Abstract
Background and aimsEstimation of root-mediated carbon fluxes in forested peatlands is needed for understanding ecosystem functioning and supporting greenhouse gas inventories. Here, we aim to determine the optimal methodology for utilizing ingrowth cores in estimating annual fine-root production (FRP) and its vertical distribution in trees, shrubs and herbs.MethodsWe used 3-year data obtained with modified ingrowth core method and tested two calculation methods: ‘ingrowth-dividing’ and ‘ingrowth-subtracting’.ResultsThe ingrowth-dividing method combined with a 2-year incubation of ingrowth cores can be used for the ‘best estimate’ of FRP. The FRP in the nutrient-rich fen forest (561 g m−2) was more than twice that in the nutrient-poor bog forest (244 g m−2). Most FRP occurred in the top 20-cm layer (76–82 %). Tree FRP accounted for 71 % of total FRP in the bog and 94 % in the fen forests, respectively, following the above-ground vegetation patterns; however, in fen forest the proportions of spruce and birch in FRP were higher than their proportions in stand basal area.ConclusionsOur methodology may be used to study peatland FRP patterns more widely and will reduce the volume of labour-intensive work, but will benefit from verification with other methods, as is the case in all in situ FRP studies.
Highlights
Fine roots are inherently important belowground components and mediate significant carbon (C) fluxes in many ecosystem types
We present 3-year data obtained with the modified ingrowth core method aiming to 1) compare ways for calculating the fine-root production (FRP) from multi-year ingrowth biomass data, 2) determine the optimal incubation time for the ingrowth cores in peatland forests when estimating the annual FRP, 3) estimate the annual FRP and 4) determine the vertical distribution of FRP for different tree species (Scots pine, Norway spruce and downy birch Betula pubescnes Ehrh.), shrubs and herbs in two contrasting peatland forests: nutrient-rich fen forest and nutrient-poor bog forest
In the drained bog forest, we used a 200-cm × 50-cm plot to cover the locations of the three ingrowth cores per group, while in the drained fen forest a 100-cm × 100-cm plot was analysed
Summary
Fine roots are inherently important belowground components and mediate significant carbon (C) fluxes in many ecosystem types. Fine-root production (FRP) accounts for up to 76 % of the C cycled annually through forest ecosystems (Vogt et al 1996; Gower et al 1996; Jackson et al 1997). Accurate estimation of C fluxes in peatlands under land use, e.g. forestry, is especially needed for developing reliable C budgets to support greenhouse gas inventories (Ojanen et al 2014). Estimation of root-mediated carbon fluxes in forested peatlands is needed for understanding ecosystem functioning and supporting greenhouse gas inventories. We aim to determine the optimal methodology for utilizing ingrowth cores in estimating annual fine-root production (FRP) and its vertical distribution in trees, shrubs and herbs. Light color: white, light brown, grey, yellow; sometimes dark if suberized
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