Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fine root interactions in subtropical mixed forests in China depend on tree species composition

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and aims

Belowground interactions can greatly modify fine root (≤2 mm in diameter) traits to increase soil resource acquisition for tree growth. We examined how mixed forests alter fine root traits compared to pure forests.

Methods

A pseudo-experimental tree cluster design was used to select small-area plots of single and mixed species in a Pinus massoniana–Lithocarpus glaber (PM–LG) forest and a L. glaber–Cyclobalanopsis glauca (LG–CG) forest. In each plot, soil cores were sampled down to 30 cm at a 0.5 m interval between target and neighbouring trees. Fine roots in soil cores were then divided by species to determine biomass and morphological traits.

Results

The mixed PM–LG plots exhibited significantly higher fine root biomass while the mixed LG–CG plots had no significant differences in fine root biomass compared to their respective pure plots. In pure plots, P. massoniana had higher fine root biomass and lower specific root length (SRL) and specific root area (SRA) than L. glaber, whereas fine root traits were similar for L. glaber and C. glauca. Compared with pure plots for a given species, fine root biomass in the entire soil profile decreased for P. massoniana but increased for L. glaber in mixed PM–LG plots. In mixed LG–CG plots, fine root biomass decreased for each species at all soil depths.

Conclusions

Whether positive interactions of fine roots occur is dependent on tree species composition. Fine root biomass was greater in mixed forests where tree species showed contrasting growth strategies and root traits, such as PM-LG forests, thus suggesting positive interactions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bauhus J, Messier C (1999) Soil exploitation strategies of fine roots in different tree species of the southern boreal forest of eastern Canada. Can J For Res 29:260–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauhus J, Khanna PK, Menden N (2000) Aboveground and below ground interactions in mixed plantations of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia mearnsii. Can J For Res 30:1886–1894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JN, Andrew B, Prescott CE (2002) Vertical fine root distributions of western redcedar, western hemlock, and salal in old-growth cedar-hemlock forests on northern Vancouver Island. Can J For Res 32:1208–1216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berendse F (1979) Competition between plant-populations with different rooting depths.1. Theoretical considerations. Oecologia 43:19–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (2003) Seven decades of stand development in mixed and pure stands of conifers and nitrogen-fixing red alder. Can J For Res 33:2274–2279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolte A, Villanueva I (2006) Interspecific competition impacts on the morphology and distribution of fine roots in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Eur J For Res 125:15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Børja I, DeWit HA, Steffenrem A, Majdi H (2008) Stand age and fine root biomass, distribution and morphology in a Norway spruce chronosequence in southeast Norway. Tree Physiol 28:773–784

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brassard BW, Chen HYH, Bergeron YB (2009) Influence of environmental variability on root dynamics in northern forests. Crit Rev Plant Sci 28:179–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brassard BW, Chen HYH, Bergeron Y, Paré D (2011) Differences in fine root productivity between mixed- and single-species stands. Funct Ecol 25:238–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brassard BW, Chen HYH, Cavard X, Laganiere J, Reich PB, Bergeron Y, Paré Yuan ZY (2013) Tree species diversity increases fine root productivity through increased soil volume filling. J Ecol 101:210–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM (1995) Positive interactions among plants. Bot Rev 61:306–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell BD, Grime JP, Mackey JML, Jalili A (1991) The quest of a mechanistic understanding of resource competition in plant communities: the role of experiments. Funct Ecol 5:241–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardinale BJ, Srivastava DS, Duffy JE, Wright JP, Downing AL, Sankaran M, Jouseau C (2006) Effects of biodiversity on the functioning of trophic groups and ecosystems. Nature 443:989–992

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casper BB, Jackson RB (1997) Plant competition underground. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 28:545–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curt T, Prévosto B (2003) Rooting strategy of naturally regenerated beech in silver birch and Scots pine woodlands. Plant Soil 255:265–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva EV, Gonçalves JLM, Coelho SRF, Moreira RM, Mello SLM, Bouillet J-P, Jourdan C, Laclau J-P (2009) Dynamics of fine root distribution after establishment of monospecific and mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium. Plant Soil 325:305–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Kroon H (2007) How do roots interact? Science 318(7):1562–1563

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falik O, Reides P, Gersani M, Novoplansky A (2003) Self/non-self discrimination in roots. J Ecol 91:525–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitter AH (1991) Characteristics and functions of root systems. In: Waisel Y, Eshel A, Kafkafi U (eds) Plant roots: the hidden half. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 15–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI (2014) The spatial and temporal dynamics of species interactions in mixed-species forests: From pattern to process. For Ecol Manage 312:282–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI, Bauhus J, Cowie AL, Vanclay JK (2006) Mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus with nitrogen fixing trees: a review. For Ecol Manage 233:211–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredericksen TS, Zedaker SM (1995) Fine root biomass, distribution, and production in young pine-hardwood stands. New For 10:99–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Fridley JD (2001) The influence of species diversity on ecosystem productivity: how, where, and why? Oikos 93:514–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujii S, Kasuya N (2008) Fine root biomass and morphology of Pinus densiflora under competitive stress by Chamaecyparis obtusa. J For Res 13(3):185–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gamfeldt L, Snäll T, Bagchi R, Jonsson M, Gustafsson L, Kjellander P, Ruiz-Jaen MC, Fröberg M, Stendahl J, Philipson CD, Mikusiński G, Andersson E, Westerlund B, Andrén H, Moberg F, Moen J, Bengtsson J (2013) Higher levels of multiple ecosystem services are found in forests with more tree species. Nat Commun 4:1340

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grams TEE, Kozovits AR, Winkler JB, Sommerkorn M, Blaschke H, Häberle K-H, Matyssek R (2002) Quantifying competitive trees in woody plants. Plant Biol 4:153–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IUSS Working Group WRB (2006) World Reference Base for Soil Resource 2006. In: World Soil Resources Reports No. 103. second ed. FAO, Rome

  • Jacob A, Hertel D, Leuschner C (2013) On the significance of belowground overyielding in temperate mixed forests: separating species identity and species diversity effects. Oikos 122:463–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob A, Hertel D, Leuschner C (2014) Diversity and species identity effects on fine root productivity and turnover in a species-rich temperate broad-leaved forest. Funct Plant Biol 41(7):678–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalliokoski T, Pennanen T (2010) Belowground interspecific competition in mixed boreal forests: fine root and ectomycorrhiza characteristics along stand developmental stage and soil fertility gradients. Plant Soil 330:73–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knoke T, Ammer C, Stimm B, Mosandl R (2008) Admixing broadleaved to coniferous tree species: a review on yield, ecological stability and economics. Eur J For Res 127:89–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laclau JP, Nouvellon Y, Reine C, Goncąlves JLM, Krushe AV, Jourdan C, Maire G, Bouillet JP (2013) Mixing Eucalyptus and Acacia trees leads to fine root over-yielding and vertical segregation between species. Oecologia 172:903–913

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lei PF, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Bauhus J (2012) Belowground facilitation and competition in young tree species mixtures. For Ecol Manage 265:191–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leuschner C, Hertel D, Coners H, Büttner V (2001) Root competition between beech and oak: a hypothesis. Oecologia 126:276–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Xiang W, Lei P, Deng X, Tian D, Fang X, Peng C (2014) Standing fine root mass and production in four Chinese subtropical forests along a succession and species diversity gradient. Plant Soil 376:445–459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meinen C, Hertel D, Leuschner C (2009) Biomass and morphology of fine roots in temperate broad-leaved forests differing in tree species diversity: is there evidence of below-ground overyielding? Oecologia 161:99–111

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Messier C, Coll L, Poitras-Larivière A, Bélanger N, Brisson J (2009) Resource and non-resource root competition effects of grasses on early- versus late-successional trees. J Ecol 97:548–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pregitzer KS, Deforest JL, Burton AJ, Allen ME, Ruess RW, Hendrick RL (2002) Fine root architecture of nine north American trees. Ecol Monogr 72(2):293–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi CJ (1990) Hunan vegetation. Hunan Science and Technology Press, Changsha, China (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rewald B, Leuschner C (2009) Belowground competition in a broad-leaved temperate mixed forest: pattern analysis and experiments in a four-species stand. Eur J For Res 128:387–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rysavy T, Roloff A (1994) Ursachen der Vereschung in Mischbeständen und Vorschläge zu ihrer Vermeidung. Forst und Holz 49:392–395

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1996) JMP start statistics – A guide to statistics and data analysis using JMP and JMP IN software. Duxbury Press, Belmont

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenk HJ (2006) Root competition: beyond resource depletion. J Ecol 94:725–739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid I (2002) The influence of soil type and interspecific competition on the fine root system of Norway spruce and European beech. Basic Appl Ecol 3:339–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid I, Kazda M (2002) Root distribution of Norway spruce in monospecific and mixed stands on different soil. For Ecol Manage 159:37–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid B, Hector A, Saha P, Loreau M (2008) Biodiversity effects and transgressive overyielding. J Plant Ecol 1:95–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silver WL, Thompson AW, McGroddy ME, Varner RK, Dias JD, Silva H, Crill PM, Kellers M (2005) Fine root dynamics and trace gas fluxes in two lowland tropical forest soils. Glob Change Biol 11:290–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong J, Xiang WH, Liu C, Lei PF, Tian DL, Deng XW, Peng CH (2012) Tree species effects on fine root decomposition and nitrogen release in subtropical forests in southern China. Plant Ecol Divers 3:323–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandermeer J (1989) The ecology of intercropping. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Vilà M, Carrillo-Gavilán A, Vayreda J, Bugmann H, Fridman J, Grodzki W, Haase J, Kunstler G, Schelhaas M, Trasobares A (2013) Disentangling biodiversity and climatic determinants of wood production. PLoS One 8:e53530

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XL, Klinka K, Chen HYH, de Montigny L (2002) Root structure of western hemlock and western redcedar in single- and mixed-species stands. Can J For Res 34:997–1004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiang W, Wu W, Tong J, Deng X, Tian D, Zhang L, Liu C, Peng C (2013) Differences in fine root traits between early and late-successional tree species in a Chinese subtropical forest. Forestry 86(3):343–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan ZY, Chen HYH (2010) Fine root biomass, production, turnover rates, and nutrient contents in boreal forest ecosystems in relation to species, climate, fertility, and stand age: literature review and meta-analyses. Crit Rev Plant Sci 29:204–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan ZY, Chen HYH (2012) Fine root dynamics with stand development in the boreal forest. Funct Ecol 26:991–998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YH, Chen HYH, Reich PB (2012) Forest productivity increases with evenness, species richness and trait variation: a global meta-analysis. J Ecol 100:742–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31170426 and 30771720), the New Century Excellent Talents Program (NCET-06-0715), and the Program for Science and Technology Innovative Research Teams in Higher Educational Institutions of Hunan Province. The authors thank Dr David Forrester for his valuable comments and language editing on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China

    Wenhua Xiang, Gangwei Fan, Pifeng Lei, Yelin Zeng, Jie Tong, Xi Fang & Xiangwen Deng

  2. Huitong National Field Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystem in Hunan Province, Huitong, Hunan, 438107, China

    Wenhua Xiang, Gangwei Fan, Pifeng Lei, Yelin Zeng, Jie Tong, Xi Fang, Xiangwen Deng & Changhui Peng

  3. Institute of Environment Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Changhui Peng

Authors
  1. Wenhua Xiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gangwei Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pifeng Lei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yelin Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jie Tong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xi Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiangwen Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Changhui Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenhua Xiang.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Etienne Laliberté.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 93 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xiang, W., Fan, G., Lei, P. et al. Fine root interactions in subtropical mixed forests in China depend on tree species composition. Plant Soil 395, 335–349 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2573-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2573-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation