Root production in contrasting ecosystems: the impact of rhizotron sampling frequency

Balogianni, Vasiliki G.; Blume‐Werry, Gesche; Wilson, Scott D.

doi:10.1007/s11258-016-0588-7

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…We sampled below‐ground phenology less frequently than above‐ground phenology, because time intervals of up to 3 weeks have been shown to give robust estimates of root production in different ecosystems, two of which were subarctic and close to our study site (Balogianni, Blume‐Werry & Wilson ), and our weekly measurements were thus much more frequent than that. Furthermore, since root growth is measured by increments in length over time, it is less sensitive to the frequency of sampling compared to date of leaf‐out or flowering.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root phenology unresponsive to earlier snowmelt despite advanced above‐ground phenology in two subarctic plant communities

2017

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Summary Earlier snowmelt at high latitudes advances above‐ground plant phenology, thereby affecting water, nutrient and carbon cycles. Despite the key role of fine roots in these ecosystem processes, phenological responses to earlier snowmelt have never been assessed below‐ground. We experimentally advanced snowmelt in two contrasting plant community types (heath and meadow) in northern Sweden and measured above‐ and below‐ground phenology (leaf‐out, flowering and fine root growth). We expected earlier snowmelt to advance both above‐ and below‐ground phenology, and shrub‐dominated heath to be more responsive than meadow. Snow melted on average 9 days earlier in the manipulated plots than in controls, and soil temperatures were on average 0·9 °C higher during the snowmelt period of 3 weeks. This resulted in small advances in above‐ground phenology, but contrary to our expectations, root phenology was unresponsive, with root growth generally starting before leaf‐out. These responses to the snowmelt treatment were similar in both plant community types, despite strong differences in dominating plant functional types and root properties, such as root length and turnover. The lack of a response in root phenology, despite warmer soil temperatures and above‐ground phenological advances, adds evidence that above‐ground plant responses might not be directly translated to below‐ground plant responses, and that our understanding of factors driving below‐ground phenology is still limited, although of major importance for water, nutrient and carbon cycling.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root phenology unresponsive to earlier snowmelt despite advanced above‐ground phenology in two subarctic plant communities

2017

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“…Available observation methods for soil structure quantification often overlook these highly dynamic biophysical processes. A few methods such as rhizotron imaging provide certain insights into changes in root-soil interactions 19 – 22 , yet the method is qualitative and limited to prescribed window of observation and thus is of limited value for inferences of root system dynamics 23 . Modern application of X-ray computed tomography provide insights into describing soil structure 24 , 25 and consequences of soil bioturbation by earthworms 26 and plant roots 18 , 27 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Listening to earthworms burrowing and roots growing - acoustic signatures of soil biological activity

Lacoste

Ruiz

2018

Sci Rep

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We report observations of acoustic emissions (AE) from growing plant roots and burrowing earthworms in soil, as a noninvasive method for monitoring biophysical processes that modify soil structure. AE emanating from earthworm and plants root activity were linked with time-lapse imaging in glass cells. Acoustic waveguides where installed in soil columns to monitor root growth in real time (mimicking field application). The cumulative AE events were in correlation with earthworm burrow lengths and with root growth. The number of AE events recorded from the soil columns with growing maize roots were several orders of magnitude larger than AE emanating from bare soil under similar conditions. The results suggest that AE monitoring may offer a window into largely unobservable dynamics of soil biomechanical processes such as root growth or patterns of earthworm activity - both important soil structure forming processes.

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“…Root length production was calculated as the increase in root length (elongation of existing roots and the appearance of new roots) between the first and last sample of each growing season for each tube. Using the first and last samples gave the same result as summing over each biweekly sample period due to the low mortality of roots in this system (Balogianni et al., ; S. Träger, unpublished data).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…We recorded images biweekly from mid‐June to beginning of September of 2013 and 2014. This time interval captures root production without missing root mortality in our study area (Balogianni, Blume‐Werry, & Wilson, ). We measured the total length of live roots (excluding root hairs) in minirhizotron images using Rootfly (version 2.0.2.; Clemson University, ) and summed root length per tube.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential contributions of root decomposition to the nitrogen cycle in arctic forest and tundra

Träger

Milbau

Wilson

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Plant contributions to the nitrogen (N) cycle from decomposition are likely to be altered by vegetation shifts associated with climate change. Roots account for the majority of soil organic matter input from vegetation, but little is known about differences between vegetation types in their root contributions to nutrient cycling. Here, we examine the potential contribution of fine roots to the N cycle in forest and tundra to gain insight into belowground consequences of the widely observed increase in woody vegetation that accompanies climate change in the Arctic. We combined measurements of root production from minirhizotron images with tissue analysis of roots from differing root diameter and color classes to obtain potential N input following decomposition. In addition, we tested for changes in N concentration of roots during early stages of decomposition, and investigated whether vegetation type (forest or tundra) affected changes in tissue N concentration during decomposition. For completeness, we also present respective measurements of leaves. The potential N input from roots was twofold greater in forest than in tundra, mainly due to greater root production in forest. Potential N input varied with root diameter and color, but this variation tended to be similar in forest and tundra. As for roots, the potential N input from leaves was significantly greater in forest than in tundra. Vegetation type had no effect on changes in root or leaf N concentration after 1 year of decomposition. Our results suggest that shifts in vegetation that accompany climate change in the Arctic will likely increase plant‐associated potential N input both belowground and aboveground. In contrast, shifts in vegetation might not alter changes in tissue N concentration during early stages of decomposition. Overall, differences between forest and tundra in potential contribution of decomposing roots to the N cycle reinforce differences between habitats that occur for leaves.

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Root production in contrasting ecosystems: the impact of rhizotron sampling frequency

Cited by 6 publications

References 37 publications

Root phenology unresponsive to earlier snowmelt despite advanced above‐ground phenology in two subarctic plant communities

Root phenology unresponsive to earlier snowmelt despite advanced above‐ground phenology in two subarctic plant communities

Listening to earthworms burrowing and roots growing - acoustic signatures of soil biological activity

Potential contributions of root decomposition to the nitrogen cycle in arctic forest and tundra

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