Abstract
Key message
The first-order root traits are important for nutrients foraging for plants and their foraging strategies can be influenced by the changing of environmental variables.
Abstract
Fine roots are critical for soil resource acquisition by trees. Understanding root traits and their responses to varied environmental conditions is crucial for root resource foraging under environmental alternations. Data on eight first-order root traits including branching ratio, root diameter (RD), specific root length (SRL), specific root area (SRA), root tissue density (RTD), root carbon (C) concentration, root nitrogen (N) concentration, and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of roots (AM colonization) were collected along a large environmental gradient to quantify relationships between first-order root traits and environmental contributing factors in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations of Subtropical China. High mean annual precipitation (MAP) significantly increased AM colonization but decreased root C concentration, resulting in shifting towards a conservative foraging strategy of the first-order roots. Soil pH showed positive correlations with AM colonization and root N concentration, but negative correlations with the branching ratio (number of first-order roots/second-order roots), indicating shifting towards an acquisitive foraging strategy when soil becomes more acidic. However, increased soil C: N and soil P resulted in lower root N, lower RTD, and thicker root diameter of the first-order roots. Our study provides evidence that harsh environmental conditions such as drought and acidity resulted in the growth of more root tips (first-order roots), consequently shifting towards an acquisitive foraging strategy. In contrast, locations with more abundant rainfall and more neutral and fertile soils caused thicker and fewer root tips with higher AM colonization, shifting towards a conservative foraging strategy.
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The work of Yingchun Liao was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 31960308 and the Project of Jiangxi Educational Department under Grant No. GJJ201906.
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HBF and HMW originally formulated the idea. YCL and XHW conceived and designed the experiments. YYL, LH, and FFS contributed to the experiments. YCL and HYF analyzed the data. YCL and XHW wrote the manuscript. RZH contribute to revision.
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Liao, Y., Fan, H., Wei, X. et al. Shifting of the first-order root foraging strategies of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) under varied environmental conditions. Trees 37, 921–932 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02394-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02394-5