Differences in fine root traits between Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) - A case study in the Kysucké Beskydy Mts

Abstract

Interspecific comparisons of the fine root "behaviour" under stressful situations may answer questions related to resistance to changing environmental conditions in the particular tree species. Our study was focused on Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) grown in an acidic soil where acidity was caused by past air pollution in the Kysucké Beskydy Mts., North-Western Slovakia. Between April and October 2006, the following fine root traits were studied: biomass and necromass seasonal dynamics, vertical distribution, production, mortality, fine root turnover and production to mortality ratio. Sequential soil coring was repeatedly implemented in April, June, July, September, and October including the soil layers of 0-5, 5-15, 15-25, and 25-35 cm. Results indicated that spruce had a lower standing stock of fine roots than beech, and fine roots of spruce were more superficially distributed than those of beech. Furthermore, we estimated higher seasonal dynamics and also higher turnover of fine roots in spruce than in beech. The production to mortality ratio was higher in beech than in spruce, which was hypothetically explained as the effect of drought episodes that occurred in July and August. The results suggested that the beech root system could resist a physiological stress better than that of spruce. This conclusion was supported by different vertical distributions of fine roots in spruce and beech stands.

Fine-root turnover rates of European forests revisited: an analysis of data from sequential coring and ingrowth cores

“…one vegetation period) or not of required level of detail were not considered (e.g. Konôpka et al 2005;Konôpka 2009;López et al 2001). At least two measurements from the same month in two consecutive years are the minimum requirement for the calculation of root production.…”

Young temperate tree species show different fine root acclimation capacity to growing season water availability

“…Similarly, two studies which manipulated rainfall by roof exclusion measured higher fine root mortality and necromass under low water availability while fine root biomass was generally higher under normal precipitation (control) (Konôpka et al 2007 ; Persson et al 1995 ). Studies utilizing increasing aridity along time series also found a general trend of higher necromass with drier environments (Eissenstat et al 2000 ; Konôpka 2009 ; Konôpka & Lukac 2013 ; Makkonen & Helmisaari 1998 ; Montagnoli et al 2019 ), and support for this trend also comes from studies along precipitation gradients (Fuchs et al 2020 ; Meier & Leuschner 2008 ). Interestingly, Picea abies increased root suberization under drought conditions indicating a ‘slow’ ecological strategy, while Fagus sylvatica increased the production of thin, ephemeral, absorptive fine roots during drought indicating a ‘fast’ strategy (Nikolova et al 2020 ).…”