Litter removal in a tropical rain forest reduces fine root biomass and production but litter addition has few effects

Rodtassana, Chadtip; Tanner, Edmund V. J.

doi:10.1002/ecy.2143

Cited by 29 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…On the other hand, in spite of the light lower concentration in extractable P in mineral soil found in the mixed-species stand, a previous study (Koutika et al 2016) revealed a higher foliar P concentration in these stands. The results of the present study are in agreement with previous studies, showing that forest floor might be playing an important role in the P dynamics in forest ecosystems (Lang et al 2017;Rodtassana and Tanner 2018). On one hand, the P input through litter decomposition and microbial activity ensures the supply of P to the plant.…”

Section: P In Mineral Soilssupporting

confidence: 93%

Organic matter quality of forest floor as a driver of C and P dynamics in acacia and eucalypt plantations established on a Ferralic Arenosols, Congo

et al. 2020

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Background: Land-use change and forest management may alter soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient dynamics, due in part to alterations in litter input and quality. Acacia was introduced in eucalypt plantations established in the Congolese coastal plains to improve soil fertility and tree growth. Eucalypt trees were expected to benefit from N 2 fixed by acacia. However, some indicators suggest a perturbation in SOM and P dynamics might affect the sustainability of the system in the medium and long term. In tropical environments, most of the nutrient processes are determined by the high rates of organic matter (OM) mineralization. Therefore, SOM stability might play a crucial role in regulating soil-plant processes. In spite of this, the relationship between SOM quality, C and other nutrient dynamics are not well understood. In the present study, OM quality and P forms in forest floor and soil were investigated to get more insight on the C and P dynamics useful to sustainable management of forest plantations. Methods: Thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA)) and nuclear magnetic resonance (solid state 13 C CPMASS and NMR and 31 P-NMR) spectroscopy have been applied to partially decomposed forest floor and soils of pure acacia and eucalypt, and mixed-species acacia-eucalypt stands. Results: Thermal analysis and 13 C NMR analysis revealed a more advanced stage of humification in forest floor of acacia-eucalypt stands, suggesting a greater microbial activity in its litter. SOM were related to the OM recalcitrance of the forest floor, indicating this higher microbial activity of the forest floor in this stand might be favouring the incorporation of C into the mineral soil.

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Section: P In Mineral Soilssupporting

confidence: 93%

Organic matter quality of forest floor as a driver of C and P dynamics in acacia and eucalypt plantations established on a Ferralic Arenosols, Congo

et al. 2020

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“…Fine-root dynamics was influenced by rainfall patterns with greater productivity and mortality in the rainy season, mainly in the surface soil, which is consistent with patterns observed in other tropical regions (Cavelier et al, 1999;Green, Dawson, Proctor, Duff, & Elston, 2005;Rodtassana & Tanner, 2018;Yavitt & Wright, 2001) and in the Amazonia basin (Girardin et al, 2016;Metcalfe et al, 2008). The higher root growth with precipitation can be related to both physical and chemical properties of the soil.…”

Section: Seasonal Variation In Root Dynamicssupporting

confidence: 85%

Fine‐root dynamics vary with soil depth and precipitation in a low‐nutrient tropical forest in the Central Amazonia

Cordeiro

Norby

Andersen

et al. 2020

Plant Enviro Interactions

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Why this research Matters A common assumption in tropical ecology is that root systems respond rapidly to climatic cues but that most of that response is limited to the uppermost layer of the soil, with relatively limited changes in deeper layers. However, this assumption has not been tested directly, preventing models from accurately predicting the response of tropical forests to environmental change. We measured seasonal dynamics of fine roots in an upper‐slope plateau in Central Amazonia mature forest using minirhizotrons to 90 cm depth, which were calibrated with fine roots extracted from soil cores. Root productivity and mortality in surface soil layers were positively correlated with precipitation, whereas root standing length was greater during the dry periods at the deeper layers. Contrary to historical assumptions, a large fraction of fine‐root standing biomass (46%) and productivity (41%) was found in soil layers deeper than 30 cm. Furthermore, root turnover decreased linearly with soil depth. Our findings demonstrate a relationship between fine‐root dynamics and precipitation regimes in Central Amazonia. Our results also emphasize the importance of deeper roots for accurate estimates of primary productivity and the interaction between roots and carbon, water, and nutrients.

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“…We used the ingrowth core method to measure fine root growth and to obtain an estimate of annual fine root production (Neill, 1992; Hertel et␣al ., 2013; Rodtassana & Tanner, 2018; Li et␣al ., 2020). Each ingrowth core was 2.4 cm in diameter and 10 cm tall and consisted of soil contained in a high‐density polyethylene net cylinder with a 2 mm mesh.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canopy and understory nitrogen addition have different effects on fine root dynamics in a temperate forest: implications for soil carbon storage

Zhang

et al. 2021

New Phytologist

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Elucidating the effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on fine root dynamics and the potential underlying mechanisms is required to understand the changes in belowground and aboveground carbon storage. However, research on these effects in forests has mostly involved direct understory addition of N and has ignored canopy interception and processing of N.Here, we conducted a field experiment comparing the effects of canopy addition of N (CAN) with those of understory addition of N (UAN) at three N-addition rates (0, 25 and 50 kg N ha -1 yr -1 ) on fine root dynamics in a temperate deciduous forest.Fine root production and biomass were significantly higher with CAN than with UAN. At the same N-addition rate, increases in fine root production with CAN were at least two-fold greater than with UAN. At the high N-addition rate and relative to the control, fine root biomass was significantly increased by CAN (by 23.5%) but was significantly decreased by UAN (by 12.2%).Our results indicate that traditional UAN may underestimate the responses of fine root dynamics to atmospheric N deposition in forest ecosystems. Canopy N processes should be considered for more realistic assessments of the effects of atmospheric N deposition in forests.

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Litter removal in a tropical rain forest reduces fine root biomass and production but litter addition has few effects

Cited by 29 publications

References 31 publications

Organic matter quality of forest floor as a driver of C and P dynamics in acacia and eucalypt plantations established on a Ferralic Arenosols, Congo

Organic matter quality of forest floor as a driver of C and P dynamics in acacia and eucalypt plantations established on a Ferralic Arenosols, Congo

Fine‐root dynamics vary with soil depth and precipitation in a low‐nutrient tropical forest in the Central Amazonia

Canopy and understory nitrogen addition have different effects on fine root dynamics in a temperate forest: implications for soil carbon storage

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