The distribution and productivity of fine roots in boreal forests

Persson, Henrik J.

doi:10.1007/bf02182644

Cited by 271 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Past results have shown that fine root biomass increases with stand age, for example, Grier et al (1981) stated that there was an increase in fine root biomass with years, and Persson (1983) also. Those results are in agreement with us to some extent.…”

Section: Role Of Root Biomass In Soil Preferential Flow Of Forest Ecomentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of fine root length density and root biomass on soil preferential flow in forest ecosystems

et al. 2015

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Aim of study: The study was conducted to characterize the impacts of plant roots systems (e.g., root length density and root biomass) on soil preferential flow in forest ecosystems.Area of study: The study was carried out in Jiufeng National Forest Park, Beijing, China.Material and methods: The flow patterns were measured by field dye tracing experiments. Different species (Sophora japonica Linn, Platycladus orientalis Franco, Quercus dentata Thunb) were quantified in two replicates, and 12 soil depth were applied. Plant roots were sampled in the sieving methods. Root length density and root biomass were measured by WinRHIZO. Dye coverage was implied in the image analysis, and maximum depth of dye infiltration by direct measurement.Main results: Root length density and root biomass decreased with the increasing distance from soil surface, and root length density was 81.6% higher in preferential pathways than in soil matrix, and 66.7% for root biomass with respect to all experimental plots. Plant roots were densely distributed in the upper soil layers. Dye coverage was almost 100% in the upper 5-10 cm, but then decreased rapidly with soil depth. Root length density and root biomass were different from species: Platycladus orientalis Franco > Quercus dentata Thunb > Sophora japonica Linn.Research highlights: The results indicated that fine roots systems had strong effects on soil preferential flow, particularly root channels enhancing nutrition transport across soil profiles in forest dynamics.Key words: soil preferential flow; preferential pathways; soil matrix; root length density; root biomass.

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Section: Role Of Root Biomass In Soil Preferential Flow Of Forest Ecomentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of fine root length density and root biomass on soil preferential flow in forest ecosystems

et al. 2015

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“…During the cleaning and scanning procedure, a visual assessment was made whether fine roots were still alive or dead. The decision was made upon colour and flexibility of roots (Persson 1983). All the roots (live and dead) were scanned with a WinRhizo LA 1600 scanner with a resolution of 300 dots per inch (Figure 1), and analysed with the WinRhizo software (Regent Instruments, Quebec, Canada).…”

Section: Root Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A 0.25 mm interval was used for root diameter from 0 to 1 mm, a 0.5 mm interval for diameters between 1 and 2 mm, and roots larger than 2 mm. Fine roots are here defined as those with a diameter of 0-2 mm; coarse roots have a diameter >2 mm (Persson 1983). Roots biomass was obtained after drying at 65°C.…”

Section: Root Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Root trenching: a useful tool to estimate autotrophic soil respiration? A case study in an Austrian mountain forest

et al. 2008

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We conducted a trenching experiment in a mountain forest in order to assess the contribution of the autotrophic respiration to total soil respiration and evaluate trenching as a technique to achieve it. We hypothesised that the trenching experiment would alter both microbial biomass and microbial community structure and that fine roots (less than 2 mm diameter) would be decomposed within one growing season. Soil C0 2 efflux was measured roughly biweekly over two growing seasons. Root presence and morphology parameters, as well as the soil microbial community were measured prior to trenching, 5 and 15 months after trenching. The trenched plots emitted about 20 and 30% less C0 2 than the control plots in the first and second growing season, respectively. Roots died in trenched plots, but root decay was slow. After 5 and 15 months, fine root biomass was decreased by 9% (not statistically different) and 30%, (statistically different) respectively. When we corrected for the additional trenched-plot C0 2 efflux due to fine root decomposition, the autotrophic soil respiration rose to ~26% of the total soil respiration for the first growing season, and to ~44% for the second growing season. Soil microbial biomass and community structure was not altered by the end of the second growing season. We conclude that trenching can give accurate estimates of the autotrophic and heterotrophic components of soil respiration, if methodological side effects are accounted for, only.

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“…Most studies of litter dynamics in forest ecosystems have concentrated on above-ground litter because it can obviously contribute large amounts of organic matter to the soil and because it is easier to manipulate than roots. Recently, the contribution of fine roots to primary production, litter, decomposition and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems has been shown to be very important (Fogel, 1980;Fogel and Hunt, 1979;Grier et al, 1981;McClaugherty et al, 1984;Persson, 1983;Saterson and Vitousek, 1984;Vogt et al, 1982). However, fine root dynamics are still poorly understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decomposition of roots of black alder and hybrid poplar in short-rotation plantings: Nitrogen and lignin control

1991

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The decomposition of the roots (0-2 mm, 2-5 mm and 5-10 mm) of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and hybrid poplar (Populus nigra L. X Populus trichocarpa Torr & Gray) was followed over a 462-day period in pure and mixed plantings in southern Quebec. Small roots of alder had the highest initial concentrations of nitrogen and lignin, and lost 9 and 10% less mass than medium and large roots, respectively. Large roots of poplar had the highest lignin-to-nitrogen ratio and showed the smallest loss of mass over the total incubation period. Slow root decomposition of black alder and hybrid poplar was characterized by a greater proportion of initial root nitrogen immobilized per unit of carbon respired. Lignin concentration in roots of alder and poplar increased rapidly at the beginning of the incubation. Our results suggest that high levels of nitrogen in roots of alder could contribute in slowing the rate of decomposition by allowing the formation of nitrogen-lignin derivatives and low levels of nitrogen in roots of poplar may limit the growth of microorganisms and the rate of root decomposition. A multiple regression was developed using initial nitrogen, lignin concentration and the ratio of lignin to nitrogen to produce an index of the rate of root decomposition. The correlation between the index values and the percentage of residual root mass was significant (r = 0.98, p < 0.01).

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The distribution and productivity of fine roots in boreal forests

Cited by 271 publications

References 30 publications

Effects of fine root length density and root biomass on soil preferential flow in forest ecosystems

Effects of fine root length density and root biomass on soil preferential flow in forest ecosystems

Root trenching: a useful tool to estimate autotrophic soil respiration? A case study in an Austrian mountain forest

Decomposition of roots of black alder and hybrid poplar in short-rotation plantings: Nitrogen and lignin control

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