Spatial Distribution Of Fine Roots Research Articles

Patterns in the Spatial Distribution of Fine Roots in Pinus sylvestris L. (Using the Example of a Mid-Taiga Cowberry-Type Pine Forest)

Patterns in the Spatial Distribution of Fine Roots in Pinus sylvestris L. (Using the Example of a Mid-Taiga Cowberry-Type Pine Forest)

Influence of Fertilizer Management on Sanded Soil and Its Response on Spatial Distribution of fine Roots

The fine root component, although it represents the lowest proportional biomass in a tree, has an important function in obtaining water and nutrients. In addition, it is an indicator of the physiological quality and growth of a tree. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of biomass and the density of fine roots in five different fertilizer treatments. The five treatments received increasing amounts of fertilizers. The collections were made between trees in the planting line and between the planting lines. Soil layers of 25 cm x 25 cm x 20 cm (length x width x depth) were collected until reaching a depth of 1 meter. Treatments that had less nutrient input via fertilization showed higher production of fine roots. In general, the line position in the superficial layers showed a higher density of fine roots. There was significant difference between the positions of the land monoliths and between the different layers. Strategically, the lower supply of nutrients via fertilization provided greater investment in the production of fine roots by trees in order to increase the area of absorption and exploration of the soil.

Patterns in the spatial distribution of fine roots in <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L. (the case of a mid-taiga cowberry-type pine forest)

Patterns in the spatial distribution of fine roots in <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L. (the case of a mid-taiga cowberry-type pine forest)

Vertical root separation and light interception in a temperate tree-based intercropping system of Eastern Canada

We analysed the spatial distribution of fine roots and light availability in a tree-based intercrop system (TBI) composed of Quercus rubra L. (QUR), hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus nigra—HYP) and hay (CROP) in southern Quebec (Canada) to evaluate interactions between trees and crop. Trees in the 8-year-old TBI system had superficial fine root profiles, which is common in tree species grown in conventional plantations and natural forests. More than 95 % of fine roots were found within the first 25 and 45 cm for QUR and HYP, respectively, and 35 cm for CROP. However, vertical separation between the fine root systems of QUR and CROP was evident, as QUR allocated less fine roots to the top 10 cm of soil, and more to depths between 10 and 30 cm, as opposed to CROP which had a greater proportion of fine roots in the top 10 cm. HYP fine roots showed no adaption when intercropped with hay. High tree fine root length density (FRLD) in the top soil layer was observed near the tree stems while hay FRLD was reduced by 45 %, suggesting strong competition for resources. Hay yield analysis revealed significant reduction near trees, particularly HYP. However, light did seem to be the main driver of intercrop yield, as it not only accounted for the effect of competition by roots (being correlated), but also had a singular effect.

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.

Spatial analysis of fine root distribution on a recently constructed ecosystem in a water-limited environment

Aims: (1) to investigate the spatial distribution of fine roots and its correlation with selected soil properties on an artificial ecosystem dominated by woody vegetation species, and (2) to compare the root distribution to that predicted using a global model for natural ecosystems.

Fine root biomass and production in aSalix viminalisandSalix dasycladosplantation

The biomass, production, and spatial distribution of fine roots were studied in an Estonian short rotation willow (Salix viminalis and S. dasyclados) plantation by ingrowth cores and soil coring during the first rotation. Fine root biomass was vertically concentrated (39-54%) in the uppermost 10 cm soil layer. This pattern was not principally affected by fertilization or species. Fertilization significantly reduced the biomass and annual production of fine roots. Large differences in the ratio of fine root to aboveground production were detected between fertilized and control plots. High production of harvestable biomass in the fertilized Salix plots was thus associated with a fertilization-related large positive effect on wood production and a negative effect on belowground allocation.

Spatial distribution of fine roots at ploughed Norway spruce forest sites

We examined the spatial distribution of fine roots at two forest sites that were ploughed 20 (site K1) and 33 years (site K2) before sampling and planted with Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Soil core samples were taken from the tilt and beneath the tilt, the furrow and the intermediate undisturbed soil to a depth of 0.4 m for fine root biomass, length and necromass determinations. Norway spruce fine roots were found throughout the ploughed forest sites. The fine roots were, however, unevenly distributed: the fine root biomass was highest in the tilt (624 and 452 g m at sites K1 and K2, respectively) and lowest in the undisturbed soil at site K1 (79 g m) and in the furrow at site K2 (145 g m). The estimated average fine root biomass at the ploughed forest sites (268 and 248 g m at sites K1 and K2, respectively) was, however, similar to those presented in other studies concerning sites that had not been ploughed. In the tilt, a substantial proportion of the fine roots was in the inverted mineral soil horizons and in the new organic horizon above the tilt. Consistent with the fine root biomass findings, the Norway spruce necromass was highest in the tilt but the vertical distribution of the dead roots was different: the necromass was highest in the buried O horizon. The results of this study suggest that at the ploughed forest sites, a substantial part of Norway spruce nutrient and water uptake occured in the tilt during the first 20 or 33 years after plantation.–2–2–2–2BT

Unusual Fine Root Distributions of Two Deciduous Tree Species in Southern France: What Consequences for Modelling of Tree Root Dynamics?

The spatial distribution of fine roots of two deciduous tree species was investigated in contrasting growing conditions in southern France. Hybrid walnut trees (Juglans regia×nigra cv. NG23) and hybrid poplars (Populus euramericana cv. I214) were both cultivated with or without annual winter intercrops for 10 years on deep alluvial soils. Soil samples for measuring the fine root distribution of both trees and crops were obtained by soil coring down to 3-m depth at several distances and orientations from the tree trunk. The distribution of live fine roots from walnut and poplar trees was patchy and sometimes unexpected. In the tree-only stands, fine root profiles followed the expected pattern, as fine root density decreased with increasing depth and distance from the tree trunk. However, many fine root profiles under intercropped trees were uniform with depth, and some inverse profiles were observed. These distributions may result from a high degree of plasticity of tree root systems to sense and adapt to fluctuating and heterogeneous soil conditions. The distortion of the tree root system was more pronounced for the walnut trees that only partially explored the soil volume: in the tree-only stand, the walnut rooting pattern was very superficial, but in the intercropped stand walnut trees developed a deep and dense fine root network below the crop rooting zone. The larger poplars explored the whole available soil volume, but the intercrop significantly displaced the root density from the topsoil to layers below 1 m depth. Most tree root growth models assume a decreasing fine root density with depth and distance from the tree stem. These models would not predict correctly tree–tree and tree–understorey competition for water and nutrients in 3D heterogeneous soil conditions that prevail under low-density tree stands. To account for the integrated response of tree root systems to such transient gradients in soils, we need a dynamic model that would allow for both genotypic plasticity and transient environmental local soil conditions.

Spatial distribution of fine roots of larch and ash in the mixed plantation stand

The spatial distribution of standing fine roots in tree rows of different species in a 12-year-old mixed stand of ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) and larch (Larix olgensis Henry) was studied by soil core sampling in early spring, 2001. It is found that ash and larch differ greatly in their belowground biomass distribution. Ash has much higher fine root biomass density in the soil than larch at stand level (with the max value of 4442.3 vs. 2234.9 g·m−3). Both tree species deployed more fine roots in their neighboring zone, suggesting a less intensive competition between roots of the two species. Both fine root biomass density and root length density of ash in the zone between larch tree rows are greater than that of larch in zone between ash tree rows, indicating that ash is more powerful than larch in belowground competition. The spatial distribution feature of roots favors the growth of ash in the mixed stand.

Spatial distribution of fine roots, rhizosphere and bulk‐soil chemistry in an acidified Picea abies stand

Soil and fine‐root sampling were carried out in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand with high levels of atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogen in south‐western Sweden. Living and dead fine roots in both LFH‐ and mineral horizons were excavated from soil cores. The bulk and rhizoshpere soil concentrations of Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, K and pH were measured in water extracts. The magnesium concentration was significantly higher in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil except for in the deepest horizon. The Ca/Al‐ratio increased with depth in both the rhizosphere and bulk soils while it decreased with depth in fine roots. The ratio was lower in dead than in living fine roots. The amount of both living and dead fine roots decreased with depth. The necromass/biomass ratio was highest in the 10 to 20 cm mineral soil horizon.