Size and Structure of Fine Root Systems in Old-growth and Secondary Tropical Montane Forests (Costa Rica)

The fine root systems of three tropical montane forests differing in age and history were investigated in the Cordillera Talamanca, Costa Rica. We analyzed abundance, vertical distribution, and morphology of fine roots in an early successional forest (10–15 years old, ESF), a mid‐successional forest (40 years old, MSP), and a nearby undisturbed old‐growth forest (OGF), and related the root data to soil morphological and chemical parameters. The OGF stand contained a 19 cm deep organic layer on the forest floor (i.e., 530 mol C/m²), which was two and five times thicker than that of the MSF (10 cm) and ESF stands (4 cm), respectively. There was a corresponding decrease in fine root biomass in this horizon from 1128 g dry matter/m² in the old‐growth forest to 337 (MSF) and 31 g/m² (ESF) in the secondary forests, although the stands had similar leaf areas. The organic layer was a preferred substrate for fine root growth in the old‐growth forest as indicated by more than four times higher fine root densities (root mass per soil volume) than in the mineral topsoil (0–10 cm); in the two secondary forests, root densities in the organic layer were equal to or lower than in the mineral soil. Specific fine root surface areas and specific root tip abundance (tips per unit root dry mass) were significantly greater in the roots of the ESF than the MSF and OGF stands. Most roots of the ESF trees (8 abundant species) were infected by VA mycorrhizal fungi; ectomycorrhizal species (Quercus copeyemis and Q. costaricensis) were dominant in the MSF and OGF stands. Replacement of tropical montane oak forest by secondary forest in Costa Rica has resulted in (1) a large reduction of tree fine root biomass; (2) a substantial decrease in depth of the organic layer (and thus in preferred rooting space); and (3) a great loss of soil carbon and nutrients. Whether old–growth Quercus forests maintain a very high fine root biomass because their ectomycorrhizal rootlets are less effective in nutrient absorption than those of VA mycorrhizal secondary forests, or if their nutrient demand is much higher than that of secondary forests (despite a similar leaf area and leaf mass production), remains unclear.     

Effects of short-term nitrogen addition on fine root biomass,lifespan and morphology of Castanopsis platyacantha in a subtropical secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest

Aims Fine roots are the principal parts for plant nutrients acquisition and play an important role in the underground ecosystem. Increased nitrogen (N) deposition has changed the soil environment and thus has a potential influence on fine roots. The purpose of this study is to reveal the effect of N deposition on biomass, lifespan and morphology of fine root.Methods A field N addition experiment was conducted in a secondary broad-leaved forest in subtropical China from May 2013 to September 2015. Three levels of N treatments: CK (no N added), LN (5 g·m^-2·a^-1), and HN (15 g·m^-2·a^-1) were applied monthly. Responses of fine root biomass, lifespan, and morphology of Castanopsis platyacantha to N addition were analyzed by using a minirhizotron image system from April 2014 to September 2015. Surface soil sample (0-10 cm) was collected in November 2014 and soil pH value, and concentrations of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N were measured.Important findings The biomass and average lifespan of the fine roots of C. platyacantha were 128.30 g·m^-3 and 113-186 days, respectively, in 0-45 cm soil layer. Nitrogen addition had no significant effect on either fine root biomass or lifespan in 0-45 cm soil layer. However, LN treatment significantly decreased C. platyacantha root superficial area in 0-15 cm soil layer. HN treatment significantly decreased soil pH value. Our study indicated that short-term N addition influences soil inorganic N concentration and thus decreased pH value in surface soil, and thereafter affect fine root morphology. Short-term N addition, however, did not affect the fine root biomass, lifespan and morphology in subsoil.     

Estimating Fine Root Turnover in Tropical Forests along an Elevational Transect using Minirhizotrons

Growth and death of fine roots represent an important carbon sink in forests. Our understanding of the patterns of fine root turnover is limited, in particular in tropical forests, despite its acknowledged importance in the global carbon cycle. We used the minirhizotron technique for studying the changes in fine root longevity and turnover along a 2000-m-elevational transect in the tropical mountain forests of South Ecuador. Fine root growth and loss rates were monitored during a 5-mo period at intervals of four weeks with each 10 minirhizotron tubes in three stands at 1050, 1890, and 3060 m asl. Average root loss rate decreased from 1.07 to 0.72 g/g/yr from 1050 to 1890 m, indicating an increase in mean root longevity with increasing elevation. However average root loss rate increased again toward the uppermost stand at 3060 m (1.30 g/g/yr). Thus, root longevity increased from lower montane to mid-montane elevation as would be expected from an effect of low temperature on root turnover, but it decreased further upslope despite colder temperatures. We suggest that adverse soil conditions may reduce root longevity at high elevations in South Ecuador, and are thus additional factors besides temperature that control root dynamics in tropical mountain forests.     

Investment in Fine Roots and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Decrease During Succession in Three Brazilian Ecosystems

The functional groups of plants that characterize different phases of succession are expected to show differences in root distribution, fine‐root traits and degrees of association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The relationship involving fine‐root traits and AM fungi that regulate the nutrient acquisition potential among different plant functional groups are still not well understood. We assessed fine‐root morphology, AM fungal variables and soil fertility in grassland, secondary forest and mature forest in Atlantic, Araucaria and Pantanal ecosystems in Brazil. Soil cores were collected at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths. Fine roots were extracted from soil by sieving and root morphological traits and AM colonization were determined. The AM spores were extracted from soil and counted. In all ecosystems, soil fertility, fine‐root mass and root diameter increased with the succession, while root length, specific root length, root‐hair length, root‐hair incidence, AM colonization and AM spore density decreased. These results suggest that plant species from early stages of tropical succession with inherent rapid growth invest in fine roots and maintain a high degree of AM colonization in order to increase the capacity for nutrient acquisition. Conversely, fine root morphological characteristics and low degree of AM colonization exhibited by plants of the later stages of succession lead toward a low nutrient uptake capacity that combine with their typical low growth rates. Abstract in Portuguese is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp .     

青海省森林细根生物量及其影响因子

细根是植物吸收水分和养分的主要器官。全球变暖背景下,研究森林细根生物量及其环境因子的变化对生态系统碳平衡、碳收支及其贡献率具有重要意义。采用土钻法和室内分析法对青海省森林6个海拔梯度上5种林分类型的细根生物量和土壤理化性质进行测定,并分析了与环境因子之间的相互关系。结果表明:(1)青海省森林0—40 cm土层总细根生物量平均为8.50 t/hm~2,随着海拔梯度的增加先降低后升高,不同海拔梯度细根生物量差异显著(P0.05),最大值出现在2100—2400 m处。(2)5种林分0—40 cm土层总细根生物量为:白桦白杨云杉圆柏山杨,不同林分间细根生物量差异不显著。(3)细根垂直分布随土层深度增加而减少,且70%的细根集中在表层(0—20 cm)。(4)土壤容重深层(20—40 cm)显著大于表层(P0.05),并随海拔梯度逐步增加,且林分间差异较大。(5)全碳(Total carbon, TC)、全氮(Total nitrogen, TN)、全磷(Total phosphorus, TP)含量表层显著高于深层。TC、TN随海拔升高先增后降低,TP则随海拔逐步降低。不同林分间土壤养分差异较明显。(6)结构方程模型分析得到海拔、土层、容重直接影响细根生物量,细根生物量直接影响土壤养分。林分类型通过土壤容重间接影响细根生物量。因此,林分和海拔通过影响土壤微环境而影响到细根生物量及其空间分布格局。     

中亚热带森林植物多样性增加导致细根生物量“超产”

细根在森林生态系统C分配和养分循环过程中发挥着重要作用, 但对地下细根与植物多样性之间关系的研究相对较少。该研究选择中亚热带从单一树种的杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林到多树种的常绿阔叶林(青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)-石栎(Lithocarpus glaber)林)的不同植物多样性梯度, 用根钻法采集细根并测定其生物量, 用Win-RHIZO 2005C根系分析系统测定细根形态参数, 以验证以下3个假设: 1)植物种类丰富度高的林分其细根生产存在“地下超产”现象; 2)根系空间生态位的分离水平是否随着植物多样性增多而增大? 3)细根是否通过形态可塑性对林木竞争做出响应?结果显示: 从单一树种的杉木人工林到植物种类较复杂的青冈-石栎常绿阔叶林, 0-30 cm土层的林分细根总生物量和活细根生物量均呈增加的趋势, 即细根总生物量为杉木林(305.20 g·m^-2) <马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林(374.25 g·m^-2) <南酸枣(Choerospondias axillaris)林(537.42 g·m^-2) <青冈林(579.33 g·m^-2), 活细根生物量为杉木林(268.74 g·m^-2) <马尾松林(299.15 g·m^-2) <南酸枣林(457.32 g·m^-2) <青冈林(508.47 g·m^-2), 各森林类型之间的细根总生物量差异显著(p < 0.05), 但活细根生物量差异不显著。土壤垂直剖面上, 除杉木林细根生物量随土层变化不显著外, 其他森林类型的活细根生物量和总细根生物量均随土层变化显著, 表层细根生物量随树种多样性的升高呈减小趋势, 据此推测树种间的生态位分离水平逐渐增大。植物多样性的不同对林分的细根形态及空间分布格局影响不显著, 细根形态可塑性对生物量变化响应不明显。     

Changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and fine root traits in sites under different plant successional phases in southern Brazil

Fine root morphological traits and distribution, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, soil fertility, and nutrient concentration in fine root tissue were compared in sites under different successional phases: grass plants, secondary forest, and mature forest in Londrina county, Paraná state, southern Brazil. Soil cores were collected randomly at the 0-10- and 10-20-cm depths in three quadrants (50 m2) in each site. Plants from the different successional stages displayed high differences in fine root distribution, fine root traits, and mycorrhizal root colonization. There were increases in the concentration of nutrients both in soil and fine roots and decrease of bulk soil density along the succession. The fine root biomass and diameter increased with the succession progress. The total fine root length, specific root length, root hair length, and root hair incidence decreased with the succession advance. Similarly, the mycorrhizal root colonization and the density of AM fungi spores in the soil decreased along the succession. Mycorrhizal root colonization and spore density were positively correlated with fine root length, specific root length, root hair length, root hair incidence, and bulk density and negatively correlated with fine root diameter and concentration of some nutrients both in soil and root tissues. Nutrient concentration in root tissue and in soil was positively correlated with fine root diameter and negatively correlated with specific root length, root hair length, and root hair incidence. These results suggest different adaptation strategies of plant roots for soil exploration and mineral acquisition among the different successional stages. Early successional stages displayed plants with fine root morphology and AM fungi colonization to improve the root functional efficiencies for uptake of nutrients and faster soil resource exploration. Late successional stages displayed plants with fine root morphology and mycorrhizal symbiosis for both a lower rate of soil proliferation and soil exploration capacity to acquire nutrients.     

Soil fertility and fine root dynamics in response to 4 years of nutrient (N,P, K) fertilization in a lowland tropical moist forest,Panama

The question of how tropical trees cope with infertile soils has been challenging to address, in part, because fine root dynamics must be studied in situ. We used annual fertilization with nitrogen (N as urea, 12.5 g N m^?2 year^?1), phosphorus (P as superphosphate, 5 g P m^?2 year^?1) and potassium (K as KCl, 5 g K m^?2 year^?1) within 38 ha of old‐growth lowland tropical moist forest in Panama and examined fine root dynamics with minirhizotron images. We expected that added P, above all, would (i) decrease fine root biomass but, (ii) have no impact on fine root turnover. Soil in the study area was moderately acidic (pH = 5.28), had moderate concentrations of exchangeable base cations (13.4 cmol kg^?1), low concentrations of Bray‐extractable phosphate (PO₄ = 2.2 mg kg^?1), and modest concentrations of KCl‐extractable nitrate (NO₃ = 5.0 mg kg^?1) and KCl‐extractable ammonium (NH₄ = 15.5 mg kg^?1). Added N increased concentrations of KCl‐extractable NO₃ and acidified the soil by one pH unit. Added P increased concentrations of Bray‐extractable PO₄ and P in the labile fraction. Concentrations of exchangeable K were elevated in K addition plots but reduced by N additions. Fine root dynamics responded to added K rather than added P. After 2 years, added K decreased fine root biomass from 330 to 275 g m^?2. The turnover coefficient of fine roots <1 mm diameter ranged from 2.6 to 4.4 per year, and the largest values occurred in plots with added K. This study supported the view that biomass and dynamics of fine roots respond to soil nutrient availability in species‐rich, lowland tropical moist forest. However, K rather than P elicited root responses. Fine roots smaller than 1 mm have a short lifetime (<140 days), and control of fine root production by nutrient availability in tropical forests deserves more study.     

喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被恢复阶段细根生物量、形态特征及其影响因素

以喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被恢复阶段的草丛、灌丛、次生林和原生林为研究对象,采用土芯法,分0~10、10~20、20~30 cm等3层获取群落活细根(直径≤2 mm),分析其生物量、形态特征及其与土壤性状的关系.结果表明:各恢复阶段细根生物量为194.63~255.19g·m^-2,集中分布在0~10 cm表层土壤中,占0~30 cm土层总生物量60%以上,不同恢复阶段群落生物量的差异不显著;细根比根长和比表面积在不同恢复阶段差异显著,随着植被由草丛向原生林正向恢复而逐渐降低;超过66%的根长和64%的根面积分布在0~10 cm表层土壤中,多数细根根长和根面积均在0~0.5 mm和0.5~1 mm径级,这两级根长和根面积占其总量的87%和72%以上.冗余分析表明,喀斯特峰丛洼地植物群落细根特征与土壤性状之间存在着不同的相关性,其中土壤有机碳、速效钾和全氮对细根特征影响较大.这是植物长期适应生境条件形成的有效策略.     

长白山原始阔叶红松（Pinus koraiensis）林及其次生林细根生物量与垂直分布特征

以我国东北长白山自然保护区内同一海拔梯度的原始阔叶红松林及其次生林——白桦山杨成熟林和白桦山杨幼林为对象,采用土钻取样法对不同演替阶段细根生物量的变化、细根垂直分布规律及其影响因子进行系统地研究。研究结果表明,在原始阔叶红松林的正向演替过程中,林地细根的总生物量逐渐增加,其中主要乔木细根的生物量逐渐增加,而灌木和草本细根的生物量则逐渐降低。在演替过程中,细根的垂直分布逐渐加深。在长白山地区,3块林地中细根生物量的组成分布受林分植被组成的影响;细根的垂直分布与土壤容重、水分含量以及不同土层中C、N含量存在一定的相关性,但与土壤温度则不存在相关关系。     

帽儿山温带落叶阔叶林细根生物量、生产力和周转率

细根在森林生态系统能量流动与物质循环中占有重要地位,但其生物量、生产和周转测定尚存在很大的不确定性,而且局域尺度空间变异机制尚不清楚。本研究分析了帽儿山温带天然次生林活细根生物量和死细根生物量在0～100 cm剖面的垂直分布与0～20 cm细根的季节动态、生产力和周转率,对比了采用连续根钻法(包括决策矩阵法和极差法)和内生长袋(直径3和5 cm)估测细根生产力和细根周转率,并探讨了可能影响细根的林分因子。结果表明: 76.8%的活细根生物量和62.9%的死细根生物量均集中在0～20 cm土层,随着深度增加,二者均呈指数形式减少。活细根生物量和死细根生物量的季节变化不显著,可能与冬季几乎无降雪而夏季降雨异常多有关。2种直径内生长袋估计的细根生产力无显著差异;对数转换后决策矩阵、极差法和内生长法估计的细根生产力和细根周转率差异显著。随着土壤养分增加,活细根生物量和死细根生物量比值显著增加,死细根生物量显著减少,但活细根生物量、细根生产力和细根周转率均无显著变化;细根周转率与前一年地上木质生物量增长量呈显著正相关,但与当年地上木质生物量增长量无显著相关关系。     

落叶松人工林细根动态与土壤资源有效性关系研究

树木细根在森林生态系统C和养分循环中具有重要的作用。由于温带土壤资源有效性具有明显的季节变化, 导致细根生物量、根长密度 (Rootlengthdensity, RLD) 和比根长 (Specificrootlength, SRL) 的季节性变化。以 17年生落叶松 (Larixgmelini) 人工林为研究对象, 采用根钻法从 5月到 10月连续取样, 研究了不同土层细根 (直径≤ 2mm) 生物量、RLD和SRL的季节动态, 以及这些根系指标动态与土壤水分、温度和N有效性的关系。结果表明 :1) 落叶松细根年平均生物量 (活根 +死根 ) 为 189.1g·m-2 ·a-1, 其中 5 0 %分布在表层 (0~ 10cm), 33%分布在亚表层 (11~ 2 0cm), 17%分布在底层 (2 1~ 30cm) 。活根和死根生物量在 5~ 7月以及 9月较高, 8月和 10月较低。从春季 (5月 ) 到秋季 (10月 ), 随着活细根生物量的减少, 死细根生物量增加 ;2 ) 土壤表层 (0~ 10cm) 具有较高的RLD和SRL, 而底层 (2 1~ 30cm) 最低。春季 (5月 ) 总RLD和SRL最高, 分别为 10 6 2 1.4 5m·m-3 和 14.83m·g-1, 到秋季 (9月 ) 树木生长结束后达到最低值, 分别为 2 198.2 0m·m-3 和 3.77m·g-1;3) 细根生物量、RLD和SRL与土壤水分、温度和有效N存在不同程度的相关性。从单因子分析来看, 土壤水分和有效N对细根的影响明显大于温度, 对活根的影响大于死根。由于土壤资源有效性的季节变化, 使得C的地下分配格局发生改变。各土层细根与有效性资源之间的相关性反映了细根功能季节性差异。细根 (生物量、RLD和SRL) 的季节动态 (5 8%~ 73%的变异 ) 主要由土壤资源有效性的季节变化引起。     

Seasonal dynamics of fine root biomass,root length density,specific root length,and soil resource availability in a Larix gmelinii plantation

Fine root tumover is a major pathway for carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and is most likely sensitive to many global change factors.Despite the importance of fine root turnover in plant C allocation and nutrient cycling dynamics and the tremendous research efforts in the past,our understanding of it remains limited.This is because the dynamics processes associated with soil resources availability are still poorly understood.Soil moisture,temperature,and available nitrogen are the most important soil characteristics that impact fine root growth and mortality at both the individual root branch and at the ecosystem level.In temperate forest ecosystems,seasonal changes of soil resource availability will alter the pattern of carbon allocation to belowground.Therefore,fine root biomass,root length density(RLD)and specific root length(SRL)vary during the growing season.Studying seasonal changes of fine root biomass,RLD,and SRL associated with soil resource availability will help us understand the mechanistic controls of carbon to fine root longevity and turnover.The objective of this study was to understand whether seasonal variations of fine root biomass,RLD and SRL were associated with soil resource availability,such as moisture,temperature,and nitrogen,and to understand how these soil components impact fine root dynamics in Larix gmelinii plantation.We used a soil coring method to obtain fine root samples(≤2 mm in diameter)every month from Mav to October in 2002 from a 17-year-old L.gmelinii plantation in Maoershan Experiment Station,Northeast Forestry University,China.Seventy-two soil cores(inside diameter 60 mm;depth intervals:0-10 cm,10-20 cm,20-30 cm)were sampled randomly from three replicates 25 m×30 m plots to estimate fine root biomass(live and dead),and calculate RLD and SRL.Soil moisture,temperature,and nitrogen(ammonia and nitrates)at three depth intervals were also analyzed in these plots.Results showed that the average standing fine root biomass(live (32.2 g.m-2.a-1)in the middle(10-20 cm)and deep layer (20-30cm),respectively.Live and dead fine root biomass was the highest from May to July and in September,but lower in August and October.The live fine root biomass decreased and dead biomass increased during the growing soil layer.RLD and SRL in May were the highestthe other months,and RLD was the lowest in Septemberdynamics of fine root biomass,RLD,and SRL showed a close relationship with changes in soil moisture,temperature,and nitrogen availability.To a lesser extent,the temperature could be determined by regression analysis.Fine roots in the upper soil layer have a function of absorbing moisture and nutrients,while the main function of deeper soil may be moisture uptake rather than nutrient acquisition.Therefore,carbon allocation to roots in the upper soil layer and deeper soil layer was different.Multiple regression analysis showed that variation in soil resource availability could explain 71-73% of the seasonal variation of RLD and SRL and 58% of the variation in fine root biomass.These results suggested a greater metabolic activity of fine roots living in soil with higher resource availability,which resulted in an increased allocation of carbohydrate to these roots,but a lower allocation of carbohydrate to those in soil with lower resource availability.     

A cyclical but asynchronous pattern of fine root and woody biomass production in a hardwood forest of southern Quebec and its relationships with annual variation of temperature and nutrient availability

In contrast to the well-documented seasonal variation in growth of below- and above-ground components of trees, the annual variation in below- and aboveground production is not well understood. In this study, we report on the monitoring of an unmanaged hardwood forest ecosystem in a small watershed of southern Quebec between 1993 and 1999. Below- and above-ground biomass production, leaf and soil solution chemistry, and air temperature were measured at different regular intervals and are reported on an annual basis. The objective of the study was to describe the annual dynamics of carbon partitioning between below- and above-ground tree components and to gain a better understanding of the soil and climatic factors that govern it. Fine root production peaked one year earlier than woody biomass production and years with high production of fine roots had low woody biomass production. All models that included May temperature in the calculation of the predicting/independent variables were significant predictors of total tree biomass production (r > 0.87). Fine root production was associated negatively with the previous year average growing season temperature (r < -0.84). Soil solution NO₃ ^–, NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^– + NH₄ ⁺ concentrations were positively correlated with fine root production (r > 0.72) and negatively correlated with woody biomass production (r < -0.84). Leaf N and P concentrations were negatively correlated (r = -0.99 and r = -0.98, respectively) with fine root production for the period of 1994–1998. Our results suggest that a cool growing season, and in particular a cool month of October, is likely to result in low fine root production and nutrient uptake the following year and, therefore, to increase soil N availability and decrease leaf N. This initial response is thought to be the first step of a feedback loop involving plant N nutrition, soil N availability, fine root growth and aboveground biomass production that led to a cyclical (3–4 years) but asynchronous production of fine roots and aboveground biomass production.     

增温下土壤资源异质分布对杉木幼苗生长的影响

在福建三明森林生态系统与全球变化研究站陈大观测点开展大气温度控制、土壤温度控制和土壤资源分布3因子试验,探讨土壤资源异质分布和增温对杉木幼苗地下和地上生长的影响,以及增温是否能改变杉木幼苗细根对土壤资源异质分布的识别度,以明确杉木人工林在全球变暖背景下对土壤资源异质分布的响应.结果表明:杉木对土壤资源异质分布的识别度主要体现在吸收根(0~1 mm径级)上,而1~2 mm径级细根则不具有识别度.除了单独大气增温处理对杉木1~2 mm径级细根的避贫系数具有显著影响外,不同增温处理均未对杉木幼树细根的贫富比、趋富系数和避贫系数产生显著影响.与土壤资源均质分布相比,土壤资源异质分布增加了0~1 mm径级细根生物量,降低了树高.与无大气增温相比,大气增温降低了0~1和0~2 mm径级细根生物量,增加了树高.与无土壤增温相比,土壤增温降低了1~2 mm径级细根生物量,但增加了树高和侧枝长度.大气增温控制、土壤增温控制和土壤资源异质分布对杉木地下、地上生长都无显著交互作用.杉木幼苗吸收根本身对土壤资源异质分布具有识别度,但增温并不会改变杉木幼苗细根对土壤资源异质分布的识别度.     

Patterns of Fine Root Mass and Distribution along a Disturbance Gradient in a Tropical Montane Forest, Central Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Large parts of the remaining tropical moist forests of South-east Asia are encroached at their margins by selective logging, rattan harvesting and the establishment of small agroforest plantations under the rainforest canopy. These slight to heavy disturbances affect aboveground forest structure by reducing wood biomass and canopy cover; however, they may also have a profound impact on the belowground compartment. In a lower montane moist forest of Central Sulawesi, we studied the profile totals of fine root biomass (FRB_tot, roots <2 mm until 50 cm of soil depth) and of fine root necromass (FRN_tot), the vertical distribution of fine root mass, and the fine root live/dead ratio by root coring in 12 forest stands that represented a gradient in forest use (or disturbance) intensity (forest use type A: undisturbed natural forest, B and C: slightly or moderately disturbed forests with selective timber extraction, D: heavily disturbed cacao agroforest systems under a remaining rainforest cover; each forest types being replicated three times). FRB_tot decreased significantly from forest A to the disturbed B, C and D forests, and reached less than 60% of the FRB_tot value of A in the agroforest systems D. A similar decrease with increasing disturbance intensity was found for FRN_tot. Forest disturbance intensity had no significant influence on the vertical distribution of fine root biomass in the profiles. According to correlation and principal components analyses, fractional canopy cover was the most important factor influencing FRB_tot and FRN_tot, whereas diameter at breast height, stand basal area, stem density, soil pH and base saturation had only a minor or no influence on root mass. A reduction in canopy cover from 90% (forest type A) to 75% (types C and D) was associated with a reduction in FRB_tot by about 45% which indicates that timber extraction leads not only to canopy gaps but to corresponding ‘root gaps’ in the soil as well. We conclude that forest encroachment that is widespread in large parts of South-east Asia’s remaining rainforests significantly reduces tree fine root biomass and associated carbon sequestration, even if it is conducted at moderate intensities only.     

华西雨屏区香樟人工林土壤表层细根生物量和碳储量

2010年11月-2011年12月, 研究了华西雨屏区31年生香樟人工林土壤表层(0～30 cm)细根生物量及碳储量.结果表明: 香樟人工林土壤0～30 cm层细根总生物量(活根+死根)和碳储量的平均值分别为1592.29 kg·hm^-2和660.68 kg C·hm^-2,其中活细根贡献率分别为91.1%和91.8%.随着土壤深度的增加,香樟1～5级活细根和死细根的生物量及碳储量均显著减少;随着根序等级的升高,香樟活细根生物量及碳储量显著增加.香樟细根总生物量及碳储量均在秋季最高、冬季最低,死细根生物量及碳储量为冬季最高、夏季最低;1级根和2级根生物量及碳储量均在夏季最高、冬季最低,而3~5级根则为秋季最高、冬季最低.土壤养分和水分的空间异质性是导致细根生物量和碳储量变化的主要原因.     

中亚热带细柄阿丁枫和米槠群落细根的生产和死亡动态

采用微根管技术与挖掘法相结合的方式对福建省万木林自然保护区细柄阿丁枫和米槠天然林细根生产和死亡动态进行了为期两年多的观测,分析细根生产和死亡的季节变化、垂直分布及径级和序级分配,并估计细根的年生产量和年死亡量.结果表明:细柄阿丁枫细根年生产量和年死亡量分别为(230.1±162.8) g·m-2·a-1和(188.8±75.5)g·m-2· a-1,均略大于米槠的(214.5±185.8) g·m-2·a-1和(178.8±26.5) g·m-2·a-1,但两种森林群落的细根年生产量和年死亡量均无显著差异(P＞0.05).两森林群落细根生产均在春季达到高峰,其中米槠细根生产与月降水量呈极显著相关(P＜0.01,r=0.566);细根死亡则呈现季节性地波动,米槠细根死亡峰值主要发生于夏季和秋季,而细柄阿丁枫则出现在秋季.两森林群落细根生产和死亡皆主要集中于土壤表层0-40 cm中,而且不同径级细根生产和死亡集中于0-1 mm细根中,其中0.3-0.6 mm细根的生产和死亡在两森林群落中均最大.两森林群落一级根的生产和死亡均大于高级根.     

Stand fine root biomass and fine root morphology in old-growth beech forests as a function of precipitation and soil fertility

Only very limited information exists on the plasticity in size and structure of fine root systems, and fine root morphology of mature trees as a function of environmental variation. Six northwest German old-growth beech forests (Fagus sylvatica L.) differing in precipitation (520 – 1030 mm year^–1) and soil acidity/fertility (acidic infertile to basic fertile) were studied by soil coring for stand totals of fine root biomass (0–40 cm plus organic horizons), vertical and horizontal root distribution patterns, the fine root necromass/biomass ratio, and fine root morphology (root specific surface area, root tip frequency, and degree of mycorrhizal infection). Stand total of fine root biomass, and vertical and horizontal fine root distribution patterns were similar in beech stands on acidic infertile and basic fertile soils. In five of six stands, stand fine root biomass ranged between 320 and 470 g m^–2; fine root density showed an exponential decrease with soil depth in all profiles irrespective of soil type. An exceptionally small stand fine root biomass (<150 g m^–2) was found in the driest stand with 520 mm year^–1 of rainfall. In all stands, fine root morphological parameters changed markedly from the topsoil to the lower profile; differences in fine root morphology among the six stands, however, were remarkably small. Two parameters, the necromass/biomass ratio and fine root tip density (tips per soil volume), however, were both much higher in acidic than basic soils. We conclude that variation in soil acidity and fertility only weakly influences fine root system size and morphology of F. sylvatica, but affects root system structure and, probably, fine root mortality. It is hypothesized that high root tip densities in acidic infertile soils compensate for low nutrient supply rates, and large necromasses are a consequence of adverse soil chemical conditions. Data from a literature survey support the view that rainfall is another major environmental factor that influences the stand fine root biomass of F. sylvatica.     

Fine-root biomass and soil properties in a semideciduous and a lower montane rain forest in Panama

The distribution of root biomass and physical and chemical properties of the soils were studied in a semideciduous and in a lower montane rain forest in Panama. Roots and soil samples were taken by means of soil cores (25 cm deep) and divided into five, 5-cm deep sections. Soils were wet-sieved to retrieve the roots that were classified in four diameter classes: very fine roots (<1 mm), fine roots (1–2 mm), medium roots (2–5 mm) and coarse roots (5–50 mm). Soil samples were analyzed for organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity, pH, aluminium and exchangeable acidity. Total root biomass measured with the soil corer (roots <50 mm in diameter) was not different between the forests (9.45 t ha^-1), while biomass of very fine roots was larger in the mountains (2.00 t ha^-1) than in the lowlands (1.44 t ha^-1). The soils in the semideciduous forest were low in available phosphorus, while in the mountains, soils had low pH, high exchangeable aluminium and exchangeable acidity, and low concentration of exchangeable bases. Phosphorus was in high concentration only in the first 5 cm of the soil. In both forests, there was an exponential reduction of root biomass with increasing depth, and most of the variation in the vertical distribution of roots less than 2 mm in diameter was explained by the concentration of nitrogen in the soils. The results of this study support the hypothesis that a large root biomass in montane forests is related to nutrients in low concentration and diluted in organic soils with high CEC and low bulk density, and that fine root biomass in tropical forests in inversely related to calcium availability but not a phosphorus as has been suggested for other forests.