Background and aims Estimation of root-mediated carbon fluxes in forested peatlands is needed for understanding ecosystem functioning and supporting greenhouse gas inventories. Here, we aim to determine the optimal methodology for utilizing ingrowth cores in estimating annual fine-root production (FRP) and its vertical distribution in trees, shrubs and herbs. Methods We used 3-year data obtained with modified ingrowth core method and tested two calculation methods: 'ingrowth-dividing' and 'ingrowthsubtracting'. Results The ingrowth-dividing method combined with a 2-year incubation of ingrowth cores can be used for the 'best estimate' of FRP. The FRP in the nutrient-rich fen forest (561 g m −2 ) was more than twice that in the nutrient-poor bog forest (244 g m −2 ). Most FRP occurred in the top 20-cm layer (76-82 %). Tree FRP accounted for 71 % of total FRP in the bog and 94 % in the fen forests, respectively, following the aboveground vegetation patterns; however, in fen forest the proportions of spruce and birch in FRP were higher than their proportions in stand basal area. Conclusions Our methodology may be used to study peatland FRP patterns more widely and will reduce the volume of labour-intensive work, but will benefit from verification with other methods, as is the case in all in situ FRP studies.

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IntroductionPeatlands are terrestrial-carbon hotspots, where changes in carbon pools and fluxes potentially caused by drying or warming may have significant feedbacks to climate change. In forested peatlands, fine-root biomass (FRB), and production (FRP) are important carbon pools and fluxes, but they and their depth distribution and plant functional type (PFT) composition are poorly known.MethodsWe studied the effects of persistent water-table level (WTL) drawdown on these characteristics in four forested boreal peatland site types that varied in soil nutrient and WTL regimes, ground vegetation and tree stand characteristics. Each site type was represented by a pair of one undrained and one drained site. Two pairs were nutrient-poor, Scots pine dominated sites, one very wet and one relatively dry in their undrained condition. The other two pairs were nutrient-rich, Norway spruce dominated sites, again one wetter and one drier in the undrained condition. FRB was estimated by separating and visually identifying roots from soil cores extending down to 50 cm depth. FRP was estimated using ingrowth cores covering the same depth, and the separated roots were identified using infrared spectroscopy.Results and discussionBoth FRB and FRP varied widely both within and among the different types of boreal forested peatland. In FRB, the clearest differences were seen in the two originally wettest sites, nutrient-poor tall-sedge pine fen and nutrient-rich herb-rich spruce swamp: FRB was smaller in the drained site compared to the undrained site in the pine fen, but the opposite was true in the spruce swamp. FRP was generally higher in the nutrient-poor, pine-dominated sites than the nutrient-rich, spruce-dominates sites. The depth distribution of FRB was more superficial than that of FRP, except for the most nutrient-rich spruce swamp. Tree and shrub roots dominated both FRB and FRP, except for the undrained pine fen, where graminoids and forbs dominated. Even there, these PFTs were replaced by trees and shrubs at the drained site. Site wetness and nutrient regime both thus clearly regulated FRB and FRP of the forested peatland site types studied, and both need to be considered when making any generalizations.

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Purpose In peatlands, fine-root biomass (FRB) and production (FRP) and their depth distribution and plant functional type (PFT) composition are poorly known. We studied the effects of persistent water-table level drawdown on these characteristics in four forested boreal peatland site types that varied in soil nutrient and WTL regimes, ground vegetation and tree stand characteristics. Methods FRB was estimated by separating and visually identifying roots from soil cores extending down to 50-cm depth. FRP was estimated using ingrowth cores covering the same depth and the separated roots were identified using infrared spectroscopy. Results In both FRB and FRP, the differences between undrained and drained sites were small. In FRB, the clearest differences were seen in the originally wettest site, oligotrophic tall-sedge pine fen, and in the most-nutrient-rich site, herb-rich spruce swamp: in the pine fen FRB was smaller, and in the spruce swamp greater in the drained than in the undrained site. FRP was generally higher in nutrient-poor, pine-dominated sites. The depth distribution of FRB was more superficial than that of FRP, except for the most nutrient-rich spruce swamp. Tree and shrub roots dominated both FRB and FRP, except for the undrained pine fen, where graminoids and forbs dominated. Even there, these PFTs were replaced by trees and shrubs at the drained site. Conclusion Fine-root biomass and production vary widely both within and among different types of boreal forested peatlands. Lowering of WTL large enough to support greater-volume tree stands affects FRB and FRP relatively little.

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