameter at breast height dependent root spread yields higher correlation coefficients compared with the fixed-distance approach of the two other models. Significant correlations between model predictions of root distributions and measured soil water potential supported the validity of the models. The results of the model estimations imply differences in the maximum distance of lateral root spread dependent on stand density.

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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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