No evidence of spatial root system segregation and elevated fine root biomass in multi-species temperate broad-leaved forests

Differences in spatial rooting patterns among coexisting species have been recognized as an important mechanism for generating biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. However, it is not yet clear whether complementarity in root space exploration is a universal characteristic of multi-species woody communities. In a temperate broad-leaved forest with a mosaic of species-poor and species-rich stands, we tested two hypotheses related to putative below-ground ‘overyielding’ in more diverse forests, (1) that species mixture results in a partial spatial segregation of the fine root systems of different species, and (2) that stand fine root biomass increases with tree species diversity. We investigated 12 stands either with one, three, or five dominant tree species (4 replicate stands each) under similar soil and climate conditions for stand fine root biomass and spatial root segregation in vertical and horizontal direction in the soil. Fine roots of different tree species were identified using a morphological key based on differences in colour, periderm surface structure, and branching patterns. In species-poor and species-rich stands, and in all tree species present, fine root density (biomass per soil volume) decreased exponentially with soil depth at very similar rates. Stand fine root biomass in the densely rooted upper soil (0–40 cm depth) was not significantly different between stands with 1, 3 or 5 dominant tree species. We conclude that ‘below-ground overyielding’ in terms of higher fine root biomasses in species-rich stands as compared to monospecific ones does not occur in these broad-leaved forests which most likely results from a missing complementarity in vertical rooting patterns of the present tree species.     

Large altitudinal increase in tree root/shoot ratio in tropical mountain forests of Ecuador

Tropical rain forests decrease in tree height and aboveground biomass (AGB) with increasing elevation. The causes of this phenomenon remain insufficiently understood despite a number of explanations proposed including direct or indirect effects of low temperature on carbon acquisition and carbon investment, adverse soil conditions and impaired nutrient supply. For analysing altitudinal patterns of aboveground/belowground carbon partitioning, we measured fine (<2 mm in diameter) and coarse root (2–5 mm) biomass and necromass and leaf area index (LAI), and estimated AGB from stand structural parameters in five tropical mountain rain forests at 1050, 1540, 1890, 2380 and 3060 m along an altitudinal transect in the South Ecuadorian Andes. Average tree height and AGB were reduced to less than 50% between 1050 and 3060 m, LAI decreased from 5.1 to 2.9. The leaf area reduction must have resulted in a lowered canopy carbon gain and thus may partly explain the reduced tree growth in the high-elevation stands. In contrast, both fine and coarse root biomass significantly increased with elevation across this transect. The ratio of root biomass (fine and coarse) to AGB increased more than ten-fold from 0.04 at 1050 m to 0.43 at 3060 m. Under the assumption that fine root biomass does reflect root productivity, our data indicate a marked belowground shift in C allocation with increasing elevation. Possible explanations for this allocation shift are discussed including reduced N supply due to low temperatures, water logging or adverse soil chemical conditions. We conclude that the fine root system and its activity may hold the key for understanding the impressive reduction in tree size along tropical mountain slopes in Ecuador. Analyses of fine root turnover and longevity in relation to environmental factors along altitudinal transects in tropical mountains are urgently needed.     

Impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterobasidion</Emphasis> root-rot on fine root morphology and associated fungi in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis> stands on peat soils

We examined differences in fine root morphology, mycorrhizal colonisation and root-inhabiting fungal communities between Picea abies individuals infected by Heterobasidion root-rot compared with healthy individuals in four stands on peat soils in Latvia. We hypothesised that decreased tree vitality and alteration in supply of photosynthates belowground due to root-rot infection might lead to changes in fungal communities of tree roots. Plots were established in places where trees were infected and in places where they were healthy. Within each stand, five replicate soil cores with roots were taken to 20 cm depth in each root-rot infected and uninfected plot. Root morphological parameters, mycorrhizal colonisation and associated fungal communities, and soil chemical properties were analysed. In three stands root morphological parameters and in all stands root mycorrhizal colonisation were similar between root-rot infected and uninfected plots. In one stand, there were significant differences in root morphological parameters between root-rot infected versus uninfected plots, but these were likely due to significant differences in soil chemical properties between the plots. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer of fungal nuclear rDNA from ectomycorrhizal (ECM) root morphotypes of P. abies revealed the presence of 42 fungal species, among which ECM basidiomycetes Tylospora asterophora (24.6 % of fine roots examined), Amphinema byssoides (14.5 %) and Russula sapinea (9.7 %) were most common. Within each stand, the richness of fungal species and the composition of fungal communities in root-rot infected versus uninfected plots were similar. In conclusion, Heterobasidion root-rot had little or no effect on fine root morphology, mycorrhizal colonisation and composition of fungal communities in fine roots of P. abies growing on peat soils.     

Coarse root spatial distribution determined using a ground-penetrating radar technique in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, China

Coarse roots play a critical role in forest ecosystems and both abiotic and biotic factors affect their spatial distribution. To some extent, coarse root density may reflect the quantity of root biomass and biotic competition in forests. However, using traditional methods (e.g., excavation) to study coarse roots is challenging, because those methods are time-consuming and laborious. Furthermore, these destructive methods cannot be repeated in the same forests. Therefore, the discovery of non-destructive methods for root studies will be very significant. In this study, we used a ground-penetrating radar technique to detect the coarse root density of three habitats (ridge, slope and valley) and the dominant tree species (Castanopsis eyrei and Schima superba) in a subtropical forest. We found that (i) the mean of coarse root density for these three habitats was 88.04 roots m^?2, with roots being mainly distributed at depths of 0–40 cm. Coarse root densities were lower in deeper soils and in areas far from the trunk. (ii) Coarse root densities differed significantly among the three habitats studied here with slope habitat having the lowest coarse root density. Compared with S. superba, C. eyrei had more roots distributed in deeper soils. Furthermore, coarse roots with a diameter >3 cm occurred more frequently in the valleys, compared with root densities in ridge and slope habitats, and most coarse roots occurred at soil depths of 20–40 cm. (iii) The coarse root density correlated negatively with tree species richness at soil depths of 40–60 cm. The abundances of the dominant species, such as C. eyrei, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Pinus massoniana, had significant impacts on coarse root density. (iv) The soil depth of 0–40 cm was the “basic distribution layer” for coarse roots since the majority of coarse roots were found in this soil layer with an average root density of 84.18 roots m^?2, which had no significant linear relationships with topography, tree species richness, rarefied tree species richness and tree density. Significant relationships between coarse root density and these factors were found at the soil depth of 40–60 cm, which was the “potential distribution layer” for coarse root distribution.     

Birch effects on root fungal colonisation of crowberry are uniform along different environmental gradients

Changes in plant–fungal interactions were often suggested as one of possible mechanisms behind facilitative plant–plant effects in harsh environments. We asked how the mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte (DSE) colonisations of understorey crowberry (Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum) are affected by proximity to mature mountain birch trees (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) along three abiotic stress gradients (pollution, elevation, seashore) in the Kola peninsula, NW Russia. Stress level affected shoot growth and reproduction in crowberry, but had no effect on root fungal colonisation. In contrast, proximity to a mountain birch tree had no effect on either growth or reproduction of crowberry, but changed all characteristics of root colonisation. The mycorrhizal coil colonisation of crowberry was on average 21% higher near a birch tree, whereas other parameters were higher outside of canopy area (hyaline hyphae: 12%; DSE hyphae: 16%; DSE sclerotia: 42%). Effects of birch tree on root fungal colonisation in crowberry did not depend on the level of abiotic stress. Although we detected a weak positive association between growth of crowberry and its mycorrhizal coil colonisation, we conclude that mycorrhizal and DSE colonisations of crowberry are primarily affected by the abiotic environment. None of the detected patterns was consistent with the patterns expected from the theories concerning stress effects on plant–plant interactions.     

水氮耦合对辣木幼苗根系形态特征的影响

辣木(Moringa oleifera)主要分布在热带地区，属落叶乔木，具有极高的经济价值和栽培用途。为探究12种水氮组合处理对辣木根系形态的影响，该研究设置3种土壤水分梯度，分别为40%(低水，W1)、60%(中水，W2)、80%(高水，W3)的田间饱和持水量，以及4种氮水平，分别为无氮(N0,0 g·plant^-1)、低氮(N1,0.6 g·plant^-1)、中氮(N2,1.8 g·plant^-1)、高氮(N3,3.6 g·plant^-1),比较不同水氮组合处理对辣木幼苗粗根和细根性状(根长度、根表面积、根体积、根平均直径、比根长、比表面积等)的影响。结果表明：(1)水处理对辣木幼苗粗根和细根的性状没均有显著影响。(2)氮处理对粗根的根长、根表面积、根体积、根平均直径和比表面积有显著影响，而仅对细根的平均直径和比表面积有显著影响。(3)双因素方差分析显示，水氮交互作用仅对细根根长有显著影响；在相同的水处理下，低氮促进而高氮抑制辣木粗根和细根根长、根表面积和根体积的增加，说明低氮中水处理和低氮高水...     

四种不同生活型树种细根寿命及影响因素

以4种不同生活型树种(常绿阔叶和针叶树种、落叶阔叶和针叶树种)为研究对象,通过微根管法现地观测细根的生长动态,比较不同生活型树种细根寿命在种内和种间的差异,探讨影响细根寿命的主要因子,研究结果对理解和预测森林生态系统碳及养分循环过程具有重要的理论意义。结果表明:(1)细根形态特征(分枝结构和直径)显著影响种内细根寿命,分枝等级越低、直径越小,细根的寿命越短;(2)4个树种的细根寿命表现出明显的土层效应和季节效应,即随土壤深度增加,细根的累积存活率逐渐增加,寿命延长;而不同季节出生的细根其寿命长短模式在树种间不一致,春季或夏季出生的细根寿命要长于秋冬季;(3)常绿树种(柳杉、石栎)的细根寿命要长于落叶树种(池杉、麻栎),同时,针叶树种(池杉、柳杉)的细根寿命要长于阔叶树种(麻栎、石栎)。在同一树种内,细根寿命受细根直径、根系分枝结构、土壤环境因子(土层)等因素显著影响,但在不同树种间,细根寿命可能更依赖于树木生长速率、碳分配模式等树木整体的功能性状差异。     

Positive tree diversity effect on fine root biomass: via density dependence rather than spatial root partitioning

The importance of species richness to ecosystem functioning and services is a central tenet of biological conservation. However, most of our theory and mechanistic understanding is based on diversity found aboveground. Our study sought to better understand the relationship between diversity and belowground function by studying root biomass across a plant diversity gradient. We collected soil cores from 91 plots with between 1 and 12 aboveground tree species in three natural secondary forests to measure fine root (≤ 2 mm in diameter) biomass. Molecular methods were used to identify the tree species of fine roots and to estimate fine root biomass for each species. This study tested whether the spatial root partitioning (species differ by belowground territory) and symmetric growth (the capacity to colonize nutrient-rich hotspots) underpin the relationship between aboveground species richness and fine root biomass. All species preferred to grow in nutrient-rich areas and symmetric growth could explain the positive relationship between aboveground species richness and fine root biomass. However, symmetric growth only appeared in the nutrient-rich upper soil layer (0–10 cm). Structural equation modelling indicated that aboveground species richness and stand density significantly affected fine root biomass. Specifically, fine root biomass depended on the interaction between aboveground species richness and stand density, with fine root biomass increasing with species richness at lower stand density, but not at higher stand density. Overall, evidence for spatial (i.e. vertical) root partitioning was inconsistent; assumingly any roots growing into deeper unexplored soil layers were not sufficient contributors to the positive diversity–function relationship. Alternatively, density-dependent biotic interactions affecting tree recruitment are an important driver affecting productivity in diverse subtropical forests but the usual root distribution patterns in line with the spatial root partitioning hypothesis are unrealistic in contexts where soil nutrients are heterogeneously distributed.     

The dependence of root system properties on root system biomass of 10 North American grassland species

Dependence of the properties of root systems on the size of the root system may alter conclusions about differences in plant growth in different environments and among species. To determine whether important root system properties changed as root systems aged and accumulated biomass, we measured three important properties of fine roots (tissue density, diameter, and C:N) and three biomass ratios (root:shoot, fine:coarse, and shallow:deep) of monocultures of 10 North American grassland species five times during their second and third years of growth. With increasing belowground biomass, root tissue density increased and diameter decreased. This may reflect cortical loss associated with the aging of roots. For non-legumes, fine root C:N decreased with increasing root biomass, associated with decreases in soil solution NO^{3 –} concentrations. No changes in fine root C:N were detected with increasing belowground biomass for the two legumes we studied. Among all 10 species, there were generally no changes in the relative amounts of biomass in coarse and fine roots, root:shoot, or the depth placement of fine roots in the soil profile as belowground biomass increased. Though further research is needed to separate the influence of root system size, age of the roots, and changes in nutrient availability, these factors will need to be considered when comparing root functional traits among species and treatments.     

Fine root dynamics in relation to nutrients in oligotrophic Bornean rain forest soils

The fine roots of plants are key structures enabling soil resource acquisition, yet our understanding of their dynamics and the factors governing them is still underdeveloped, especially in tropical forests. We evaluated whether Bornean tree communities on soils with contrasting resource availability display different soil resource uptake strategies, based on their fine root properties and dynamics, and related responses of fine roots to the availability of multiple nutrients. Using root cores and ingrowth cores, we quantified variation in community-level fine root properties (biomass, length, and area) and their growth rates, biomass turnover rate, and specific root length (SRL) between clay and sandy loam soils, on which tree community composition differs dramatically. We found that standing fine root biomass and biomass, length, and area growth were higher in sandy loam, the soil type that is better-drained, coarser-textured, and less fertile for most nutrients. In clay SRL was significantly greater, and turnover tended to be faster, than in sandy loam. Across both soils, greater supplies of K⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and PO₄ ^3? were associated with greater standing biomass and growth rates of fine roots, suggesting foraging for these nutrients. Our data support the hypothesis that the sandy loam tree community achieves fine root absorptive area through faster growth and greater investment on a mass basis, whereas trees on clay achieve a similar standing absorptive area through slower growth of less-dense fine root tissues. Furthermore, our results suggest colimitation by multiple nutrients, which may enhance tree species coexistence through increased dimensionality of soil-resource niches.     

水曲柳根系生物量、比根长和根长密度的分布格局

采用连续钻取土芯法在生长季内对东北林业大学帽儿山实验林场17年生水曲柳人工林根系取样,研究水曲柳不同直径根系现存生物量、比根长和根长密度及垂直分布状况.结果表明,水曲柳人工林根系总生物量为1 637.6 g·m^-2,其中活根生物量占85%,死根占15%.在活根生物量当中,粗根(直径5～30 mm)占的比例最高（69.95%）,其次为活细根（直径<1 mm,13.53%）,小根(1～2 mm)和中等直径的根(2～5 mm)比例较小（分别为7.21%和9.31%）.直径<1 mm活细根的比根长为32.20 m·g^-1,直径5～30 mm粗根的比根长为0.08 m·g^-1.单位面积上活根的总长度为6 602.54 m·m^-2,其中直径<1 mm的细根占92.43%,其它直径等级则不到活根总长度的8%.直径<1 mm的细根生物量与根长密度具显著线性关系（R²=0.923）,但与比根长无显著相关关系（R²=0.134）.     

Sample storage conditions alter colonisation structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and,particularly, fine root endophyte

Background and Aims

The structures of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (hyphae, arbuscules, vesicles, spores) are used to make inferences about fungal activity based on stored samples, yet the impact of storage method has not been quantified, despite known effects of temperature and host condition on AM fungal colonisation.

Methods

We measured how four storage treatments (cool or ambient conditions, with and without plant shoots attached, i.e. n?=?four treatment combinations) affected AM fungal colonisation of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) after 0, 2, 6 and 10 days of storage. Roots were assessed for colonisation of fine root endophyte and coarse AM fungi.

Results

For coarse AM fungi, total colonisation was unaffected, but arbuscules were reduced at Day 6 and increased again by Day 10, except Ambient-Minus-Shoots. There was a loss of vesicles in all treatments at Day 2, and an increase in spore number at Day 6 within Cool-Plus-Shoots. In contrast, for fine root endophyte, total colonisation was greatly reduced at Day 6 but increased again at Day 10, in all except the Cool-Plus-Shoots treatment.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that AM fungal activity is not suspended in commonly used plant storage conditions. Storage method and time impacted AM fungal colonisation, particularly for fine root endophyte. We recommend samples are processed within 2 days of harvest.

     

Vertical distribution and seasonal changes of fine and coarse root mass in Pinus kesiya Royle Ex.Gordon forest of three different ages

Seasonal changes and vertical distribution of fine (< 2 mm diameter) and coarse (2-10 mm diameter) root mass of Pinus kesiya and fine root and rhizome mass of herbaceous species, and root production were studied in the 6-, 15- and 23-year old Pinus kesiya forest stands at Shillong, in the Meghalaya state of north-east India. Maximum fine and coarse root mass of P. kesiya, and fine root and rhizome mass of the ground vegetation were recorded during the rainy season. The contribution of the tree fine roots in 0-10 cm soil layer declined from 51% in the 6-year old stand to about 33% in the older stands. The major proportion (63-88%) of herbaceous fine root and rhizome mass was concentrated in this soil layer in all the three stands. The majority (36-57%) of tree coarse roots were present in the 10-20 cm layer in all the stands. The biomass and necromass values in the case of fine roots were more or less equal in a given stand, but the coarse roots had 5 to 9 times more live than the dead mass. The proportion of herbaceous fine root mass to the total fine root mass declined from 54% in the 6-year old stand to 30-32% in the 15- and 23-year old stands. The mean total fine root mass (pine + herbaceous species) decreased from 417 g m^–2 in the 6-year old stand to 302 in 15-year and 322 g m^–2 in the 23-year old stand. Annual fine root production showed a marked decrease from 1055 g m^–2 in the 6-year old stand to 743 g m^–2 in the 23-year old stand, but coarse root production increased from 169 g m^–2 in the 6-year to 466 g m^–2  in the 23-year old stand; the total root production thus remained approximately constant.     

An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground‐penetrating radar imaging to isotope‐derived water acquisition zones

Tree root distribution and activity are determinants of belowground competition. However, studying root response to environmental and management conditions remains logistically challenging. Methodologically, nondestructive in situ tree root ecology analysis has lagged. In this study, we tested a nondestructive approach to determine tree coarse root architecture and function of a perennial tree crop, Theobroma cacao L., at two edaphically contrasting sites (sandstone and phyllite–granite derived soils) in Ghana, West Africa. We detected coarse root vertical distribution using ground‐penetrating radar and root activity via soil water acquisition using isotopic matching of δ¹⁸O plant and soil signatures. Coarse roots were detected to a depth of 50 cm, however, intraspecifc coarse root vertical distribution was modified by edaphic conditions. Soil δ¹⁸O isotopic signature declined with depth, providing conditions for plant–soil δ¹⁸O isotopic matching. This pattern held only under sandstone conditions where water acquisition zones were identifiably narrow in the 10–20 cm depth but broader under phyllite–granite conditions, presumably due to resource patchiness. Detected coarse root count by depth and measured fine root density were strongly correlated as were detected coarse root count and identified water acquisition zones, thus validating root detection capability of ground‐penetrating radar, but exclusively on sandstone soils. This approach was able to characterize trends between intraspecific root architecture and edaphic‐dependent resource availability, however, limited by site conditions. This study successfully demonstrates a new approach for in situ root studies that moves beyond invasive point sampling to nondestructive detection of root architecture and function. We discuss the transfer of such an approach to answer root ecology questions in various tree‐based landscapes.     

TRAP: a modelling approach to below-ground carbon allocation in temperate forests

Tree root systems, which play a major role in below-ground carbon (C) dynamics, are one of the key research areas for estimating long-term C cycling in forest ecosystems. In addition to regulating major C fluxes in the present conditions, tree root systems potentially hold numerous controls over forest responses to a changing environment. The predominant contribution of tree root systems to below-ground C dynamics has been given little emphasis in forest models. We developed the TRAP model, i.e. Tree Root Allocation of Photosynthates, to predict the partitioning of photosynthates between the fine and coarse root systems of trees among series of soil layers. TRAP simulates root system responses to soil stress factors affecting root growth. Validation data were obtained from two Belgian experimental forests, one mostly composed of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and the other of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). TRAP accurately predicted (R = 0.88) night-time CO₂ fluxes from the beech forest for a 3-year period. Total fine root biomass of beech was predicted within 6% of measured values, and simulation of fine root distribution among soil layers was accurate. Our simulations suggest that increased soil resistance to root penetration due to reduced soil water content during summer droughts is the major mechanism affecting the distribution of root growth among soil layers of temperate Belgian forests. The simulated annual rate of C input to soil litter due to the fine root turnover of the Scots pine was 207 g C m^–2 yr^–1. The TRAP model predicts that fine root turnover is the single most important source of C to the temperate forest soils of Belgium.     

Unusual Fine Root Distributions of Two Deciduous Tree Species in Southern France: What Consequences for Modelling of Tree Root Dynamics?

The spatial distribution of fine roots of two deciduous tree species was investigated in contrasting growing conditions in southern France. Hybrid walnut trees (Juglans regia×nigra cv. NG23) and hybrid poplars (Populus euramericana cv. I214) were both cultivated with or without annual winter intercrops for 10 years on deep alluvial soils. Soil samples for measuring the fine root distribution of both trees and crops were obtained by soil coring down to 3-m depth at several distances and orientations from the tree trunk. The distribution of live fine roots from walnut and poplar trees was patchy and sometimes unexpected. In the tree-only stands, fine root profiles followed the expected pattern, as fine root density decreased with increasing depth and distance from the tree trunk. However, many fine root profiles under intercropped trees were uniform with depth, and some inverse profiles were observed. These distributions may result from a high degree of plasticity of tree root systems to sense and adapt to fluctuating and heterogeneous soil conditions. The distortion of the tree root system was more pronounced for the walnut trees that only partially explored the soil volume: in the tree-only stand, the walnut rooting pattern was very superficial, but in the intercropped stand walnut trees developed a deep and dense fine root network below the crop rooting zone. The larger poplars explored the whole available soil volume, but the intercrop significantly displaced the root density from the topsoil to layers below 1 m depth. Most tree root growth models assume a decreasing fine root density with depth and distance from the tree stem. These models would not predict correctly tree–tree and tree–understorey competition for water and nutrients in 3D heterogeneous soil conditions that prevail under low-density tree stands. To account for the integrated response of tree root systems to such transient gradients in soils, we need a dynamic model that would allow for both genotypic plasticity and transient environmental local soil conditions.     

三峡库区马尾松根系生物量的空间分布

以三峡库区主要植被马尾松人工林为研究对象,用内径为10 cm的根钻,分别在马尾松中龄林、近熟林和成熟林内,据树干0.5、1.0、1.5 m和2.0 m处设置取样点,各样点按0-10、10-20、20-30、30-40、40-60 cm将土壤分为5个垂直层次,对马尾松根系的空间分布格局进行调查。结果表明:(1)三峡库区马尾松总根系生物量(0-10 mm)为中龄林(4.72 t/hm²)显著高于成熟林(2.94 t/hm²)和近熟林(2.40 t/hm²)(P<0.05)。细根(0-2 mm)生物量随年龄增加而递减,差异不显著(P>0.05);(2)马尾松3个林龄中根系生物量表现出一定的水平分布特征,但具体趋势表现各异,细根生物量最大值均出现在距离样木1.0 m处;(3)细根主要分布在土壤上层,其中47.53%-71.73%的活细根集中在0-20 cm土壤深度内,且随土层的加深,其生物量明显减少。粗根(2-10 mm)则主要分布于20-60 cm土层范围内;(4)根系直径越小,受环境变化越明显。马尾松细根生物量分布主要受土壤深度的影响,树龄和不同水平距离对细根分布格局影响不显著(P>0.05),各因素对粗根生物量的影响均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。     

黄土丘陵半干旱区密植枣林随树龄变化的根系空间分布特征

该文研究了黄土丘陵半干旱区密植枣( Ziziphus jujuba ‘Lizao’)林群体根系随树龄变化的空间分布特征。对1年生、4年生、8年生和11年生4种树龄的密植枣林采用剖面法, 获得0-1 m土壤剖面上直径>3 mm、1-3 mm及<1 mm的根系数量和空间位置信息。利用方差分析, 评价了山地密植枣林林分根系随树龄变化的水平和垂直分布特征。结果表明: 3种直径的根系数量均随着树龄的增长而增加, 直径< 1 mm的根系增长速度最快; 随着土层加深, 根系数量递减, 1年生枣林的根系主要聚集在0-40 cm土层中, 4年生及以上树龄的根系主要分布在0-60 cm土层中; 0-1 m土层内, 1年生枣林(株距1.2 m)及4年以上树龄(株距2 m), 同树龄枣林中直径<1 mm的根系水平分布无差异; 同一土层中(0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm), 无论树龄大小及离树干的水平位置如何, 不同直径根系的数量都无差异。研究表明: 在有水肥管理措施的条件下, 枣林根系垂直方向形成浅层型的适应模式; 在密植环境下, 枣林细根形成根网型的适应模式。     

实验增温对陆地生态系统根系生物量的影响

根系是植物吸收土壤水分和养分的重要器官, 驱动着多个生态系统过程, 该研究揭示了实验增温对根系生物量的影响及机制, 可为气候变暖背景下土壤碳动态和生态系统过程的变化提供理论依据。该研究从已发表的151篇国内外研究论文中收集到611组数据, 通过整合分析(meta-analysis)方法研究了实验增温对根系生物量(根系总生物量、粗根生物量、细根生物量、根冠比)的影响, 并探讨了增温幅度、增温年限、增温方式的影响, 以及根系生物量对增温的响应与本底环境条件(生态系统类型、年平均气温、年降水量、干旱指数)的关系。结果表明: (1)模拟增温使细根生物量显著增加8.87%, 而对根系总生物量、粗根生物量、根冠比没有显著影响; (2)中等强度增温(1-2 ℃)使得细根生物量和根冠比分别提高14.57%和23.63%; 中短期增温实验(<5年)对细根生物量具有促进影响, 而长期增温实验(≥5年)使细根生物量有降低的趋势; 开顶箱增温和红外辐射增温分别使细根生物量显著提高了17.50%和12.16%, 而电缆加热增温使细根生物量和粗根生物量显著降低了23.44%和43.23%; (3)不同生态系统类型对于增温响应不一致, 模拟增温使苔原生态系统细根生物量显著提高了21.03%, 细根生物量对增温的响应与本底年平均气温、年降水量、干旱指数均呈显著负相关关系。