A comparison of methods for estimating forest fine root production with respect to sources of error

Publicover, David A.; Vogt, Kristiina A.

doi:10.1139/x93-149

Cited by 84 publications

(62 citation statements)

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“…Fine root distribution decreasing with soil depth in the present study was similar to those in many forest ecosystems [3,9,20,21,25,41]. This may reflect the distribution of nutrients returned to the soil by litterfall, canopy leachates and stemflow, and the trophotaxis of fine roots.…”

Section: Vertical Distributionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Fine root distribution, seasonal pattern and production in four plantations compared with a natural forest in Subtropical China

et al. 2004

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-Fine root (< 2 mm in diameter) distribution, seasonal pattern and net production were studied during 1999-2001 in 33 year-old plantations of two coniferous trees, Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata, CF) and Fokienia hodginsii (FH) and two broadleaved trees, Ormosia xylocarpa (OX) and Castanopsis kawakamii (CK), and compared with that of an adjacent natural forest of Castanopsis kawakamii (NF, ~150 year old) in Sanming, Fujian, China. Fine root biomass and necromass were determined by soil coring at a bimonthly interval. Soil cores were divided into 10 depths: 0 ~ 10, 10 ~ 20, 20 ~ 30, 30 ~ 40, 40 ~ 50, 50 ~ 60, 60 ~ 70, 70 ~ 80, 80 ~ 90, and 90 ~ 100 cm. Litter bags (18 × 18 cm 2 size, 0.25 mm mesh) were used in determination the decay rates of fine roots (< 0.5 mm, 0.5-1 mm, and 1-2 mm). Mean annual fine-root production, mortality, decomposition and turnover rate were calculated by the compartment-flow method. Mean fine-root biomass ranged from 1.49 Mg ha -1 in the CF to 4.94 Mg ha -1 in the NF, and decreased in the following order: NF > CK > FH > OX > CF. There were significant seasonal changes of biomass and necromass in all stands (P < 0.05), while no significant yearly fluctuations were detected (P > 0.05). In all stands, an early spring (March) peak of fine root biomass was found, and the minimum value occurred mainly in dry summer or cold winter. For the NF, 59.8% of fine root biomass was found in the top soil of 0-10 cm, a layer that maximum difference of depth distribution among all stands occurred, where fine root biomass of the NF was 2.37 times, 3.55 times, 8.12 times, and 7.12 times as much as those of the CK, FH, CF, and OX, respectively. Percentages of original mass lost during the first year of decomposition ranged from 43% to 56% for the FH to 68% to 80% for the NF. Mean annual root decomposition, mortality and production ranged from 8.47 Mg ha -1 a -1 , 8.63 Mg ha -1 a -1 and 9.5 Mg ha -1 a -1 in the NF to 2.50, 2.49 and 2.51 Mg ha -1 a -1 in the CF, ranked as NF > CK > FH > OX > CF. The mean root turnover rate ranged from 1.48 a -1 in the FH to 1.78 a -1 in the NF. On a utilisé des sacs à litière (18 × 18 cm 2 , maille de 0,25 mm) pour déterminer le taux de décomposition des radicelles (< 0,5 mm, 0,5-1 mm, 1-2 mm). Les taux de production moyenne annuelle, de mortalité, de décomposition et de turnover des radicelles ont été calculés par la méthode de « compartment flow ». La biomasse moyenne de radicelles va de 1,49 Mg/ha dans le CF à 4,94 Mg/ha pour le NF ; elle décroît dans l'ordre suivant : NF > CK > FH > OX > CF. On a enregistré des différences significatives de biomasse et nécromasse, selon les saisons dans tous les peuplements (P < 0,05), tandis qu'aucune fluctuation n'a pu être mise en évidence entre années (P > 0,05). Pour tous les peuplements, on enregistre un pic de biomasse de radicelles au début du printemps (mars), les valeurs minimum intervenant au cours d'étés secs ou d'hivers froids. Pour le NF, 59,8 % de la biomasse de radicelles se situe dans la zone superficielle ...

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Section: Vertical Distributionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Fine root distribution, seasonal pattern and production in four plantations compared with a natural forest in Subtropical China

et al. 2004

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“…Various means of improving biomass-based estimates have been developed, including the use of ' compartment flow ' techniques (Santantonio & Grace, 1987). However, compartment flow analyses require information about fine-root decomposition which is difficult to acquire (Publicover & Vogt, 1993 ;Fahey et al, 1999). Moreover, compartment flow-based estimates are highly sensitive to variations in values of the decay constants used to characterize fine-root decomposition.…”

Section:      - mentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential effects of nitrogen deposition on fine‐root production in forest ecosystems

2000

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Temperate forests are recipients of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition. Because growth in these ecosystems is often limited by N availability, elevated N inputs from the atmosphere can influence above-and belowground production in forests. Although fine-root production is the largest component of belowground production in forests, it is unclear whether or how increases in N availability to forest trees accompanying increased N deposition might influence fine-root growth. Uncertainties as to how fine-root dynamics (i.e. production and turnover) vary in relation to soil N availability contribute to this problem. Although fine-root biomass typically decreases along soil N availability gradients in forests, it is unclear whether fine-root production and turnover also decrease along these gradients. Here, four possible relationships between fine-root turnover, fine-root production, and forest soil N availability are evaluated to develop a general hypothesis about changes in rooting dynamics that might accompany increases in N deposition. The four possible relationships are as follows. (1) Fine-root turnover rates do not systematically change with N availability in forest soils. If this is true, then fine-root production rates decrease with fine-root biomass in relation to soil N availability, and increased N deposition could lead to decreased fine-root production in forests. (2) Decreases in photosynthate allocation belowground along N availability gradients will function to slow fine-root turnover (or increase life span) as N availability increases with N deposition, thereby dramatically decreasing fine-root production. (3) Fine-root production might increase with N availability even though fine-root biomass typically decreases with N availability. This could occur if fine-root metabolism and turnover increase (life span decreases) with soil N supply. Increases in fine-root production accompanying increases in N availability, if large enough, could result in constant proportions of forest production being allocated to fine roots as soil N availability increases with N deposition. (4) Although fine-root turnover and production might both increase as N becomes more available to tree roots, the proportional allocation of total primary production to fine roots could decrease. Identifying the most likely of these four possibilities requires intersite comparisons of forest root dynamics along gradients of soil N availability and N deposition. Collective results of studies that use sequential sampling of fine-root biomass to estimate production suggest that fine-root turnover and production either ; do not vary systematically, or that they decrease as N availability increases. By contrast, studies using ecosystem C or N budgets suggest that fine-root turnover and production both increase with N availability and that similar increases might be expected with elevated N deposition. It is argued here that assumptions underlying most biomass-based estimates of fine-root production are more suspect than are assumptions...

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“…Although several approaches for calculating production from changes in fine root biomass between sampling intervals have been discussed in the literature, only statistically significant increases in fine root standing stock between sample periods will be discussed in this study (Fairiey and Alexander, 1985;Kurz and Kimmins, 1987;Symbula and Day, 1988;Publicover and Vogt, 1993). Several authors have contrasted this approach against simply summing all positive differences.…”

Section: In Situ Screensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine Root Productivity and Dynamics on a Forested Floodplain in South Carolina.

Baker¹,

Conner²,

Lockaby³

et al. 2002

Soil Science Society of America Journal

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The highly dynamic, fine root component of forested wetland ecoi&g fine root dynamics is a challenging endeavor in any system, but the dilficulties are particularly evident in forested floodplains where frequent hydrologic fluctuations directly influence fine root dynamics. Fine root (53 mm) biomass, production, and turnover were estimated for three soils exhibiting different drainage patterns within a mixedoak community on the Coosawhatchie River floodplain, Jasper County, South Carolina. Within a 45cm-deep vertical profile, 74% of total fine root biomass was restricted to the upper 15 cm of the soil surface. Fine root biomass decreased as the soil became less well drained (e.g., tine root biomass in well-drained soil > intermediately drained soil > poorly drained soil). Fine root productivity was measured for 1 yr using minirhiitrons and in situ screens. Both methods suggested higher fine root production in better drained soils but showed frequent fluctuations in fine root growth and mortality, suggesting the need for frequent sampling at short intervals (e.g., monthly) to accurately assess fine root growth and turnover. Fine root production, estimated with in situ screens, was 1.5, l-g, and 0.9 Mg ha-' yr-' in the well-drained, intermediately drained, and poorly drained soils, respectively. Results from minirhizotrons indicated (hat fine roots in well-drained soils grew to greater depths while fine roots in poorly drained soils were restricted to surface soils. Minimizotrons also revealed that the distribution of fine roots among morphological dasses changed between well-drained and poorly drained soils.

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A comparison of methods for estimating forest fine root production with respect to sources of error

Cited by 84 publications

References 0 publications

Fine root distribution, seasonal pattern and production in four plantations compared with a natural forest in Subtropical China

Fine root distribution, seasonal pattern and production in four plantations compared with a natural forest in Subtropical China

The potential effects of nitrogen deposition on fine‐root production in forest ecosystems

Fine Root Productivity and Dynamics on a Forested Floodplain in South Carolina.

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