scholarly journals Root Biomass Distribution and Soil Physical Properties of Short-Rotation Coppice American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) Grown at Different Planting Densities

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1806
Author(s):  
Omoyemeh Jennifer Ile ◽  
Maricar Aguilos ◽  
Suna Morkoc ◽  
Joshua Heitman ◽  
John S. King

Short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) provide sustainable, renewable biomass energy and offer potential ecosystem services, including increased carbon storage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health. Establishing SRWCs on degraded lands has potential to enhance soil properties through root and organic matter turnover. A better understanding of SRWC planting density and its associated root turnover impacts on soil–air–water relations can improve management. In this study, we investigate the effects of planting density for a low-input American sycamore SRWC (no fertilization/irrigation) on soil physical properties for a degraded agricultural site in the North Carolina piedmont. The objectives were (1) to estimate the distributions of coarse and fine root biomass in three planting densities (10,000, 5000, and 2500 trees per hectare (tph)) and (2) to assess the effects of planting density on soil hydraulic properties and pore size distribution. Our results show that planting at 10,000 tph produced significantly higher amounts of fine root biomass than at lower planting densities (p < 0.01). In the 25,000 tph plots, there was significantly higher amounts of coarse root biomass than for higher planting densities (p < 0.05). The 10,000 tph plots had lower plant available water capacity but larger drainable porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity compared with lower planting densities (<0.05). The 10,000 tph plots total porosity was more dominated by larger pore size fractions compared with the 5000 and 2500 tph. Generally, our findings show similar patterns of soil hydraulic properties and pore size distributions for lower planting densities. The results from 10,000 tph indicate a higher air-filled pore space at field capacity and more rapid drainage compared with lower planting densities. Both characteristics observed in the 10,000 tph are favorable for aeration and oxygen uptake, which are especially important at wet sites. Overall, the results suggest that improved soil health can be achieved from the establishment of American sycamore SRCs on marginal lands, thereby providing a green pathway to achieving environmental sustainability with woody renewable energy.

2013 ◽  
Vol 373 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 269-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Berhongaray ◽  
I. A. Janssens ◽  
J. S. King ◽  
R. Ceulemans

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 645-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun-Ke LIU ◽  
Chuan FAN ◽  
Xian-Wei LI ◽  
Yin-Hua LING ◽  
Yi-Gui ZHOU ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 108031
Author(s):  
Wen Li ◽  
Yifei Shi ◽  
Dandan Zhu ◽  
Wenqian Wang ◽  
Haowei Liu ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Unuk Nahberger ◽  
Gian Maria Niccolò Benucci ◽  
Hojka Kraigher ◽  
Tine Grebenc

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.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Anna Zielonka ◽  
Marek Drewnik ◽  
Łukasz Musielok ◽  
Marcin K. Dyderski ◽  
Dariusz Struzik ◽  
...  

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.


2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 847-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia E Welke ◽  
Graeme D Hope ◽  
Gary A Hunt

The effect of timber harvesting on the biomass, nutrient standing crop, and decomposition of fine roots (<2 mm) was studied in a high elevation, Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) – subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) forest. Root dynamics were compared in openings of different sizes. The sequential core method was used to collect fine root samples over 4 years. Differences in fine root biomass between opening sizes were most significant for the active fine root portion and were most pronounced in the fall compared with the spring. Active fine root biomass was significantly lower in the 10-ha clearcuts (164 kg/ha) compared with control plots (275 kg/ha). Furthermore, active fine root biomass was often lower in the 1.0-ha opening than in the 0.1-ha and control plots. A similar trend was established for inactive fine root biomass, although this was not consistent over sampling years. Nutrient concentrations of K, but no other elements, were higher in control plots. Nutrient standing crops, however, followed trends observed in fine root biomass. In the 10-ha clearcuts, the largest changes in fine root biomass occurred at the edge of the opening. The findings suggest that small (<10 ha) cutblocks may maintain greater fine root longevity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Piñeiro ◽  
Raúl Ochoa-Hueso ◽  
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo ◽  
Silvan Dobrick ◽  
Peter B. Reich ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Cinthia Aparecida Silva ◽  
Vinícius Londe ◽  
André Mouro D’Angioli ◽  
Marcos A. S. Scaranello ◽  
Bruno Bordron ◽  
...  

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