Fine root biomass and production in Scots pine stands in relation to stand age.

Abstract

We determined fine root biomass and production of 15-, 35- and 100-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands during three growing seasons. Fine roots were sampled by the soil core method. Mean (+/- SE) annual fine root biomass of Scots pine in the 15-, 35- and 100-year-old stands was 220 +/- 25, 357 +/- 21 and 259 +/- 26 g m(-2), respectively. Fine root biomass of the understory vegetation was 159 +/- 54 g m(-2), 244 +/- 30 and 408 +/- 81 g m(-2), and fine root necromass was 500 +/- 112, 1,047 +/- 452 and 1,895 +/- 607 g m(-2) in the sapling, pole stage and mature stands, respectively. Both understory and Scots pine fine root production increased with stand age. Mean annual Scots pine fine root production was 165 +/- 131, 775 +/- 339 and 860 +/- 348 g m(-2) year(-1) in the sapling, pole stage and mature stand, respectively. The respective mean annual production of all fine roots (Scots pine and understory) was 181 +/- 129, 1,039 +/- 497 and 1,360 +/- 869 g m(-2) year(-1). The Scots pine and understory fine root biomass, necromass and production varied in relation to stand age, although the variation was not statistically significant.