Fine-root seasonal pattern, production and turnover rate of European beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.) stands in Italy Prealps: Possible implications of coppice conversion to high forest

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of coppice conversion to high forest on the beech fine-root systems. We compared the seasonal pattern of live and dead fine-root mass (d 5 2 mm), production and turnover in three beech stands that differed in management practices. Tree density was higher in the 40-year-old coppice stand than in the stands that were converted from coppice to high forest in 1994 and 2004, respectively. We found that a reduction in tree density reduced the total fine-root biomass (Coppice stand, 353.8 g m 72 ; Conversion 1994 stand, 203.6 g m 72 ; Conversion 2004 stand, 176.2 g m 72 ) which continued to be characterised by a bimodal pattern with two major peaks, one in spring and one in early fall. Conversion to high forest may also affect the fine-root soil depth distribution. Both fine-root production and turnover rate were sensitive to management practices. They were lower in the Coppice stand (production 131.5 g m 72 year 71 ; turnover rate 0.41 year 71 ) than in the converted stands (1994 Conversion stand: production 232 g m 72 year 71 , turnover rate 1.06 year 71 ; 2004 Conversion stand: production 164.2 g m 72 year 71 , turnover rate 0.79 year 71 ).

Fine root architecture, morphology, and biomass response to cutting in a Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume) forest

“…Eissenstat and Duncan (1992) confirmed that root length density in citrus recovers rapidly from partial canopy pruning with regrowth of leaves. Montagnoli et al (2012) reported that root biomass increased by 24.8% and 76.4% after 4 and 14 years of forest conversion, respectively, compared with the coppice stand. The duration required for fine roots to recover depends on the severity of the above-structure damage.…”

“…soil properties, air temperature, the amount of precipitation, geographical location, and elevation, are shown to affect fine root growth (Pregitzer et al, 2000;Borja et al, 2008;Helmisaari et al, 2009). However, little information exists on the growth pattern of fine roots in response to stem cutting in coppice forests (Montagnoli et al, 2012;Ma et al, 2013) Forest management acts on the stability and activity of fine roots (Ronnberg, 2000;Leuschner et al, 2006;Noguchi et al, 2007). Alteration in carbohydrates and respiration of fine roots after canopy pruning has been reported in previous studies (Eissenstat and Duncan, 1992;Comas et al, 2000;Terzaghi et al, 2013).…”

Effects of traditional coppice practices and microsite conditions on tree health in a European beech forest at its southernmost range

“…To mitigate the negative effects of frequent coppice clearcutting on soils, landscape and biodiversity conservation, the conversion of coppices to high forests or to natural stand dynamics with continuous cover has recently become an increasingly common management goal, especially in hilly and mountainous Mediterranean regions (Serrada et al 1998, Ciancio et al 2006, Nocentini 2009, Montagnoli et al 2012. Anyway, in harsh habitats (as in the case study) where multi-stemmed shrublike growth forms are common and conversion is not feasible, it is compulsory to maintain a high canopy cover and a large stem density.…”

Short-Term Effects of Low Intensity Thinning on the Fine Root Dynamics of Pinus massoniana Plantations in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

“…Mei et al [20] described a positive relationship between the FRB and the average soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm in the Manchurian ash, Fraxinus mandshurica. Finér L. et al [11] and Montagnoli et al [15] reported that the FRB decreased with stand age in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), but increased in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands. Moreover, they found that the mean basal area was more important than environmental factors or forest stand factors in determining the total FRB [21].…”

“…In addition, FRB shows obvious seasonal dynamics and has a significant seasonal pattern [13]. In general, FRB has unimodal or bimodal variations throughout the year [14][15][16], with the maximum value often occurring in mid to late summer, and the minimum value in late autumn to early winter [17,18]. Many studies have shown that the biomass of the fine roots of P. massoniana often shows only one peak, although the timing thereof varies, under natural conditions [19].…”