Fine Root Mortality Increased by Earthquake Induced Landslides

Yinping Bai,Gang Yang

doi:10.4236/ojer.2016.53014

Yinping Bai, Gang Yang

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ojer.2016.53014

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Abstract

This study determined the effects of earthquake induced landslide on fine root mortality. It is useful to understand underground soil process after earthquake. We established 9 plots at each of non-moved and landslide site in Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei forest stands near the fault belt of the Wenchuan Earthquake. Fine roots were sampled at 0 - 10 and 10 - 15 cm soil layer using aluminum cylinders (100 cm3). We found that earthquake induced landslide significantly increased fine root mortality in Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei forest stands. Fine root biomass also decreased by landslide at 0 - 10 cm soil layer. We observed that the fine root biomass and mortality were various with forest type. There were higher fine root mortality rate (68.4%) and lower fine root biomass (0.48 t/hm2) in Cupressus funebris than the Cryptomeria fortunei soils (0.97 t/hm2 and 37.4%).

Highlights

The Wenchuan Earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.0, was one of the largest earthquakes in the world which made people homeless, and caused serious economic losses, and disturbed ecosystem, soil process and fine root development
The aims of the present study were to 1) evaluate fine root mortality rate in the landslides and 2) to understand whether the fine root mortality disturbed in earthquake various with forest type
Live fine root biomass was significantly lower in Cupressus funebris (0.48 t/hm2) than the Cryptomeria fortunei soils (0.97 t/hm2) in 0 - 10 cm soil layer

Summary

Introduction

The Wenchuan Earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.0, was one of the largest earthquakes in the world which made people homeless, and caused serious economic losses, and disturbed ecosystem, soil process and fine root development. As an important organ for water and nutrition uptake, is damaged by earthquake and disturbs [1]. Intense disturbs would decrease fine root biomass and increase root mortality [2]. There has been relatively little information on the earthquake-induced disturbs on fine root biomass and mortality rate. It was reported that the earthquake moved the forest as much as 60 m downhill from their original elevations along the slopes [3]. Our previous study discussed the effects of the landslide on soil environment and root pa-

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