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.