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Unexpected phenology and lifespan of shallow and deep fine roots of walnut trees grown in a silvoarable Mediterranean agroforestry system

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Fine roots play a major role in the global carbon cycle through respiration, exudation and decomposition processes, but their dynamics are poorly understood. Current estimates of root dynamics have principally been observed in shallow soil horizons (<1 m), and mainly in forest systems. We studied walnut (Juglans regia × nigra L.) fine root dynamics in an agroforestry system in a Mediterranean climate, with a focus on deep soils (down to 5 m), and root dynamics throughout the year.

Methods

Sixteen minirhizotron tubes were installed in a soil pit, at depths of 0.0–0.7, 1.0–1.7, 2.5–3.2 and 4.0–4.7 m and at two distances from the nearest trees (2 and 5 m). Fine root (diameter ≤ 2 mm) dynamics were recorded across three diameter classes every 3 weeks for 1 year to determine their phenology and turnover in relation to soil depth, root diameter and distance from the tree row.

Results

Deep (>2.5 m) root growth occurred at two distinct periods, at bud break in spring and throughout the winter i.e., after leaf fall. In contrast, shallow roots grew mainly during the spring-summer period. Maximum root elongation rates ranged from 1 to 2 cm day−1 depending on soil depth. Most root mortality occurred in upper soil layers whereas only 10 % of fine roots below 4 m died over the study period. Fine root lifespan was longer in thicker and in deeper roots with the lifespan of the thinnest roots (0.0–0.5 mm) increasing from 129 days in the topsoil to 190 at depths > 2.5 m.

Conclusions

The unexpected growth of very deep fine roots during the winter months, which is unusual for a deciduous tree species, suggests that deep and shallow roots share different physiological strategies and that current estimates based on the shortest root growth periods (i.e., during spring and summer) may be underestimating root production. Although high fine root turnover rates might partially result from the minirhizotron approach used, our results help gain insight into some of the factors driving soil organic carbon content.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by the French ANR funded project ECOSFIX (Ecosystem Services of Roots - Hydraulic Redistribution, Carbon Sequestration and Soil Fixation, ANR-2010-STRA-003-01), by the ADEME funded project AGRIPSOL (Agroforestry for soil protection) and by la Fondation de France. We thank the farmers Mr. Henri and Alain Breton, for their authorization to open the deep pit. We are very grateful to our INRA colleagues Jean-François Bourdoncle, Lydie Dufour, Alain Sellier and Didier Arnal for their help with field and laboratory work and logistics. The Restinclières farm is the property of the Conseil Départemental de l’Hérault, which provides financial support to INRA since 1995 for the monitoring of agroforestry systems, and their support is warmly appreciated.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. INRA, UMR 1230 System, 2 Place Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

      Amandine Germon, Rémi Cardinael & Christian Dupraz

    2. AgroParisTech - GEEFT, 648 rue J-F Breton, BP 7355, 34086, Montpellier Cedex 4, France

      Amandine Germon

    3. IRD, UMR 210 Eco&Sols, 2 Place Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

      Rémi Cardinael

    4. CNRS, CEFE UMR 5175, Université de Montpellier – Université Paul Valéry – EPHE, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

      Iván Prieto

    5. Unité Ecosystèmes Montagnards, Centre de Grenoble, IRSTEA, 2 Rue de la Papeterie, 38402, Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France

      Zhun Mao

    6. Université Grenoble Alpes, 38402, Grenoble, France

      Zhun Mao

    7. INRA, UMR AMAP, Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

      John Kim & Alexia Stokes

    8. Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany

      John Kim

    9. CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, 2 Place Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

      Jean-Paul Laclau & Christophe Jourdan

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    Amandine Germon and Rémi Cardinael contributed equally to this work.

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    Figure S1

    Ombrothermic diagram of the study period; monthly mean air temperature (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm). (JPG 2.72 mb)

    Figure S2

    Mean daily root elongation rate (RER, cm day-1) at a depth of 0.0-0.7 m in the pit and in the plot over time. Vertical bars represent standard deviations (not shown when smaller than the symbol size). (JPG 2.75 mb)

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    Germon, A., Cardinael, R., Prieto, I. et al. Unexpected phenology and lifespan of shallow and deep fine roots of walnut trees grown in a silvoarable Mediterranean agroforestry system. Plant Soil 401, 409–426 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2753-5

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