Fine root biomass and turnover of two fast-growing poplar genotypes in a short-rotation coppice culture

Background and aims

The quantification of root dynamics remains a major challenge in ecological research because root sampling is laborious and prone to error due to unavoidable disturbance of the delicate soil-root interface. The objective of the present study was to quantify the distribution of the biomass and turnover of roots of poplars (Populus) and associated understory vegetation during the second growing season of a high-density short rotation coppice culture.

Methods

Roots were manually picked from soil samples collected with a soil core from narrow (75 cm apart) and wide rows (150 cm apart) of the double-row planting system from two genetically contrasting poplar genotypes. Several methods of estimating root production and turnover were compared.

Results

Poplar fine root biomass was higher in the narrow rows than in the wide rows. In spite of genetic differences in above-ground biomass, annual fine root productivity was similar for both genotypes (ca. 44 g DM m^?2 year^?1). Weed root biomass was equally distributed over the ground surface, and root productivity was more than two times higher compared to poplar fine roots (ca. 109 g DM m^?2 year^?1).

Conclusions

Early in SRC plantation development, weeds result in significant root competition to the crop tree poplars, but may confer certain ecosystem services such as carbon input to soil and retention of available soil N until the trees fully occupy the site.     

三工河流域两种琵琶柴群落细根生物量、分解与周转

细根对植物群落功能的发挥和土壤碳库及全球碳循环具有重要意义。利用连续土钻取样法和分解袋法,于2010年5—10月整个生长季节内,对三工河流域两处长势不同的琵琶柴群落的细根(φ2mm)生物量、分解与周转规律及其与土壤环境的关系进行研究。结果表明,群落1和群落2土壤容重、土壤含水量、pH和电导率等土壤因子差异显著。两群落的细根生物量表现出相同的季节和垂直变化趋势,即在5—8月逐渐增加,8月达到最大值,9—10月份逐渐下降。平均月细根生物量分别为51.55g/m2和133.93 g/m2。群落1的活细根和死细根分别占总细根生物量的69.68%和30.32%,群落2活细根和死细根分别占总细根生物量的72.61%和27.39%。在垂直变化上,随土壤深度增加细根生物量先增加后逐渐降低,其中10—20cm土壤层次细根生物量比例最大,群落1和群落2分别占46.48%和29.15%。群落1和群落2的细根年分解率分别为34.82%、42.91%。达到半分解和95%分解时,群落1需要630 d和2933 d,群落2需要467 d和2238 d。群落1和群落2的细根净生产力分别为50.67 g/m2和178.15 g/m2,细根年周转率分别为1.41次、1.69次。逐步回归分析结果显示细根动态受土壤水分、pH值、电导度等土壤因子的显著影响,琵琶柴细根具有相对较低的分解速率和较高的周转速率。     

Fine root turnover of irrigated hedgerow intercropping in Northern Kenya

Fine root turnover (<2 mm) was determined from repeated measurements of root distribution up to 120 cm soil depth by core sampling in four month intervals. Sole cropped Sorghum bicolor and Acacia saligna were compared with the agroforestry combination in an alley cropping system in semiarid Northern Kenya. Three methods for the calculation of root production were used: the max-min, balancing-transfer and compartment-flow method. The highest root biomass was found in the topsoil for all cropping systems, though trees had a deeper root system. Trees and crops had a similar amount of below-ground biomass during the vegetation period (0.3 and 0.4 Mg DM ha^-1 120 cm^-1), but in the agroforestry combination root biomass was more than the sum of the sole cropped systems (1.1 Mg DM ha^-1 120 cm^-1). The tree system showed a very static root development with little fluctuation between seasons, whereas root biomasses were very dynamic in the crop and tree + crop systems. Root production was highest in the tree + crop combination with 2.1 Mg DM ha^-1 a^-1, with about 50% less in sole cropped trees and crops. Root N input to soil decreased in the order tree + crop>tree>crop system with 13.5, 11.0 and 3.2 kg N ha^-1 a^-1, and cannot be estimated from total below-ground biomass or carbon turnover, as N is accumulated in senescing roots. Such low N input to soil stresses the need for investigating other processes of nutrient input from roots to soil. Areas of highest N input were identified in the topsoil under the tree row in the tree system. Resource utilisation and C and N input to soil were highest with a combination of annual and perennial crops.     

Fine root biomass,production and turnover rates in plantations versus natural forests: effects of stand characteristics and soil properties

Plant and Soil - Priming effect (PE) of soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition induced by exogenous organic C is an important ecological process in regulating the soil C cycle. The objective of...     

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...     

Fine root heterogeneity by branch order: exploring the discrepancy in root turnover estimates between minirhizotron and carbon isotopic methods

Fine roots constitute a large and dynamic component of the carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. The reported fivefold discrepancy in turnover estimates between median longevity (ML) from minirhizotrons and mean residence time (MRT) using carbon isotopes may have global consequences. Here, a root branch order-based model and a simulated factorial experiment were used to examine four sources of error. Inherent differences between ML, a number-based measure, and MRT, a mass-based measure, and the inability of the MRT method to account for multiple replacements of rapidly cycling roots were the two sources of error that contributed more to the disparity than did the improper choice of root age distribution models and sampling bias. Sensitivity analysis showed that the rate at which root longevity increases as order increases was the most important factor influencing the disparity between ML and MRT. Assessing root populations for each branch order may substantially reduce the errors in longevity estimates of the fine root guild. Our results point to the need to acquire longevity estimates of different orders, particularly those of higher orders.     

武夷山甜槠林细根生物量和生长量研究

对武夷山甜槠林细根生物量和生长量的季节动态及其在不同群落发育阶段下的变化进行了初步研究,并对细根在养分归还中的作用进行了分析．结果表明,甜槠成熟林细根生物量为１０．６４５ｔ·ｈｍ－２,生长量为７．３７１５ｔ·ｈｍ－２·ａ－１,分解量为４．６７７５ｔ·ｈｍ－２·ａ－１,年周转率０．６９次;细根生物量和生长量随林龄增长的变化模式为单峰型曲线,生物量至３４龄时达到最大值,生长量至群落郁闭阶段（５８龄）达到最大值;甜槠成熟林中,通过细根死亡的Ｎ素归还量占群落年归还总量的４９．５％,多于凋落物途径,Ｐ、Ｍｇ归还量所占比例为４２．３％和２８．９％,略低于凋落物途径;Ｋ、Ｃａ归还以降水淋溶为主,其次是凋落物途径,而细根途径仅占总归还量的１９．３％和９．２％．     

Fine root biomass under light gap openings in an Amazon rain forest

Summary Belowground processes in light gap openings are poorly understood, particularly in tropical forests. Fine roots in three zones of light gap openings and adjacent intact forest were regularly measured in buried bags and surface litter envelopes for 2 years. Fine root biomass does not vary significantly within gaps for either buried bags or for surface litter envelopes. When entire gaps are compared without regard for within gap zones, root growth into both surface litter and buried bags is significantly different between gaps, with highest rates of fine root biomass accumulation in the smallest gap. These results suggest that the aboveground within-gap zones do not result in a congruent pattern of below-ground zonation. Gap size, decomposition of the fallen tree, and pre-gap fine root growth rates should be considered to determine fine root growth patterns following the formation of light gap openings.     

Fine root dynamics in two tropical dry evergreen forests in southern India

Seasonality in fine root standing crop and production was studied in two tropical dry evergreen forests viz., Marakkanam reserve forest (MRF) and Puthupet sacred grove (PSG) in the Coromandel coast of India. The study extended from December 89 to December 91 in MRF and from August 90 to December 91 in PSG with sampling at every 2 months. Total fine interval. Mean fine root standing crop was 134 g m⁻² in MRF and 234 g m⁻² in PSG. root production was 104 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ in MRF and 117 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ in PSG. These estimates lie within the range for fine roots reported for various tropical forests. Rootmass showed a pronounced seasonal pattern with unimodal peaks obtained during December in the first year and from October–December in the second year in MRF. In PSG greater rootmass was noticed from June–October than other times of sampling. The total root mass in MRF ranged from 114 to 145 g m−2 at the 13 sampling dates in the three sites. The live biomass fraction of fine roots in MRF ranged from 46 to 203 g m⁻² and in PSG it ranged from 141 to 359 g mm⁻² during the study periods. The dead necromass fraction of fine roots ranged from 6 to 37 g m⁻² in MRF and from 12 to 66 g m⁻² in PSG. Fine root production peaked during December in both the forest sites. The necromass fraction of newly produced roots was negligible. Total N was slightly greater in PSG than in MRF. Whereas total P level was almost similar in both the sites. The study revealed that season and site characteristics influenced fine root system.     

Structure and role of microbial communities in southern taiga soils

General regularities in the structure of the microbial communities of southern taiga soil ecosystems and taxonomic differences between the microbial communities of soils with different hydrothermal characteristics are discussed with reference to the main types of soils of the Central State Forest Biosphere Reserve.     

Fine root growth phenology,production, and turnover in a northern hardwood forest ecosystem

A large part of the nutrient flux in deciduous forests is through fine root turnover, yet this process is seldom measured. As part of a nutrient cycling study, fine root dynamics were studied for two years at Huntington Forest in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York, USA. Root growth phenology was characterized using field rhizotrons, three methods were used to estimate fine root production, two methods were used to estimate fine root mortality, and decomposition was estimated using the buried bag technique. During both 1986 and 1987, fine root elongation began in early April, peaked during July and August, and nearly ceased by mid-October. Mean fine root ( 3 mm diameter) biomass in the surface 28-cm was 2.5 t ha^–1 and necromass was 2.9 t ha^–1. Annual decomposition rates ranged from 17 to 30% beneath the litter and 27 to 52% at a depth of 10 cm. Depending on the method used for estimation, fine root production ranged from 2.0 to 2.9 t ha^–1, mortality ranged from 1.8 to 3.7 t ha^–1 yr^–1, and decomposition was 0.9 t ha^–1 yr^–1. Thus, turnover ranged from 0.8 to 1.2 yr^–1. The nutrients that cycled through fine roots annually were 4.5–6.1 kg Ca, 1.1–1.4 kg Mg, 0.3–0.4 kg K, 1.2–1.7 kg P, 20.3–27.3 kg N, and 1.8–2.4 kg S ha^–1. Fine root turnover was less important than leaf litterfall in the cycling of Ca and Mg and was similar to leaf litterfall in the amount of N, P, K and S cycled.     

三峡库区马尾松人工林细根生产和周转

2011年3-12月,采用连续根钻法和分解袋法,研究了三峡库区20年生马尾松人工林细根的季节动态,计算了细根的年生产量和周转率.结果表明:三峡库区马尾松人工林细根(＜2 mm)年均生物量为146.98 g·m-2,其中活细根年均生物量(102.92 g·m-2)远大于死细根生物量(44.06 g·m-2);不同径级细根现存量的时间动态不同,＜1 mm根系季节动态较为明显,整体呈单峰型曲线;马尾松人工林细根(＜2 mm)的年生产量为104.12 g·m-2·a-1,年周转率为1.05 a-1,其中＜1 mm和1～2 mm的年生产量分别为58.35和45.77 g·m-2·a-1,周转率为1.41和0.69 a-1.     

Fine root biomass and tree species effects on potential N mineralization in afforested sodic soils

The study was carried out under three types of plantation forest of 40 years, growing on infertile sodic soils, poor in organic matter and N content, of Indogangetic alluvium at Lucknow (26°45 N; 80°53 E). Fine root biomass estimated under three forests did not differ much with season, or with species (106–113 g m^-2) but varied with soil depth to 0.45 m. The proportion of very fine roots (<0.5 mm) increased with soil depth. Available N in soil was greatest under mixed forest followed by Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia nilotica planted soils. N was maximum in summer season and decreased with soil depth. Nitrogen mineralization during anerobic incubation of 14 days could not be differentiated by tree species, but the monsoon season favoured the process and winter season retarded it. Mineralization decreased with soil depth corresponding to fine roots. There was a reduction in bulk density of soil, pH and EC in forested soil compared to a similar but non forested soil, whereas, organic C and total N increased in forested soils. N mineralization was found to be affected significantly with the fine root biomass and available N content in the soils, whereas negative relations of mineralized N with pH and EC were noticed, though these were not significantly different in this study.     

黄土高原4种植被类型的细根生物量和年生产量

细根(≤2 mm)在陆地生态系统净初级生产力的分配中占有重要地位,在碳循环和水土保持方面具有重要意义. 本文采用土钻法和内生长法,以黄土高原刺槐人工林、落叶灌木、退耕草地和沙蒿群落4种主要植被类型为对象,研究0～40 cm土层细根生物量、垂直分布和细根年生产量. 结果表明： 细根生物量与纬度呈线性负相关. 4种植被类型0～40 cm土层细根生物量的大小顺序为落叶灌木(220 g·m^-2)>刺槐人工林(163 g·m^-2)≈退耕草地(162 g·m^-2)>沙蒿群落(79 g·m^-2). 退耕草地直径≤1 mm细根生物量占直径≤2 mm总细根生物量的74.1%,在4种植被类型中最高;4种植被类型细根生物量随着土层深度的增加而减少,最大值均出现在0～10 cm土层. 退耕草地0～10 cm土层细根生物量占0～40 cm土层总细根生物量的44.1%,显著高于其他3种植被类型;细根年生产量与纬度呈线性负相关. 4种植被类型0～40 cm土层细根年生产量大小顺序为退耕草地(315 g·m^-2·a^-1)>落叶灌木(249 g·m^-2·a^-1)>刺槐人工林(219 g·m^-2·a^-1)>沙蒿群落(115 g·m^-2·a^-1),其中退耕草地显著高于其他3种植被类型. 退耕草地0～10 cm土层细根生产量占0～40 cm土层总细根生产量的40.4%,在4种植被类型中最高. 退耕草地细根周转时间为0.51 a,低于其他3种植被类型.     

Protein turnover and inclusion body formation

In a recent study, we investigated the relationship between inclusion body (IB) formation and the activity of the ubiquitin-

proteasome system (UPS) in a primary neuron model of Huntington disease. We followed individual neurons over the

course of days and monitored the level of mutant huntingtin (htt) (which causes Huntington disease), IB formation, UPS function,

and neuronal toxicity. The accumulation of UPS substrates and neuronal toxicity increased with increasing levels of proteasome

inhibition. The UPS was more impaired in neurons that subsequently formed IBs than in those that did not; however, after IBs

formed, UPS function improved. These findings suggest that IB formation is a protective cellular response mediated in part by

increased degradation of intracellular protein.     

施氮肥对水曲柳人工林细根生产和周转的影响

细根周转与土壤养分密切相关,但由于根系研究方法的差异以及研究对象的不同,土壤养分对细根周转影响的研究存在不一致的结论。本文以水曲柳（Fraxinus mandshurica）人工林为对象,应用3种方法研究施氮肥对细根生产和周转的影响。结果表明：施肥降低了活细根现存生物量,但施氮肥样地细根年生产量平均值（93．105g&#183;m^-2&#183;a^-1）与对照样地（93．505g&#183;m^-2&#183;a^-1）没有差异,不同方法得出施氮肥样地细根平均周转率（0．917次&#183;a^-1）大于对照样地（0．710次&#183;a^-1）;不同土层内细根的生产量显著不同,表层生产量最大,土层越深细根生产量越低,但细根周转率一般随土壤加深而加快;不同的研究方法得出细根的年生产量和周转率差异较大,分室模型法最高,其次是内生长土芯法,极差法和积分法最低。     

Fine root turnover and litter production of Norway spruce in a long-term temperature and nutrient manipulation experiment

Background and aims

Increased soil temperature and nutrient availability enhance soil biological activity. We studied how these affect fine root growth and survival, i.e. below-ground litter production, in relation to above-ground foliage litter production of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.).

Methods

The treatments, irrigation (I), soil warming + irrigation (WI), fertilization + irrigation (FI) and soil warming + fertilization + irrigation (WFI) were started in 1987 (F, I) and in 1995 (W). The annual production of fine root litter was estimated from minirhizotrons (survival) and soil-cores (biomass) and the annual above-ground litter production from litter traps.

Results and conclusions

The number and elongation of fine roots tended to be higher in WI and I compared to the other treatments, which may indicate nutrient shortage. Fine roots in the WFI treatment had the lowest median longevity and from three to fourfold higher below-ground litter production compared to WI, FI or I - higher soil temperature increased the litter input particularly into the mineral soil. Only fertilization increased the above-ground litter production. As warmer and more nutrient-rich soil significantly shortened the fine root lifespan and increased the litter input, the storage of carbon in boreal forest soil may increase in the future.     

Fine root biomass,production and turnover in a fertilized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix leptolepis</Emphasis> plantation in central Korea

The effects of fertilization [control (C), 200kgNha^–1+25kgP ha^–1 (LNP) and 400kgNha^–1+ 50kgP ha^–1 (HNP)] on fine root dynamics were examined in a 40-year-old Larix leptolepis plantation in central Korea. The average fine root biomass during the growing season for C, LNP and HNP was 957, 934 and 814kgha^–1, respectively, whereas the fine root production for C, LNP and HNP was 2103, 2131 and 2066kgha^–1, respectively. Nitrogen and P inputs into the soil via fine root turnover for C, LNP and HNP were 23.0 and 1.2, 23.3 and 1.2 and 22.6 and 1.2kgha^–1, respectively. There were no significant differences in fine root biomass, production and N and P inputs through fine root turnover between the fertilization treatments during the first growing season after fertilization.