Positive species mixture effects on fine root turnover and mortality in natural boreal forests

Ma, Zilong; Chen, Han Y. H.

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.03.015

Cited by 37 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…We found that the fine root turnover rate was more associated with fine root production in the 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil depths ( Figure 6). This finding agreed with McCormack et al [67] and showed that fine root production might be a better indicator of fine root turnover than fine root biomass [41]. One possible reason for the positive effect of fine root production on turnover rate is that greater competition for resources causes more intense interspecific belowground competition [34] and thus decreases the fine root lifespan [39].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…It was likely that the higher biomass and the lower soil N availability (mainly ammonium) in P. asperata plantation forest may limit the relative production due to resource scarcity, as we found that soil ammonium had a positive effect on turnover rate across all forest types (Table 4). Thus, the growth strategy by increasing the length of lifespan could be available to absorb soil resources [41]. Additionally, fine root lifespans of trees range from 95 to 336 days across different species [79].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, higher production of fine roots may lead to greater scarcity of nutrients and soil volume, and increase root competition, which eventually increase fine root turnover rate [39]. The finding that mixed forests have a higher fine root turnover rate than monocultures has been reported [34,40,41]. However, it is undeniable that some species may increase root persistence in root competition for limiting soil resources to better adapt to the environment and survive [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fine Root Dynamics in Three Forest Types with Different Origins in a Subalpine Region of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Liu

Luo

Yang

et al. 2018

Forests

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Fine roots play a crucial role in plant survival potential and biogeochemical cycles of forest ecosystems. Subalpine areas of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have experienced different forest re-establishment methods after clear-cutting primary forest. However, little is known about fine root dynamics of these forests originating from artificial, natural and their combined processes. Here, we determined fine root traits (biomass, production and turnover rate) of three subalpine forest types, i.e., Picea asperata Mast. plantation forest (artificial planting, PF), natural secondary forest (natural without assisted regeneration, NF) and P. asperata broadleaved mixed forest (natural regeneration after artificial planting, MF) composed of planted P. asperata and naturally regenerated native broadleaved species. At the soil depth of 0–30 cm, fine root biomass was the highest in PF and fine root production was the highest in NF, and both were the lowest in MF. Fine root dynamics of the three forest types tended to decrease with soil depth, with larger variations in PF. Fine root biomass and production were the highest in PF in 0–10 cm soil layer but were not significantly different among forest types in the lower soil layers. There were positive correlations between these parameters and aboveground biomass across forest types in soil layer of 0–10 cm, but not in the lower soil layers. Fine root turnover rate was generally higher in mixed forests than in monocultures at all soil depths. In conclusion, the natural regeneration procedure after clear-cutting in the subalpine region of western Sichuan seems to be superior from the perspective of fine root dynamics.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fine Root Dynamics in Three Forest Types with Different Origins in a Subalpine Region of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Liu

Luo

Yang

et al. 2018

Forests

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“…Belowground, differential root distribution is considered an important potential mechanism for overyielding. A growing number of studies shows that fine root productivity was higher in mixed-species stands compared with their monoculture stands [26][27][28][29]. Several processes may be associated with explaining this higher fine root productivity.…”

Section: Limiting Factors and Resource Acquisition In Mixed-species Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This vertical root stratification can also enhance soil resource availability, by hydraulic lift of soil water [34]. Secondly, more evenly distributed roots increase horizontal soil volume filling due to intense root interactions to increase resource foraging in mixtures than monoculture stands [26,29]. Thirdly, the facilitative effect of nitrogen-fixing species on the growth of non-nitrogen-fixing species may cause overyielding, particularly when nitrogen is more limiting [35].…”

Section: Limiting Factors and Resource Acquisition In Mixed-species Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species Mixing Effects on Forest Productivity: A Case Study at Stand-, Species- and Tree-Level in the Netherlands

Mohren

Rı́o

et al. 2018

Forests

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Many monoculture forests have been converted to mixed-species forests in Europe over the last decades. The main reasons for this conversion were probably to increase productivity, including timber production, and enhance other ecosystem services, such as conservation of biodiversity and other nature values. This study was done by synthesizing results from studies carried out in Dutch mixed forests compared with monoculture stands and evaluating them in the perspective of the current theory. Then we explored possible mechanisms of higher productivity in mixed stands, in relation to the combination of species, stand age and soil fertility, and discussed possible consequences of forest management. The study covered five two-species mixtures and their corresponding monoculture stands from using long-term permanent forest plots over multiple decades as well as two inventories (around 2003 and 2013) across the entire Netherlands. These forest plot data were used together with empirical models at total stand level, species level and tree level. Overyielding in Douglas-fir–beech and pine–oak mixtures was maintained over time, probably owing to the intensive thinning and was achieved on the poorer soils. However, this overyielding was not always driven by fast-growing light-demanding species. On individual tree level, intra-specific competition was not necessarily stronger than inter-specific competition and this competitive reduction was less seen at lower soil fertility and dependent on species mixtures. Moreover, size-asymmetric competition for light was more associated with tree basal area growth than size-symmetric competition for soil resources. Overall, this study suggests a substantial potential of species mixing for increasing productivity and implies developing forest management strategies to convert monospecific forests to mixed-species forests that consider the complementarity in resource acquisition of tree species.

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Root dynamics along a restoration chronosequence of revegetated grasslands in degraded alpine meadows of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China

Xueping

et al. 2021

Land Degrad Dev

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Revegetation using perennial grass, such as Elymus nutans is an effective approach in abating grassland degradation on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. However, knowledge of root dynamics along restoration chronosequences of revegetated grasslands are limited. To gain better insight into root dynamics, we used minirhizotrons to examine changes in root traits, including root standing crop, production, mortality, and turnover along a restoration chronosequence of three revegetated grasslands (cultivated in 2002, 2006, and 2010 corresponding to late, middle, and early recovery stage) in four consecutive growing seasons (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017). We found that the aboveground plant biomass was higher in the middle recovery stage than that in the early and late recovery stages, while plant species richness showed an increasing trend from the early to late recovery stage. Similar with the plant biomass response, the belowground root standing crop and production were significantly higher in the middle recovery stage than in the early and late recovery stages. Root mortality was decreased and root turnover tend to be stable from the early to late recovery stage. Root turnover was positively correlated with soil NO3−‐N content and negatively correlated with aboveground plant biomass. Moreover, root standing crop and mortality increased from May to September across all growing seasons; however, root production decreased within this period. Our study highlighted significant links between aboveground and belowground plant parts that may help effectively manage revegetated grassland on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau.

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Positive species mixture effects on fine root turnover and mortality in natural boreal forests

Cited by 37 publications

References 56 publications

Fine Root Dynamics in Three Forest Types with Different Origins in a Subalpine Region of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Fine Root Dynamics in Three Forest Types with Different Origins in a Subalpine Region of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Species Mixing Effects on Forest Productivity: A Case Study at Stand-, Species- and Tree-Level in the Netherlands

Root dynamics along a restoration chronosequence of revegetated grasslands in degraded alpine meadows of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China

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