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Spatial and temporal patterns of root distribution in developing stands of four woody crop species grown with drip irrigation and fertilization

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Abstract

In forest trees, roots mediate such significant carbon fluxes as primary production and soil CO2 efflux. Despite the central role of roots in these critical processes, information on root distribution during stand establishment is limited, yet must be described to accurately predict how various forest types, which are growing with a range of resource limitations, might respond to environmental change. This study reports root length density and biomass development in young stands of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoidies Bartr.) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) that have narrow, high resource site requirements, and compares them with sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), which have more robust site requirements. Fine roots (<1 mm), medium roots (1 to 5 mm) and coarse roots (>5 mm) were sampled to determine spatial distribution in response to fertilizer and irrigation treatments delivered through drip irrigation tubes. Root length density and biomass were predominately controlled by stand development, depth and proximity to drip tubes. After accounting for this spatial and temporal variation, there was a significant increase in RLD with fertilization and irrigation for all genotypes. The response to fertilization was greater than that of irrigation. Both fine and coarse roots responded positively to resources delivered through the drip tube, indicating a whole-root-system response to resource enrichment and not just a feeder root response. The plastic response to drip tube water and nutrient enrichment demonstrate the capability of root systems to respond to supply heterogeneity by increasing acquisition surface. Fine-root biomass, root density and specific root length were greater for broadleaved species than pine. Roots of all genotypes explored the rooting volume within 2 years, but this occurred faster and to higher root length densities in broadleaved species, indicating they had greater initial opportunity for resource acquisition than pine. Sweetgum’s root characteristics and its response to resource availability were similar to the other broadleaved species, despite its functional resemblance to pine regarding robust site requirements. It was concluded that genotypes, irrigation and fertilization significantly influenced tree root system development, which varied spatially in response to resource-supply heterogeneity created by drip tubes. Knowledge of spatial and temporal patterns of root distribution in these stands will be used to interpret nutrient acquisition and soil respiration measurements.

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Abbreviations

SRL:

specific root length

RLD:

root length density

C:

control treatment

I:

irrigation

F:

fertilization

IF:

irrigation plus fertilization

x :

horizontal distance from the tree parallel to the drip tube

y :

horizontal distance from the tree perpendicular to the drip tube

ST66:

eastern cottonwood clone from Issaquena County, MS, USA

S7C15:

eastern cottonwood clone from Brazos County, TX, USA

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by the US Department of Energy-Savannah River Operations office through the USDA-Forest Service Savannah River and the Forest Service Southern Research Station under Interagency Agreement DE-IA09-76SR00056; Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Lab Interagency Agreement 00-IA-11330135-221; Southern Research Station Research Work Units 4103, 4104, 4154, 4155, 4505, 4703, and The Timber Company, Weyerhaeuser, Champion International and Union Camp. David Coyle and Doug Aubrey provided technical assistance and manuscript review. Thanks to the many project technicians and staff at the USFS-Savannah River Forest Station, The University of Georgia and Auburn University who made data collection possible. Helpful reviews were also provided by Alex Friend, Bernard Parresol, Felipe Sanchez, Alan Salmon and Ruth Yanai.

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  1. Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, 241 Gateway Drive, Aiken, SC, 29803, USA

    Mark Coleman

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Correspondence to Mark Coleman.

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Responsible Editor: Tibor Kalapos.

The US Government has the right to retain a nonexclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright covering this paper. Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the USDA Forest Service.

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Coleman, M. Spatial and temporal patterns of root distribution in developing stands of four woody crop species grown with drip irrigation and fertilization. Plant Soil 299, 195–213 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9375-5

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