Root biomass and distribution of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea–Abies</Emphasis> stand and a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix–Betula</Emphasis> stand in pumiceous Entisols in Japan

Root biomass and root distribution were studied in Entisols derived from the thick deposition of volcanic pumice on Hokkaido Island, Japan, to examine the effect of soil conditions on tree root development. The soil had a thin (<10 cm) A horizon and thick coarse pumiceous gravel layers with low levels of available nutrients and water. Two stands were studied: a Picea glehnii–Abies sachalinensis stand (PA stand) and a Larix kaempferi–Betula platyphylla var. japonica stand (LB stand). The allometric relationships between diameter at breast height (DBH) and aboveground and belowground biomass of these species were obtained to estimate stand biomass. The belowground biomass was small: 30.6 Mg ha₋₁ for the PA stand and 24.3 Mg ha₋₁ for the LB stand. The trunk/root ratios of study stands were 4.8 for the PA stand and 4.3 for the LB stand, which were higher than those from previous studies in boreal and temperate forests. All species developed shallow root systems, and fine roots were spread densely in the shallow A horizon, suggesting that physical obstruction by the pumiceous layers and their low levels of available water and nutrients restricted downward root elongation. The high trunk/root ratios of the trees may also have resulted from the limited available rooting space in the study sites.     

Fine root dynamics in organic and mineral soil layers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> D. Don plantation

Fine root dynamics and root architecture were studied in the organic and mineral soil layers of a Cryptomeria japonica plantation. Fine root biomass (<1 mm) showed seasonal changes whereas fine root biomass (1–2 mm) was unchanged over the study period. Root tips were grouped into size classes based on root tip diameter, including <0.5, 0.5–1, and 1–2 mm. Root tip density (<1 mm) was significantly correlated with fine root biomass (<1 mm). Root tip density and fine root biomass (<1 mm) increased in summer and decreased in winter, and both showed a similar seasonal pattern. Root tip dynamics influenced fine root dynamics. Root architecture as expressed by branching intensity changed with root tip production and mortality. Branching intensity also showed a similar seasonal pattern of root tip density dynamics. Root tips of both <0.5 and 0.5–1 mm were mainly produced in the organic soil layer, while root tips of 0.5–1 mm were mainly produced in the mineral soil layer. Because of the high RT1 root tip production in the organic soil layer, branching intensity was higher in the organic soil than in the mineral soil layer during summer. Root tip dynamics influenced fine root dynamics and the architecture of root systems in both organic and mineral soil layers.     

Root development across a chronosequence in a Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> D. Don) plantation

We investigated the biomass, vertical distribution, and specific root length (SRL) of fine and small roots in a chronosequence of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantations in Nara Prefecture, central Japan. Roots were collected from soil blocks up to 50 cm in depth in five plantations of differing age: 4, 15, 30, 41, and 88 years old. Fine-root biomass reached a maximum (639 g m₋₂) in the 15-year-old stand before canopy closure, decreased in the 30-year-old stand (422 g m₋₂), and thereafter was stable. Except in the 30-year-old stand, fine-root biomass increased in deeper soil layers as stand age increased, and the depth at which the cumulative biomass of fine roots reached 90% exhibited a good allometric relationship with mean stem diameter. Both root-length density (root length per unit soil volume) and SRL decreased with soil depth in all stands, indicating that plants mainly acquire water and nutrients from shallow soils. The highest SRL was observed in the 4-year-old stand, but the relationship between SRL and stand age was unclear in older stands. The SRL in surface soils seemed to decrease with increases in root-length density, suggesting that branching of the fine-root system during development is related to density-dependent processes rather than age.     

Spatial heterogeneity of fine root biomass of Pinus massoniana forests in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China

Environmental heterogeneity is a constant presence in the natural world that significantly affects plant behavior at a variety of levels of complexity. In order to estimate the spatial pattern of fine root biomass in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, the spatial heterogeneity of fine root biomass in the upper layer of soils (0-10 cm) in three Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) stands in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China, was studied in 30 m × 30 m plots with geostatistical analysis. The results indicate that 1) both the live and dead fine root biomass of stand 2 were less than those of other stands, 2) the spatial variation of fine roots in the three stands was caused together by structural and random factors with moderate spatial dependence and 3) the magnitude of spatial heterogeneity of live fine roots ranked as: stand 3 > stand 1 > stand 2, while that of dead fine roots was similar in the three stands. These findings suggested that the range of spatial autocorrelation for fine root biomass varied considerably in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, while soil properties, such as soil bulk density, organic matter and total nitrogen, may exhibit great effect on the spatial distribution of fine roots. Finally, we express our hope to be able to carry out further research on the quantitative relationship between the spatial heterogeneous patterns of plant and soil properties.     

Space-time dynamics of fine root biomass of six forests in the Maoershan forest region, northeast China

The Maoershan forestry centre is situated in the Zhangguangcai Mountain of the Changbai mountain range. The main forest types in the Maoershan region are plantation (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, Pinus koraiensis and Larix gmelinii) and natural secondary forests (Fraxinus mandshurica, Quercus mongolica and Populus davidiana). Fine roots have enormous surface areas, growing and turning over quickly, which plays an important role in terms of substance cycling and energy flow in the forest ecosystem. This study deals with the dynamics of live, dead, and total fine roots (≤ 5 mm) biomass in the 0–30 cm soil layer using the soil core method. Differences between the six stands in the Maoershan region showed the following results: 1) the fine root biomass in the various stands showed obvious differences. The total fine root biomass of six stands from high to low were F. mandshurica (1,030.0 g/m²) > Q. mongolica (973.4 g/m²) > Pinus koraiensis (780.9 g/m²) > L. gmelinii (718.2 g/m²) > Populus davidiana (709.1 g/m²) > Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (470.4 g/m²); 2) except for L. gmelinii, the development of live fine root biomass agreed with the trend of total fine root biomass. The maximum biomass of live fine roots in Pinus koraiensis or L. gmelinii stand appeared in May, others in June; in the F. mandshurica stand, the minimum biomass of live fine roots occurred in September, others in July or August; 3) the proportions of dead fine root biomass varied in different stands; 4) the vertical distribution of fine roots was affected by temperature, water, and nutrients; the proportion of fine root biomass was concentrated in the 0–10 cm soil layer. The fine root biomass of six stands in the 0–10 cm soil layer was over 40% of the total fine root biomass; this proportion was 60.3% in F. mandshurica. Space-time dynamics of the various stands had different characteristics. When investigating the substance cycling and energy flows of all forest ecosystems, we should consider the characteristics of different stands in order to improve the precision of our estimates. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2006, 42(6): 13–19 [译自: 林业科学]     

Rooting patterns and fine root biomass of Pinus pinaster assessed by trench wall and core methods

Variability of fine root (diameter < 2 mm) distribution was investigated in four 55 to 56-year-old Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) stands using a combination of trench wall observations and destructive sampling. Our objectives were to assess patterns of fine root distribution, to estimate tree fine root biomass and to explore interactions with understorey vegetation in a gradient of relevant site conditions. Results showed that root density decreased with soil depth in all stands, and variability appeared to be highest in litter and subsoil layers especially where compacted soil layers occurred. Roots were clustered in patches in the top 0–50 cm of the soil or were present as root channels at greater depths. Cluster number, cluster size and number of root channels were comparable in all four stands. Overall fine root biomass at depths of 0–120 cm ranged from 2.7 to 7.2 Mg ha⁻¹ and was highest for the two driest stands. The use of trench wall records made it possible to reduce the variability of these estimates. Understorey species represented as much as 90% of the total number of fine roots in the upper layers, and the understorey formed a considerable proportion of the total ecosystem biomass, suggesting that understorey species are likely competitors for nutrients in this ecosystem. Further studies should focus on the interaction of the understorey and pine roots and the ecological significance of clustered roots and nutrient distributions.     

长白山阔叶红松林群落的细根现存量及养分内循环

细根(直径≤2mm)是植物吸收水分和养分的重要器官,细根通过呼吸作用和周转过程向土壤输送有机质(Jackson et al.,1997;王政权等,2008)。细根生物量虽然仅占植物体总生物量的5%左右,但由于细根生长和周转迅速,其生长量可占森林初级生产力的50%～75%(Nadelhoffer et al.,1992),每     

Eucalyptus urophylla root growth, stem sprouting and nutrient supply from the roots and soil

Lack of information concerning root growth of trees limits our knowledge of plant development and fertilizer response. The objective of this work was to study root growth dynamics of an E. urophylla forest after harvesting and the supply of nutrients from the roots and the soil to the new sprouts originating from the stumps. About 7-year-old eucalypt trees were felled and the sprouts and roots were sampled at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 330 days after harvesting. The roots were separated into fine roots (<1 mm), medium roots (1–3 mm), coarse roots (>3 mm), and taproot. Nutrient supply to sprouts from the old roots and the soil was calculated based on the change in nutrient content of the roots with time and accumulation of nutrients in the sprouts. Fine, medium and coarse root biomass increased with time after harvesting. However, the increase was more pronounced with fine roots. Between harvesting and day 60 of the new growth, all nutrients allocated to the sprouts, excluding potassium, were supplied by the soil. K was the nutrient most dependent on root reserves for the initial growth of sprouts. The contribution of the old roots to N, P, Ca, and Mg accumulation in the sprouts increased between day 60 and 120. At 330 days after harvesting, about 9.2, 23.9, and 12.6% of the N, K, and Mg, respectively, that had accumulated in the sprouts were supplied by the roots, while all P and Ca were supplied by the soil.     

Tree roots in a changing world

Globally, forests cover 4 billion hectares or 30% of the Earth's land surface, and 20%–40% of the forest biomass is made up of roots. Roots play a key role for trees: they take up water and nutrients from the soil, store carbon (C) compounds, and provide physical stabilization. Estimations from temperate forests of Central Europe reveal that C storage in trees accounts for about 110 t C ha₋₁, of which 26 t C ha₋₁ is in coarse roots and 1.2 t C ha₋₁ is in fine roots. Compared with soil C, which is about 65 t C ha₋₁ (without roots), the contribution of the root C to the total belowground C pool is about 42%. Flux of C into soils by plant litter (stemwood excluded) compared with the total soil C pool, however, is relatively small (4.4 t C ha₋₁ year₋₁) with the coarse and fine roots each contributing about 20%. Elevated CO₂ concentrations and N depositions lead to increased plant biomass, including that of roots. Recent analysis in experiments with elevated CO₂ concentrations have shown increases of the forest net primary productivity by about 23%, and, in the case of poplars, an increase of the standing root biomass by about 62%. The turnover of fine roots is also positively influenced by elevated CO₂ concentrations and can be increased in poplars by 25%–45%. A recently established international platform for scientists working on woody root processes, COST action E38, allows the exchange of information, ideas, and personnel, and it has the aim to identify knowledge gaps and initiate future collaborations and research activities.     

Root distribution of under-planted European beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.) below the canopy of a mature Norway spruce stand as a function of light

Aboveground and belowground biomass of 15-year-old under-planted European beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Norway spruce stand were studied along a light gradient in three plots, in the northern part of Slovenia. Differences in soil water content, aboveground and fine root biomass distribution were confirmed between studied plots. Light had significant effect on the total biomass, root-shoot ratio (0.388 ± 0.076 under canopy, 0.549 ± 0.042 in the edge, 0.656 ± 0.047 in the open), specific root length (SRL) of fine beech roots (561.9 ± 42.2 under canopy, 664.3 ± 51.2 in the edge, 618.2 ± 72.8 in the open) and specific leaf area in beech, indicating morphological adjustment to shade. However, SRL of beech fine roots indicated no change between plots. The correlation between total aboveground and root biomass and light below the mature stand canopy was higher in the case of diffuse light intensity. Most fine roots of spruce were concentrated in the top (0–20 cm) soil layer. Beech fine roots under canopy and edge conditions were also concentrated in top (0–20 cm) soil layer and exhibited shift downwards to deeper soil horizons in open plot. Root proportion between beech and spruce changed with light toward beech with increasing light intensity for both fine and coarse roots.     

Root distribution of Fagus sylvatica in a chronosequence in western France

The distribution of fine (<2 mm diameter) and small roots (2–20 mm diameter) was investigated in a chronosequence consisting of 9-year-old, 26-year-old, 82-year-old and 146-year-old European beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands. A combination of trench wall observations and destructive root sampling was used to establish whether root distribution and total biomass of fine and small roots varied with stand age. Root density decreased with soil depth in all stands, and variability appeared to be highest in subsoil horizons, especially where compacted soil layers occurred. Roots clustered in patches in the top 0–50 cm of the soil or were present as root channels at greater depths. Cluster number, cluster size and number of root channels were comparable in all stands, and high values of soil exploitation occurred throughout the entire chronosequence. Overall fine root biomass at depths of 0–120 cm ranged from 7.4 Mg ha⁻¹ to 9.8 Mg ha⁻¹, being highest in the two youngest stands. Small root biomass ranged from 3.6 Mg ha⁻¹ to 13.3 Mg ha⁻¹. Use of trench wall observations combined with destructive root samples reduced the variability of these estimates. These records showed that variability in fine root distribution depended more on soil depth and edaphic conditions than on stand age, and suggest that trench wall studies provide a useful tool to improve estimates of fine root biomass.     

环境因子对树木细根生物量、生产与周转的影响

细根在森林生态系统C平衡和养分循环中的重要作用已为大量研究所证实，树木有赖于细根吸收水分和养分，而细根对环境胁迫比较敏感，因此细根动态可指示环境变化，还可反映树木的健康状态，影响树木细根生产和周转的因子很多，本文在收集大量研究文献基础上，讨论了文献基础上，讨论了土壤养分，水分、pH值，温度等环境因子以及大气CO2增长对树木细根分布，生物量，生产和周转的影响，以期为我国开展细根生态学研究提供参考。     

Biomass production and root distribution of Gmelina arborea under an agrisilviculture system in subhumid tropics of Central India

A study of an agrisilviculture system comprising Gmelina arborea and soybean (Glycine max) was conducted in the subhumid region of Central India. Above- and below-ground biomass production and distribution of coarse and fine roots were studied in 4-year-old G. arborea, planted at a spacing of 2 × 2 m, 2 × 3 m, 2 × 4 m and 2 × 5 m. The total biomass varied from 10.89 Mg ha^–1 to 3.65 Mg ha^–1 depending on the tree density. Among the different tree components, stemwood contributed maximum biomass (54.3–79.4%), followed by branches and leaves. Root distribution pattern showed that most of the coarse roots were distributed in the top 40 cm of soil, whereas fine roots were concentrated in the top 20 cm. Coarse root biomass decreased with an increase in spacing. The spread of roots was asymmetrical in trees planted at 2 × 2 m and 2 × 3 m spacings, while it was symmetrical in trees planted at wide spacings. No significant difference was observed in the fine root biomass in different stands. The root:shoot ratio increased with an increase in spacing. Crop (soybean) growth and productivity varied significantly and it increased with a decrease in tree density. Soybean yield varied between 1.5 Mg ha^–1 to 2.1 Mg ha^–1. The role of root architecture of G. arborea trees on productivity of crops under agri-silviculture system is discussed.     

Effects of simulated drought stress on the fine roots of Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) in a plantation forest on the Kanto Plain,eastern Japan

Drought stress was simulated in a 28-year-old Japanese cedar plantation (Kanto Plain, Japan) between April and October 2004 by removing throughfall using rain shelters. Changes in fine-root parameters caused by this drought treatment were examined by sequential soil coring. Drought effects on fine roots were analyzed separately for particular soil depths (0–5, 5–15, and 15–25 cm) and root diameters (<1 and 1–2 mm). Generally, fine-root biomass and root tip numbers decreased by the drought treatment. Drought stress was most intense for fine roots in the topsoil and weakest for fine roots in the deepest soil layer. Fine roots less than 1 mm in diameter were affected more severely than 1- to 2-mm roots. The effect of drought treatment was most remarkable for the number of white root tips, which decreased to 17% of the control at the soil depth of 0–5 cm. These results suggest that white root tip is the most suitable indicator of drought stress. Simulated drought reduced production of fine roots less than 1 mm and 1–2 mm in diameter. Fine-root mortality was stimulated for roots less than 1 mm, but not for 1- to 2-mm roots. These results suggest that fine roots with larger diameters can survive drought stress at a level simulated in this study, but processes of fine-root production were inhibited regardless of the diameter classes. The duration of drought stress and phenology of fine roots should also be considered in diagnosing the effects of drought on fine-root parameters.     

Stand age and fine root biomass, distribution and morphology in a Norway spruce chronosequence in southeast Norway

We assessed the influence of stand age on fine root biomass and morphology of trees and understory vegetation in 10-, 30-, 60- and 120-year-old Norway spruce stands growing in sandy soil in southeast Norway. Fine root (< 1, 1-2 and 2-5 mm in diameter) biomass of trees and understory vegetation (< 2 mm in diameter) was sampled by soil coring to a depth of 60 cm. Fine root morphological characteristics, such as specific root length (SRL), root length density (RLD), root surface area (RSA), root tip number and branching frequency (per unit root length or mass), were determined based on digitized root data. Fine root biomass and morphological characteristics related to biomass (RLD and RSA) followed the same tendency with chronosequence and were significantly higher in the 30-year-old stand and lower in the 10-year-old stand than in the other stands. Among stands, mean fine root (< 2 mm) biomass ranged from 49 to 398 g m(-2), SLR from 13.4 to 19.8 m g(-1), RLD from 980 to 11,650 m m(-3) and RSA from 2.4 to 35.4 m(2) m(-3). Most fine root biomass of trees was concentrated in the upper 20 cm of the mineral soil and in the humus layer (0-5 cm) in all stands. Understory fine roots accounted for 67 and 25% of total fine root biomass in the 10- and 120-year-old stands, respectively. Stand age had no affect on root tip number or branching frequency, but both parameters changed with soil depth, with increasing number of root tips and decreasing branching frequency with increasing soil depth for root fractions < 2 mm in diameter. Specific (mass based) root tip number and branching density were highest for the finest roots (< 1 mm) in the humus layer. Season (spring or fall) had no effect on tree fine root biomass, but there was a small and significant increase in understory fine root biomass in fall relative to spring. All morphological characteristics showed strong seasonal variation, especially the finest root fraction, with consistently and significantly higher values in spring than in fall. We conclude that fine root biomass, especially in the finest fraction (< 1 mm in diameter), is strongly dependent on stand age. Among stands, carbon concentration in fine root biomass was highest in the 30-year-old stand, and appeared to be associated with the high tree and canopy density during the early stage of stand development. Values of RLD and RSA, morphological features indicative of stand nutrient-uptake efficiency, were higher in the 30-year-old stand than in the other stands.     

马尾松细根与土壤养分含量研究

应用根钻法研究黔中12年生马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林下不同层次土壤(0～20 cm和20～40 cm)细根的分布情况及土壤养分含量的分布,并做了相关性分析.结果表明,马尾松细根单位面积生物量、根长密度及比根长在0～20 cm土层明显高于20～40 cm土层,在0～20 cm土层中单位面积根量是20～40 cm土层的3～6倍;土壤中养分含量也随着土壤深度的增加逐渐减少;马尾松根系生物量、根长密度及比根长与土壤中有效性养分存在显著正相关关系;细根生物量、根长密度与马尾松胸径呈显著正相关关系;养分含量对生物量、根长密度的综合影响存在显著线性相关性(R~2=0.903、0.917),土壤养分(0～20 cm、20～40 cm)对马尾松胸径存在显著或极显著线性相关关系(R~2=0.878、0.934),与树高线形相关性不明显.     

基于扣除根系体积新方法的秦岭辛家山2种林分土壤有机碳密度特征

【目的】比较秦岭辛家山林场云杉和红桦天然林土壤有机碳密度的估算结果,检验新方法通过扣除根系体积而提高的估算精度。【方法】分别估算矿质土层(表土层、心土层和底土层)和有机土层(凋落物的未/半分解层和完全分解层)的有机碳密度。在现有方法的基础上通过扣除林木根系体积含量来提高矿质土层有机碳密度的估算精度。各层林木根系体积含量的估算方法为:首先,使用前人提出的回归方程估算出单株林木根系生物量,乘以林木生长密度得到单位面积林地的根系总生物量;其次,通过采集部分根系样品测定其生物量和体积,并计算出根系样本的密度以代表整体根系的密度;然后,通过单位面积林地的根系总生物量除以根系的密度计算出单位面积林地的根系总体积;最后,利用前人研究得出的根系沿深度的分布规律,将单位面积根系总体积分配到各土层,计算出根系体积含量。对有机土层有机碳密度的估算,使用林木平均地径估算林木根基部所占面积,将有机土层中含有的林木体积扣除。此外,由于有机土层的各组分分布极不均匀,本研究依据来源器官和物理形态对凋落物(有机土层)中的不同成分进行了细致的分组,分别测定各组分的有机碳密度。【结果】云杉林表土层、心土层和底土层的厚度分别为19.10、14.20和31.03 cm,红桦林则分别为18.57、15.13和28.13 cm;云杉林表土层、心土层和底土层的有机碳含量分别为(44.56±3.72)、(25.63±1.77)和(10.79±2.28)g ·kg^-1 ,红桦林的分别为(34.11±5.46)、(19.06±4.95)和(11.02±3.86)g·kg^-1;2种林分有机土层各组分有机碳含量差异显著(P<0.05),凋落物中枝条、根系、云杉球果和苔藓的有机碳含量均大于600 g·kg^-1 ,叶片次之,云杉林和红桦林分别为(458.90±46.81)和(420.72±55.66)g·kg^-1 ,其余难以分辨的细颗粒含量最低均小于300 g·kg^-1;在矿质土层,云杉林各层每公顷根系体积(及体积比例)分别为表土层66.81(3.5%)、心土层20.69(1.5%)以及底土层9.18(0.3%)m^3,红桦林则分别为50.57(2.7%)、31.75(2.1%)和17.22(0.6%)m^3;使用改进公式估算的云杉林矿质土层有机碳密度为16.58 kg ·m^-2 ,有机土层有机碳密度为4.26 kg ·m^-2 ,完全分解层和半分解层分别占84%和16%,矿质土层和有机土层有机碳密度分别较原方法降低2.13%和0.73%;使用改进公式估算的红桦林矿质土层有机碳密度为 14.06 kg ·m^-2 ,有机土层碳密度为3.49 kg ·m^-2 ,分解层和半分解层分别占90%和10%,矿质土层和有机土层有机碳密度分别较原方法降低1.61%和0.48%。【结论】去除根系体积含量后,云杉林与红桦林的土壤总有机碳密度估算值分别降低1.85%和1.39%,这意味着目前预测的林地土壤碳储量可能普遍偏高。     

Soil fertility enhancement by planted tree-fallow species in the humid lowlands of Cameroon

Four shrub/tree species, Alchornea cordifolia, Pennisetum purpureum, Chromolaena odorata, and Calliandra calothyrsus were evaluated for their potential contribution to soil fertility restoration after two years fallow. Standing biomass, root distribution, nutrient content in the biomass, decomposition and nutrient release patterns, and association with mycorrhizae were the evaluation parameters. Alchornea and Pennisetum produced thehighest above-ground biomass, 66 t and 54 t/ha respectively. Pennisetum had more than 19 t/ha of root, 92% of which was in the 20 cm top soil. Alchornea had 74% of it roots in this soil layer, mostly as coarse roots while Calliandra had a deeper root system. Alchornea fallow accumulated more N and Ca, and Pennisetum fallow, more K than others, and mycorrhizae were mostly associated with Alchornea roots. The ranking of the different species for the decomposition rate was: Chromolaena > Pennisetum > Calliandra = Alchornea. Also release of nutrients during decomposition followed the order K > N > Ca. Alchornea and Pennisetum could be recommended as green manure species especially when high quantities of material are needed for weed or erosion control. Calliandra and Chromolaena, because of the flush of nutrient during early mass, loss can be used as mulch when the crop demand of nutrient is high. Alchornea decomposed slowly and therefore could be used to improve Chromolaena mulch, thus contributing to the build up of soil organic N and providing both short- and long-term nutrient release. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fine roots branch orders of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies faxoniana</Emphasis> respond differentially to warming in a subalpine coniferous forest ecosystem

Root is an important plant organ and has high heterogeneity. Global warming could change root and affect belowground ecological processes. There is little information on how fine roots branch orders responds to global change. This study examined the growth, morphological and physiological responses of fine roots of a subalpine coniferous species to warming. We investigated biomass, average diameter, specific root length (SRL), triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reducing capacity, carbon (C), total non-structural carbon (TNC) and fractions of the primal five branch order roots of Abies faxoniana in April, August, October and December. The decrease in total fine roots biomass after a growing season was significantly greater under warming treatment compared to control, suggesting that warming could accelerate the carbon input from root to soil, but the increment depended on tree species. Warming did not affect average diameter and SRL. Responses of biomass, TTC reducing capacity, C, TNC and fractions to warming significantly differed with root order and month. Significant warming effects were only observed in C and starch concentration of the first order and also TNC and soluble sugar concentration of the first three orders. The results indicated that the lower order roots (the first three orders) were more sensitive to warming, probably because they had more frequent, intense interactions with soil and low defense capability. Thus, global warming may dramatically alter root functions such as nutrients and water uptake as well as the cycle of C and nutrients at the whole subalpine coniferous forest ecosystem.     

Fine root biomass in relation to site and stand characteristics in Norway spruce and Scots pine stands

Variations in fine root biomass of trees and understory in 16 stands throughout Finland were examined and relationships to site and stand characteristics determined. Norway spruce fine root biomass varied between 184 and 370 g m(-2), and that of Scots pine ranged between 149 and 386 g m(-2). In northern Finland, understory roots and rhizomes (< 2 mm diameter) accounted for up to 50% of the stand total fine root biomass. Therefore, the fine root biomass of trees plus understory was larger in northern Finland in stands of both tree species, resulting in a negative relationship between fine root biomass and the temperature sum and a positive relationship between fine root biomass and the carbon:nitrogen ratio of the soil organic layer. The foliage:fine root ratio varied between 2.1 and 6.4 for Norway spruce and between 0.8 and 2.2 for Scots pine. The ratio decreased for both Norway spruce and Scots pine from south to north, as well as from fertile to more infertile site types. The foliage:fine root ratio of Norway spruce was related to basal area and stem surface area. The strong positive correlations of these three parameters with fine root nitrogen concentration implies that more fine roots are needed to maintain a certain amount of foliage when nutrient availability is low. No significant relationships were found between stand parameters and fine root biomass at the stand level, but the relationships considerably improved when both fine root biomass and stand parameters were calculated for the mean tree in the stand. When the northern and southern sites were analyzed separately, fine root biomass per tree of both species was significantly correlated with basal area and stem surface area per tree. Basal area, stem surface area and stand density can be estimated accurately and easily. Thus, our results may have value in predicting fine root biomass at the tree and stand level in boreal Norway spruce and Scots pine forests.