Mean annual temperature influences local fine root proliferation and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in a tropical wet forest

Mean annual temperature (MAT) is an influential climate factor affecting the bioavailability of growth‐limiting nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). In tropical montane wet forests, warmer MAT drives higher N bioavailability, while patterns of P availability are inconsistent across MAT. Two important nutrient acquisition strategies, fine root proliferation into bulk soil and root association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, are dependent on C availability to the plant via primary production. The case study presented here tests whether variation in bulk soil N bioavailability across a tropical montane wet forest elevation gradient (5.2°C MAT range) influences (a) morphology fine root proliferation into soil patches with elevated N, P, and N+P relative to background soil and (b) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization of fine roots in patches. We created a fully factorial fertilized root ingrowth core design (N, P, N+P, unfertilized control) representing soil patches with elevated N and P bioavailability relative to background bulk soil. Our results show that percent AMF colonization of roots increased with MAT (r² = .19, p = .004), but did not respond to fertilization treatments. Fine root length (FRL), a proxy for root foraging, increased with MAT in N+P‐fertilized patches only (p = .02), while other fine root morphological parameters did not respond to the gradient or fertilized patches. We conclude that in N‐rich, fine root elongation into areas with elevated N and P declines while AMF abundance increases with MAT. These results indicate a tradeoff between P acquisition strategies occurring with changing N bioavailability, which may be influenced by higher C availability with warmer MAT.     

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.     

长白山几种主要森林群落木本植物细根生物量及其动态

2005年在长白山北坡选择5种垂直植被带典型植物群落类型阔叶红松林、白桦林、山杨林、云冷杉林和岳桦林,利用钻取土芯法对细根分布及细根生物量进行了研究.研究结果表明,不同森林群落细根现存生物量存在一定的差异,其中白桦林最高,月平均细根现存生物量为5.1340 t/hm^2、其次为云冷杉林（5.0530 t/hm^2）、岳桦林（4.9255 t/hm^2）、阔叶红松林（4.4919 t/hm^2）和山杨林（3.9372 t/hm^2）;不同群落细根现存量月动态变化也有较大差异,月均最高最低相差阔叶红松林约为72﹪、白桦林近73﹪、山杨林26﹪、云冷杉林56﹪、岳桦林144﹪.在生长季节内不同群落细根发生和死亡也是不均匀的,春季所有群落都会产生大量的细根,一些群落在初秋（9月份）出现另一个较高的峰值,同时发现每次细根大量发生后,都随之产生大量细根的死亡,生长季末群落死亡细根生物量往往是最高的.调查群落72.9﹪以上的细根集中于土壤表层0～10cm的范围内,不同群落略有差别,在所研究的5种森林群落中,不同月份0～10cm土层中细根生物量几乎都表现出白桦林＞阔叶红松林＞云冷杉林＞岳桦林＞山杨林.     

关于氮有效性影响细根生产量和周转率的四个假说

在全球变化如氮沉降及温度升高等可能导致土壤氮有效性增加的背景下,细根动态如何变化一直是陆地生态学研究中的一个重要内容.本文综述了前人提出的细根动态响应土壤N有效性提高的4个代表性假说:1)细根生产量和周转率都提高;2)细根生产量和周转率都下降;3)细根生产量下降,周转率提高;4)细根生产量提高,周转率下降.根据2000年以来以微根管方法为主测得的根系动态数据,笔者认为假说1)和假说2)得到的支持最为充分.此外,还探讨了树种、细根异质性、菌根真菌、细根采样方法和施肥方法等对上述各假说检验的影响.     

Annual and seasonal changes in fine root biomass of a Quercus ilex L. forest

The biomass, production and mortality of fine roots (roots with diameter <2.5 mm) were studied in a typical Mediterranean holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) forest in NE Spain using the minirhizotron methodology. A total of 1212 roots were monitored between June of 1994 and March of 1997. Mean annual fine root biomass in the holm oak forest of Prades was 71±8 g m^–2 yr^–1. Mean annual production for the period analysed was 260+11 g m^–2 yr^–1. Mortality was similar to production, with a mean value of 253±3 g m^–2 yr^–1. Seasonal fine root biomass presented a cyclic behaviour, with higher values in autumn and winter and lower in spring and summer. Production was highest in winter, and mortality in spring. In summer, production and mortality values were the lowest for the year. Production values in autumn and spring were very similar. The vertical distribution of fine root biomass decreased with increasing depth except for the top 10–20 cm, where values were lower than immediately below. Production and mortality values were similar between 10 and 50 cm depth. In the 0–10 cm and the 50–60 cm depth intervals, both production and mortality were lower.     

Extremely low fine root biomass in Larix sibirica forests at the southern drought limit of the boreal forest

Mongolia's Larix sibirica forests at the southern fringe of the Eurosiberian boreal forest belt are exposed not only to very low winter temperatures, but also to frequent summer droughts. It is not completely known how Siberian larch adapts to these stressors. We examined whether (i) these forests differ in their fine root bio- and necromass from more humid boreal forests further in the North and (ii) inter-annual fluctuations in fine root biomass are related to tree vitality. In two exceptionally dry summers, we found only 4–5 g DM m^?2 of fine root biomass (in 0–20 cm depth), which is far less than typical conifer fine root biomass figures from boreal forests (c. 200–400 g m^?2) and the lowest forest fine root biomass reported worldwide; in a moist summer, fine root biomass was 20 fold higher. In contrast to fine root biomass, both necromass and non-tree root mass were high in all three years. From the large increase of fine root biomass in the moist summer and the generally high root necromass, we conclude that drought-induced fine root dieback was the likely cause of the very small amount of live root mass in the dry summers. Larch fine roots seem to be more drought-sensitive than shoots, since marked needle loss did not occur under the extreme conditions.     

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.     

华北落叶松林细根生物量对土壤水分、氮营养空间异质性改变的响应

在华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)林选取采伐干扰样地和未采伐干扰样地进行对比研究, 分析采伐干扰造成林下土壤水分和氮营养空间异质性的改变对细根生物量空间变异的影响。采用空间格局分析的小支撑、多样点的设计原则, 对每个样点的土壤分3层取样(0-10 cm、10-20 cm、20-30 cm)。进行细根(≤1 mm和1-2 mm)生物量与土壤含水量、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮和土壤pH的偏相关分析, 以及细根生物量变异函数值和土壤各因子变异函数值的线性回归分析。研究结果表明, 在不同样地, 细根生物量与土壤各因子均表现为正相关关系, 不同土层相关性强弱表现各异, 其中土壤含水量与细根生物量的相关性显著。受采伐干扰后, 细根生物量与土壤含水量、全氮、土壤硝态氮空间变异的关联性更趋于明显。多元线性回归分析结果表明, 采伐干扰样地细根生物量的空间变异更多地受到土壤多因子的综合影响, 而未采伐干扰样地的细根生物量受土壤水分、全氮和硝态氮单独效应的影响更大。     

Evaluating minirhizotron estimates of fine root longevity and production in the forest floor of a temperate broadleaf forest

The minirhizotron technique (MR) for in situ measurement of fine root dynamics offers the opportunity to obtain accurate and unbiased estimates of root production in perennial vegetation only if MR tubes do not affect the longevity of fine roots. Assuming fine root biomass is near steady-state, fine root production (g m^–2 yr^–1) can be estimated as the ratio of fine root biomass (g m^–2) to median fine root longevity (yr). This study evaluates the critical question of whether MR access tubes affect the longevity of fine roots, by comparing fine root survivorship obtained using MR with those from a non-intrusive in situ screen method in the forest floor horizons of a northern hardwood forest in New Hampshire, USA. Fine root survivorship was measured in 380 root screens during 1993–1997 and in six horizontal minirhizotron tubes during 1996–1997. No statistically significant difference was found between estimates of survivorship of fine roots (<1 mm dia.) at this site from MR versus from in situ screens, suggesting that MR tubes do not substantially affect fine root longevity in the forest floor of this northern hardwood forest and providing greater confidence in measurements of fine root production using the MR technique. Furthermore, the methodology for estimating fine root production from MR longevity data was evaluated by comparison of fine root longevity and production estimates made using single vs. multiple root cohorts, and using root-number, root-length, and root-mass weighted methods. Our results indicate that fine root-length longevity estimates based on multiple root cohorts throughout the year can be used to approximate fine root biomass production. Using this method, we estimated fine root longevity and production in the forest floor at this site to be 314 days (or 0.86 yr) and 303 g m^–2 yr^–1, respectively. Fine root production in this northern hardwood forest is approximately equivalent to standing biomass and was previously underestimated by root in-growth cores. We conclude that the use of MR to estimate fine root longevity and production as outlined here may result in improved estimates of fine root production in perennial vegetation.     

A global analysis of fine root production as affected by soil nitrogen and phosphorus

Fine root production is the largest component of belowground production and plays substantial roles in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. The increasing availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) due to human activities is expected to increase aboveground net primary production (ANNP), but the response of fine root production to N and P remains unclear. If roots respond to nutrients as ANNP, fine root production is anticipated to increase with increasing soil N and P. Here, by synthesizing data along the nutrient gradient from 410 natural habitats and from 469 N and/or P addition experiments, we showed that fine root production increased in terrestrial ecosystems with an average increase along the natural N gradient of up to 0.5 per cent with increasing soil N. Fine root production also increased with soil P in natural conditions, particularly at P < 300 mg kg(-1). With N, P and combined N + P addition, fine root production increased by a global average of 27, 21 and 40 per cent, respectively. However, its responses differed among ecosystems and soil types. The global average increases in fine root production are lower than those of ANNP, indicating that above- and belowground counterparts are coupled, but production allocation shifts more to aboveground with higher soil nutrients. Our results suggest that the increasing fertilizer use and combined N deposition at present and in the future will stimulate fine root production, together with ANPP, probably providing a significant influence on atmospheric CO(2) emissions.     

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

Fine root turnover 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 May 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 and dead) was 189.1 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹, 50% (95.4 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹) in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm), 33% (61.5 g·m⁻²·a⁻¹), 17% (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 season. Mean RLD (7,411.56 m·m⁻³·a⁻¹) and SRL (10.83 m·g⁻¹·a⁻¹) in the surface layer were higher than RLD (1 474.68 m·m⁻³·a⁻¹) and SRL (8.56 m·g⁻¹·a⁻¹) in the deep soil layer. RLD and SRL in May were the highest (10 621.45 m·m⁻³ and 14.83m·g⁻¹) compared with those in the other months, and RLD was the lowest in September (2 198.20 m·m⁻³) and SRL in October (3.77 m·g⁻¹). Seasonal dynamics 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. __________ Translated from Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 2005, 29(3): 403–410 [译自: 植物生态学报, 2005, 29(3): 403–410]     

Estimation of fine root production, mortality and turnover with Minirhizotron in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica plantations

Fine root turnover is a major pathway for car-bon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. However, to estimate fine root turnover, it is important to first understand the fine root dynamic processes associated with soil resource availability and climate factors. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine patterns of fine root production and mortality in different seasons and soil depths in the Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus man-dshurica plantations, (2) to analyze the correlation of fine root production and mortality with environmental factors such as air temperature, precipitation, soil temperature and available nitrogen, and (3) to estimate fine root turn-over. We installed 36 Minirhizotron tubes in six mono-specific plots of each species in September 2003 in the Mao'ershan Experimental Forest Station. Minirhizotron sampling was conducted every two weeks from April 2004 to April 2005. We calculated the average fine root length, annual fine root length production and mortality using image data of Minirhizotrons, and estimated fine root turnover using three approaches. Results show that the average growth rate and mortality rate in L. melinii were markedly smaller than in F. mandshurica, and were high-est in the surface soil and lowest at the bottom among all the four soil layers. The annual fine root production and mortality in F. mandshurica were significantly higher than in L. gmelinii. The fine root production in spring and summer accounted for 41.7% and 39.7% of the total annual production in F. mandshurica and 24.0% and 51.2% in L. gmelinii. The majority of fine root mortality occurred in spring and summer for F. mandshurica and in summer and autumn for L. gmelinii. The turnover rate was 3.1 a-1 for L. gmelinii and 2.7 a-1 for F. mandshurica. Multiple regression analysis indicates that climate and soil resource factors together could explain 80% of the varia-tions of the fine root seasonal growth and 95% of the seasonal mortality. In conclusion, fine root production and mortality in L. gmelinii and F. mandshurica have dif-ferent patterns in different seasons and at different soil depths. Air temperature, precipitation, soil temperature and soil available nitrogen integratively control the dynamics of fine root production, mortality and turnover in both species.     

不同营林措施对马尾松细根分解与养分释放的影响

细根(直径≤2 mm)是森林生态系统重要的碳库之一,其寿命短、代谢活性高,对外界环境变化十分敏感.了解不同营林措施对细根分解和养分释放的影响,对于合理开展森林经营管理具有重要意义.以三峡库区马尾松(Pinus massoniana)飞播林为对象,设置未择伐(NC)、除灌(SC)、伐除非马尾松(NPMC)和伐除优势马尾松(DPMC)等营林措施,在处理3年后,利用分解袋法研究不同营林措施对相同初始基质质量的马尾松细根分解和养分释放的影响.经过1年的分解,不同营林措施明显改变了土壤温湿度、土壤养分以及土壤微生物量碳氮,而对马尾松细根分解速率的影响不显著(P>0.05),细根分解速率与各环境因子间均无显著相关性.在分解过程中,各营林措施的细根C残留率逐渐降低,表现为DPMC>SC>NC>NPMC.N呈现先逐渐累积后释放的状态,P呈现释放-累积-释放的状态,且抚育择伐显著降低了P释放速率.短期来看,不同营林措施造成的林内环境因素变化不足以成为影响马尾松细根分解的主导因素,细根初始基质质量仍是影响细根分解的决定性因素.抚育择伐提高了细根C释放速率,降低了N和P元素的释放速率.     

Effects of irrigation on litterfall,fine root biomass and production in a semideciduous lowland forest in Panama

The effects of irrigation on fine root biomass, root production and litterfall were measured at the community level, in a semideciduous lowland forest in Panama. Biomass of roots less than 2 mm in dia. in the first 10 cm of the soil (measured with soil cores), was higher in irrigated (1.80 Mg ha^-1) than in non-irrigated plots (1.24 Mg ha^-1). During the dry season, productivity of roots (measured with ingrowth cylinders filled with root-free soil), was higher in irrigated (1.6 g m^-2 day^-1) than in control plots (0.3 g m^-2 day^-1). In control plots, root productivity was highly seasonal. Maximum root growth into the root-free soil, occurred during the transitions from dry to wet, and from wet to dry season, possibly as a response to water and/or nutrient pulses. Litterfall was not significantly different between irrigated (3.8 g m^-2 day^-1) and control plots (3.7 g m^-2 day^-1). The results of this study show that root-productivity is limited by the water supply during the dry season, and that water by itself, is not a limiting factor for community-level litter production. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

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.     

Sapling biomass allocation and growth in the understory of a deciduous hardwood forest

Above- and belowground tissues of co-occurring saplings (0.1-1 m height) of Acer saccharum Marsh. (very shade tolerant), Acer rubrum L. (shade tolerant), Fraxinus americana L. (intermediate shade tolerant), and Prunus serotina Ehrh. (shade intolerant) were harvested from a forest understory to test the hypothesis that the pattern of biomass allocation varied predictably with shade-tolerance rank. The placement and length of branches along the main axis were consistent with the formation of a monolayer of foliage for the tolerant and intermediate species. Other morphological characteristics did not vary predictably with shade-tolerance rank. The maintenance of high specific leaf area (SLA; leaf area/leaf mass) and leaf area ratio (LAR; leaf area/sapling mass) is considered important for growth under extreme shade, yet these traits were not clearly related to the shade-tolerance rank of these species. Fraxinus americana, an intermediate species, had the highest LAR and growth rate in the understory, and with the exception of P. serotina, the very shade-tolerant A. saccharum had the lowest LAR. Prunus serotina maintained a large starch-rich tap root and shoot dieback was common, yielding the largest root/shoot ratio for these species. The observed allocation patterns were not similar to the long-standing expectation for the phenotypic response of juvenile trees to shade, but were consistent with three hypothetical "growth strategies" in the understory: (1) the low SLA and LAR of A. saccharum may provide a measure of defense against herbivores and pathogens and thus promote persistence in the understory, (2) the high SLA for F. americana and high LAR for F. americana and A. rubrum may enable these species to achieve high growth rates in shade, and (3) the large carbohydrate stores of P. serotina may poise this species for opportunistic growth following disturbance. The relative importance of resistance to herbivores and pathogens vs. the maintenance of high growth rates may be important in evaluating the patterns of biomass allocation in the understory.     

亚热带米老排和杉木细根分解过程中养分与微生物群落组成的变化

对福建南平峡阳林场19年生米老排和杉木人工林的细根进行为期12个月的分解试验,研究不同树种分解过程中养分和微生物群落组成的动态变化,为理解亚热带不同人工林树种地下养分循环过程提供科学依据.结果表明: 米老排细根养分磷(P)、钾(K)初始含量显著高于杉木.分解过程中,两个树种细根P、K含量均显著降低,而细根氮(N)含量显著增加,且杉木细根N含量变化滞后于米老排.在分解过程中,杉木细根镁(Mg)含量无显著变化;米老排细根Mg含量变化显著,且在分解8个月时显著小于杉木.在分解过程中,真菌与细菌比值均显著表现为先升高后降低,且分解12个月时米老排细根真菌/细菌显著高于杉木.冗余分析表明,N(解释37.2%)、K(解释14.5%)含量和C/N(解释14.8%)是影响杉木细根分解过程中微生物群落组成变化的主要养分因子,而Mg(解释35.9%)和K(解释17.6%)含量则是米老排细根分解时影响微生物群落组成的主要养分因子.研究表明,在不同树种中,除了N之外,Mg等其他养分元素也可能是影响根系分解的重要因子.     

西南喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物细根构型及其与细根和根际土壤养分计量特征的相关性

以西南喀斯特石漠化环境适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)、花椒(Zanthoxylum bungeanum)、刺梨(Rosa roxburghii)、火棘(Pyracantha fortuneana)为研究对象,采用挖掘法采集完整的细根根系,分析细根构型特征及其与细根和根际土壤C、N、P养分元素化学计量特征之间的相关性,探讨细根构型特征对石漠化贫瘠土壤生境的响应。结果表明:构树、花椒、刺梨、火棘细根构型均趋向于鱼尾形分支模式,细根拓扑指数分别为0.93、0.95、0.95和0.94。4种适生植物的细根连接长度较长,但细根根系分支率较小。构树、刺梨细根分支前后横截面积比不存在显著差异且分别为1.04、1.03,基本符合Leonardo da Vinci法则。细根构型与细根和根际土壤养分有一定的相关性。主成分分析结果表明,细根N含量及细根、根际土壤中与P相关的计量比均是影响细根构型的主要因子。进一步分析表明,4种适生植物通过减少细根次级分支、根系间的重叠、延长细根连接长度以获得充足的养分来应对环境的变化,提高对养分的吸收效率以及对喀斯特环境的生态适应性。研究结果...