Methods for estimating root biomass and production in forest and woodland ecosystem carbon studies: A review

Addo-Danso, Shalom Daniel; Prescott, Cindy E.; Smith, Andrew R.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2015.08.015

Cited by 120 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 156 publications

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“…, Addo‐Danso et al. ). On time scales of weeks to months, root foraging usually occurs at the scale of centimeters to decimeters, and root proliferation in small nutrient‐rich patches has been considered a major mechanism by which plants forage for nutrients (Eissenstat and Caldwell , Neill , Caldwell , Rajaniemi and Reynolds , Ostonen et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mycorrhizal fungi and roots are complementary in foraging within nutrient patches

Cheng

Chen

Adams

et al. 2016

Ecology

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The roots of the majority of tree species are associated with either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. The absorptive roots of tree species also vary widely in their diameter. The linkages between root thickness, mycorrhiza type and nutrient foraging are poorly understood. We conducted a large root ingrowth experiment in the field to investigate how absorptive roots of varying thickness and their associated fungi (AM vs. EM) exploit different nutrient patches (inorganic and organic) in a common garden. In nutrient-rich patches, thin-root tree species more effectively proliferated absorptive roots than thick-root tree species, whereas thick-root tree species proliferated more mycorrhizal fungal biomass than thin-root tree species. Moreover, nutrient patches enriched with organic materials resulted in greater root and mycorrhizal fungal proliferation compared to those enriched with inorganic nutrients. Irrespective of root morphology, AM tree species had higher root foraging precision than mycorrhizal hyphae foraging precision within organic patches, whereas EM tree species exhibited the opposite. Our findings that roots and mycorrhizal fungi are complementary in foraging within nutrient patches provide new insights into species coexistence and element cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Addo‐Danso et al. ). Each mesh envelope was filled with soil taken from the corresponding plot and was either unamended or amended with various nutrient additions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycorrhizal fungi and roots are complementary in foraging within nutrient patches

Cheng

Chen

Adams

et al. 2016

Ecology

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“…These methods include soil cores, monoliths and trenches for biomass estimation, and sequential coring, minirhizotrons, and in‐growth cores and nets or bags for production estimates (Addo‐Danso, Prescott, & Smith, ). Estimates of biomass are less affected by method than those of production (Addo‐Danso et al, ; Brunner et al, ; Finér, Ohashi, Noguchi, & Hirano, ; Hertel & Leuschner, ). Consequently, there have been calls for standardized approaches (Brunner et al, ) and for method comparisons at specific sites (Hertel & Leuschner, ; Železnik et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving models of fine root carbon stocks and fluxes in European forests

et al. 2020

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Fine roots and above‐ground litterfall play a pivotal role in carbon dynamics in forests. Nonetheless, direct estimation of stocks of fine roots remains methodologically challenging. Models are thus widely used to estimate these stocks and help elucidate drivers of fine root growth and turnover, at a range of scales. We updated a database of fine root biomass, necromass and production derived from 454 plots across European forests. We then compared fine root biomass and production to estimates obtained from 19 different models. Typical input variables used for the models included climate, net primary production, foliage and above‐ground biomass, leaf area index (LAI), latitude and/or land cover type. We tested whether performance could be improved by fitting new multiple regression models, and explored effects of species composition and sampling method on estimated fine root biomass. Average fine root biomass was 332 g/m2, and necromass 379 g/m2, for European forests where the average fine root production was 250 g m−2 year−1. Carbon fraction in fine roots averaged 48.4%, and was 1.5% greater in broadleaved species than conifers. Available models were poor predictors of fine root biomass and production. The best performing models assumed proportionality between above‐ and below‐ground compartments, and used remotely sensed LAI or foliage biomass as key inputs. Model performance was improved by use of multiple regressions, which revealed consistently greater biomass and production in stands dominated by broadleaved species as well as in mixed stands even after accounting for climatic differences. Synthesis. We assessed the potential of existing models to estimate fine root biomass and production in European forests. We show that recalibration reduces by about 40% errors in estimates currently produced by the best available models, and increases three‐fold explained variation. Our results underline the quantitative significance of fine roots (live and dead) to the global carbon cycle.

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“…Soil excavation method was used for harvesting of roots to capture lateral root variability in larger volume of soil (Berhongaray et al, 2015;Addo-Danso et al, 2016). One quarter of the rooting zone of a single tree from both the plantations was selected randomly for excavation.…”

Section: Root Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root Carbon Sequestration and Its Efficacy in Forestry and Agroforestry Systems: A Case of Populus euramericana I-214 Cultivated in Mediterranean condition

Jha

2018

Not Sci Biol

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Poplar is one of the most popular species of forestry and agroforestry land-use worldwide. It is currently assuming a growing importance for timber, bioenergy production and Carbon sequestration. Soil Carbon accumulation is associated with root litter, whereas available studies are disproportionate on root system in this species. Therefore, the study aimed at finding how much root Carbon, a hybrid poplar species (Populus euramericana I-214) sequestered in Forest System (FRS) and Agroforest System (AFS) by using soil excavation and root coring methods. A suitable conversion factor was used to get sequestered Carbon estimated from biomass. Carbon was distributed in maximum length, breadth and depth through different root components of both the systems, AFS occupied more rooting volume. Total belowground sequestered Carbon was higher in AFS (59.2 kg tree ). Although FRS stored higher belowground Carbon (without grain production), AFS was more efficient on account of Carbon land equivalent ratio. Thus the two available management systems have their own advantages in terms of Carbon storage and grain production.

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Methods for estimating root biomass and production in forest and woodland ecosystem carbon studies: A review

Cited by 120 publications

References 156 publications

Mycorrhizal fungi and roots are complementary in foraging within nutrient patches

Mycorrhizal fungi and roots are complementary in foraging within nutrient patches

Improving models of fine root carbon stocks and fluxes in European forests

Root Carbon Sequestration and Its Efficacy in Forestry and Agroforestry Systems: A Case of Populus euramericana I-214 Cultivated in Mediterranean condition

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