Root order-dependent seasonal dynamics in the carbon and nitrogen chemistry of poplar fine roots

Abstract

Fine roots play an important role in above- and belowground carbon (C) allocation in forest ecosystems. However, few studies have focused on the seasonal dynamics of fine roots with different branching orders. The objective of this study is to provide insight to the seasonal heterogeneity in roots of different orders within root hierarchies of poplar trees under different soil conditions. Three plots were established in high (plantation A) and low (plantation B) soil nutrient conditions. Fine roots were sampled in each of four seasons throughout one year. All sampled roots were classified into one to five groups depending on their branching order, and the dry biomass of living roots and the concentrations of C, nitrogen (N) and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) were examined. Low order (first- to second-order) roots demonstrated more significant seasonal dynamics than high order roots, and the biomass of first-order fine roots was positively influenced by soil temperature and moisture while the biomass of second-order fine roots was negatively affected by soil nutrient conditions. The different responses of fine roots to environmental fluctuations implied a high division of root function, even within low order roots. The C and N chemistry of poplar fine roots also differed significantly with branching order; element concentrations were lower in low order roots. Principal component analysis indicated that root order explained 98.2% of the variation in fine root chemistry. Moreover, the first-order roots in plantation A had greater C but less TNC concentrations than those in plantation B, suggesting that C allocation in low order roots may be more responsive to soil nutrient conditions. The allocation of C and N also exhibited significant seasonal dynamics (p < 0.05); the TNC concentration was highest in winter, whereas C:N ratios were significantly lower in the summer and fall in each order of fine roots (p < 0.05). All these results suggest that branching order may be related to root growth and photoassimilate allocation, which should receive greater attention in future studies on C and N fluxes in forest ecosystems.