Rapid fine root disappearance in a pine woodland: a substantial carbon flux

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2225-2230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen N Stevens ◽  
Robert H Jones ◽  
Robert J Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Root Dynamics ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Root Mortality ◽  
Belowground Herbivory ◽  
Root Life Span ◽  
Apparently Healthy

Fine root production and mortality are difficult to estimate accurately, because some fine roots die within days of being produced, and many apparently healthy roots disappear rapidly with no obvious period of senescence. Such root dynamics are difficult to analyze without very fine-scaled temporal observations. To capture the behavior of short-lived and rapidly disappearing roots, we sampled minirhizotron tubes weekly for 11 months in a Pinus palustris Mill. woodland. Fine root ([Formula: see text]2 mm diameter) length production and length mortality during this period were 1.57 ± 0.23 mm·cm–2 (mean ± SE) and 1.19 ± 0.17 mm·cm–2, respectively. Depending on the type of estimate used, rapid disappearance accounted for between 21 and 37% of total fine root mortality. Rapidly disappearing roots had relatively short life-spans, a median of just 10.5 days. Monthly sampling of the same data set underestimated length production by 15%, overestimated median root life-span by 60%, and obscured causes of root loss. If short-lived roots are not accounted for, total net primary productivity in temperate forests may be underestimated by as much as 10%. We propose that belowground herbivory is the leading explanation for this rapid disappearance.

Influence of Pruning and Irrigation on Root Longevity of `Concord' Vines

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 511a-511
Author(s):  
L.H. Comas ◽  
D.M. Eissenstat ◽  
A.N. Lakso ◽  
R. Dunst
Keyword(s):  
Fine Roots ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Root Dynamics ◽  
Supplemental Irrigation ◽  
Root Longevity ◽  
Root Lifespan ◽  
Median Lifespan

Improved cultural practices in grape require a better understanding of root growth and physiology. Seasonal root dynamics were examined in mature `Concord' vines with balanced or minimal-pruning, and with or without supplemental irrigation in Fredonia, N.Y. Fine roots were continuously produced during the growing season starting in mid-June around time of bloom. Roots began to die in September at verasion. Minimal-pruned vines produced more roots than balanced-pruned vines, with the minimal-pruned/unirrigated vines producing the most roots. Irrigation and pruning delayed fine root production at the beginning of the growing season. Peak fine root flush was 16 June to 21 July 1997 for the minimal-pruned/unirrigated treatment, while peak flush was 7 July to 2 Sept. 1997 for balanced-pruned/irrigated treatment. In minimal-pruned vines, many roots were observed down to depths of 120 cm. In contrast, balanced-pruned vines had very few fine roots deeper than 40 cm. From initial observations, median lifespan of fine roots was 5 to 9.5 weeks, depending on treatment and depth in soil. Fine roots lived longer in the top 15-cm than in the 16- to 30-cm layer of soil in all treatments. Both minimal pruning and irrigation increased root lifespan. Fine roots had the shortest lifespan in the balanced-pruned/unirrigated treatment and the longest lifespan in the minimal-pruned/irrigated treatment.

Root production, mortality and turnover in soil profiles as affected by clipping in a temperate grassland on the Loess Plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1072
Author(s):  
Lin Wei ◽  
Pengwei Yao ◽  
Guanghua Jing ◽  
Xiefeng Ye ◽  
Jimin Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Turnover Rate ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Production ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Root Mortality

Abstract Aims Clipping or mowing for hay, as a prevalent land-use practice, is considered to be an important component of global change. Root production and turnover in response to clipping have great implications for the plant survival strategy and grassland ecosystem carbon processes. However, our knowledge about the clipping effect on root dynamics is mainly based on root living biomass, and limited by the lack of spatial and temporal observations. The study aim was to investigate the effect of clipping on seasonal variations in root length production and mortality and their distribution patterns in different soil layers in semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau. Methods Clipping was performed once a year in June to mimic the local spring livestock grazing beginning from 2014. The minirhizotron technique was used to monitor the root production, mortality and turnover rate at various soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 and 30–50 cm) in 2014 (from 30 May to 29 October) and 2015 (from 22 April to 25 October). Soil temperature and moisture in different soil layers were also measured during the study period. Important Findings Our results showed that: (i) Clipping significantly decreased the cumulative root production (P < 0.05) and increased the cumulative root mortality and turnover rates of the 0–50 cm soil profile for both years. (ii) Clipping induced an immediate and sharp decrease in root length production and an increase in root length mortality in all soil layers. However, with plant regrowth, root production increased and root mortality decreased gradually, with the root production at a depth of 30–50 cm even exceeding the control in September–October 2014 and April–May 2015. (iii) Clipping mainly reduced root length production and increased root length mortality in the upper 0–20 cm soil profile with rapid root turnover. However, roots at deeper soil layers were either little influenced by clipping or exhibited an opposite trend with slower turnover rate compared with the upper soil profile, leading to the downward transport of root production and living root biomass. These findings indicate that roots in deeper soil layers tend to favour higher root biomass and longer fine root life spans to maximize the water absorption efficiency under environmental stress, and also suggest that short-term clipping would reduce the amount of carbon through fine root litter into the soil, especially in the shallow soil profile.

scholarly journals Seasonal patterns of fine root dynamics and their contribution to net primary production in hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and konara oak (Quercus serrata) forests

Trees ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Young An ◽  
Akira Osawa
Keyword(s):  
Fine Root ◽  
Chamaecyparis Obtusa ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Fine Root Production ◽  
Root Dynamics ◽  
Fine Root Dynamics ◽  
Hinoki Cypress ◽  
Core Method ◽  
Konara Oak

Abstract Key message Fine root and litterfall are major contributor of NPP and fine root production may reflect forest productivity in a warm-temperate forest in Japan. Abstract Forest ecosystems play an important role as the major carbon sink on land, with fine root dynamics and litterfall representing major carbon fluxes. The objectives of this research were to estimate NPP including annual fine root production values, to investigate fine root dynamics and the relationships between above– and belowground organs in konara oak (Quercus serrata) and hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) forests. Litterfall was collected seasonally for 1 year from June 2013. The ingrowth core method and the sequential soil core method were applied with a root litterbag experiment to estimate fine root (< 2 mm) production (FRP), mortality (FRM), and decomposition (FRD) for 1 year (from 2013 to 2014), using the continuous inflow estimate method and the simplified decision matrix. The total NPP ranged from 8.2 to 13.9 (t ha− 1 yr− 1), and the sum of aboveground litterfall and FRP accounted for 60% of the total NPP on average, confirming the significance of above- and belowground litter for the forest NPP as a source of detritus for the decomposer system. In hinoki cypress stand, fine root biomass peaked in the end of winter while fine root necromass showed the highest peak in late summer. In konara oak stand, only very fine root (< 0.05 mm) biomass and necromass demonstrated significant seasonal patterns. The seasonal patterns of fine root production did not differ between forest types and root diameter classes. We found a possible relationship between above- and belowground production and fine root production tended to be high in productive forests. This study improves our understanding of different patterns of carbon dynamics between temperate broadleaved and coniferous forest ecosystems.

Postfire root distribution of Scots pine in relation to fire behaviour

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeniya Smirnova ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Suzanne Brais ◽  
Anders Granström
Keyword(s):  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Function ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Fine Root Production ◽  
Root Dynamics ◽  
Coarse Roots

Fire can potentially have a large direct impact on tree roots and, thus, contribute to reduced vitality. Tree canopy status after fire should have an impact on the postfire production of fine roots, further affecting root function. We analyzed the standing crop of live and dead roots in Pinus sylvestris L. with varying degrees of crown scorch, 1 year after fire in northern Sweden. On the burned sites, total Pinus live fine-root biomass was 74% of that at the control sites, and it was only 19% of the control for roots <2 mm, indicating an 80% reduction due to fire. Root mortality was highest for high-scorch trees, but this was probably due to greater depth of burn in the organic soil for these trees and not to higher fire intensity per se. Fine-root production was also assessed by an ingrowth experiment. This showed relatively similar fine-root production in both control trees and fire-damaged trees, indicating a high allocation to root growth for the damaged trees, to make up for lost root function. Root dynamics after fire are related to a number of factors, and direct effects are determined by the depth of burn in the organic soil layer. Indirect, long-lasting effects could be due mainly to girdling of coarse roots close to tree stems and canopy loss.

scholarly journals Seasonal patterns of fine-root productivity and turnover in a tropical savanna of northern Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyong Chen ◽  
Derek Eamus ◽  
Lindsay B. Hutley
Keyword(s):  
Fine Roots ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Tropical Savanna ◽  
Coarse Roots ◽  
Ecosystem Production ◽  
Below Ground

Fine roots and their turnover represent a dynamic aspect of below-ground biomass (BGB) and nutrient capital in forest ecosystems, and account for a significant fraction of net primary productivity (NPP) (Cuevas 1995, Vogt et al. 1990). On a weight basis, coarse roots contribute more to total ecosystem biomass than fine roots, but they account for only a small portion of annual root production (Eamus et al. 2002). Despite the fact that fine roots may compose less than 2% of total ecosystem biomass, they may contribute up to 40% of total ecosystem production (Vogt et al. 1990). Therefore, estimates of root production, like estimates of root biomass, should differentiate between coarse- and fine-root production.

scholarly journals Quantification and uncertainty of root growth stimulation by elevated CO2 in mature temperate deciduous forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Ziegler ◽  
Aleksandra Kulawska ◽  
Angeliki Kourmouli ◽  
Liz Hamilton ◽  
Zongbo Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Causal Mechanism ◽  
Physical Analysis ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Temperate Deciduous Forest ◽  
Temperate Deciduous

AbstractIncreasing CO2 levels are a major global challenge, and the extent to which increasing anthropogenic CO2 emissions can be mitigated by natural carbon sinks remains poorly understood. The uptake of elevated CO2 (eCO2) by the terrestrial biosphere, and subsequent sequestration as biomass in ecosystems, may act as a negative feedback in the carbon budget, but remains hard to quantify in natural ecosystems. Here, we combine large-scale field observations of fine root stocks and flows, derived from belowground imaging and soil cores, with image analysis, stochastic modelling, and statistical inference, to elucidate belowground root dynamics in a mature temperate deciduous forest under free-air CO2 enrichment to 150ppm above ambient levels. Using over 67k frames of belowground observation, we observe that eCO2 leads to relatively faster root production (a peak volume fold change of 4.52 ± 0.44 eCO2 versus 2.58 ± 0.21 control). We identify an increase in existing root elongation relative to root mass decay as the likely causal mechanism for this acceleration. Direct physical analysis of biomass and width measurements from 552 root systems recovered from soil cores support this picture, with lengths and widths of fine roots significantly increasing under eCO2. We use dynamic measurements to estimate fine root contributions to net primary productivity, finding an increase under eCO2, with an estimated mean annual 204 ± 93 g dw m−2yr−1 eCO2 versus 140 ± 60 g dw m−2 yr−1 control. We also quantify and discuss the uncertainties in such productivity measurements. This multi-faceted approach thus sheds quantitative light on the challenging characterisation of the eCO2 response of root biomass in mature temperate forests.

scholarly journals Fine Root Production and Mortality in Apple over Winter

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 603d-603
Author(s):  
Christina E. Wells ◽  
David M. Eissenstat
Keyword(s):  
Fine Roots ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Cortical Cell ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Root Mortality ◽  
Root Lifespan ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Allocation Patterns

Fine root lifespan has previously been estimated at 3 to 4 weeks for apple trees growing in England. We used nondestructive belowground imaging technology to investigate the accuracy of this estimate for apple trees growing in central Pennsylvania. Eight root observation tubes (minirhizotrons) were installed beneath each of six 20-year-old `Red Delicious' apple trees on M26 rootstock. Videos of roots growing against the tubes were taken at intervals of 14 to 28 days between October to June, depending on the amount of root activity. Images were used to construct a database of life history information for over 500 individual roots. A flush of fine roots was produced in the early fall, followed by a period of low but constant mortality that lasted through December. Roots that survived to this time were generally maintained throughout the winter and following spring. A second flush of root production occurred in the spring, coinciding with bud burst and flowering. Root mortality was highest in late spring following this flush. In contrast to earlier estimates of apple root lifespan, we found that >30% of the fine roots produced in the fall lived for ≥200 days. Most of these roots developed red-brown pigmentation, a feature that previously has been associated with cortical cell death. However, the ability of these pigmented roots to produce new white laterals in the spring argues against categorizing these as dead roots. The information on root demographics provided by this study adds to our understanding of seasonal carbon and nutrient allocation patterns in apple.

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