Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Understorey fine root mass and morphology in the litter and upper soil layers of three Chinese subtropical forests

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

Abstract

Aims

To quantitatively assess how fine root biomass and necromass of understorey species vary in the litter and upper mineral soil layers.

Methods

The method combines in situ sampling of the litter layer with sequential coring during the root growth stage in three Chinese subtropical forests: coniferous forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Results

Approximately 67–74 % of the total fine root mass occurred in the layer of decomposing litter (L2) and that of the top 7.5 cm of the soil (M1). Layer L2 was the preferential horizon for fine root growth, and the thickness of this horizon strongly affected the vertical fine root pattern. In addition, the fine root mass was positively correlated with total N concentration in layers L2 and M1. For all three forest types, most fine roots had diameters <1 mm and clear decreasing trends in specific (mass-based) root length and tip number were observed from the litter layer to the soil and the N concentration of live roots also decreased with depth.

Conclusions

Understorey roots show a soil exploitation pattern through which absorptive fine roots are arranged to maximize nutrient acquisition from the litter and upper soil layers and to avoid belowground competition with trees, especially in species-rich forests.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achat DL, Bakker MR, Trichet P (2008) Rooting patterns and fine root biomass of Pinus pinaster assessed by trench wall and core methods. J For Res 13:165–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alarcón-Gutiérrez E, Floch C, Ziarelli F, Albrecht R, Le Petit J, Augur C, Criquet S (2008) Characterization of a Mediterranean litter by 13C CPMAS NMR: relationships between litter depth, enzyme activities and temperature. Eur J Soil Sci 59:486–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen AS, Andrews JA, Finzi AC, Matamala R, Richter DD, Schlesinger WH (2000) Effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) on belowground processes in a Pinus taeda forest. Ecol Appl 10:437–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Børja I, De Wit 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 

  • Borken W, Kossmann G, Matzner E (2007) Biomass, morphology and nutrient contents of fine roots in four Norway spruce stands. Plant Soil 292:79–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burrascano S, Sabatini FM, Blasi C (2011) Testing indicators of sustainable forest management on understorey composition and diversity in southern Italy through variation partitioning. Plant Ecol 212:829–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotrufo MF (2006) Quantity of standing litter: A driving factor of root dynamics. Plant Soil 281:1–3

    Article  CAS  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 

  • Davis JP, Haines B, Coleman D, Hendrick R (2004) Fine root dynamics along an elevational gradient in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. For Ecol Manag 187:19–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLucia EH, Hamilton JG, Naidu SL, Thomas RB, Andrews JA, Finzi AC, Lavine M, Matamala R, Mohan JE, Hendrey GR, Schlesinger WH (1999) Net primary production of a forest ecosystem with experimental CO2 enrichment. Science 284:1177–1179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dong X, Wang H, Gu J, Wang Y, Wang Z (2015) Root morphology, histology and chemistry of nine fern species (pteridophyta) in a temperate forest. Plant Soil 393:215–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finér L, Ohashi M, Noguchi K, Hirano Y (2011) Fine root production and turnover in forest ecosystems in relation to stand and environmental characteristics. For Ecol Manag 262:2008–2023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finzi AC, Allen AS, DeLucia EH, Ellsworth DS, Schlesinger WH (2001) Forest litter production, chemistry, and decomposition following two years of free-air CO2 enrichment. Ecology 82:470–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujimaki R, McGonigle TP, Takeda H (2004) Soil micro-habitat effects on fine roots of Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.: A field experiment using root ingrowth cores. Plant Soil 266:325–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Wang J, Kong D, Wang W, Guo D, Wang Y, Xie Q, Liu Y, Zeng H (2013) Fine root branch orders contribute differentially to uptake, allocation, and return of potentially toxic metals. Environ Sci Technol 47:11465–11472

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson K, Olsson BA, Olsson M, Johansson U, Kleja DB (2011) Differences in soil properties in adjacent stands of Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch in SW Sweden. For Ecol Manag 262:522–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helmisaari HS, Derome J, Nöjd P, Kukkola M (2007) Fine root biomass in relation to site and stand characteristics in Norway spruce and Scots pine stands. Tree Physiol 27:1493–1504

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hertel D, Leuschner C, Hölscher D (2003) Size and structure of fine root systems in old-growth and secondary tropical montane forests (Costa Rica). Biotropica 35:143–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodge A (2004) The plastic plant: root responses to heterogeneous supplies of nutrients. New Phytol 162:9–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodge A, Helgason T, Fitter AH (2010) Nutritional ecology of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Fungal Ecol 3:267–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hölscher D, Dunker B, Harbusch M, Corre M (2009) Fine root distribution in a lower montane rain forest of Panama. Biotropica 41:312–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou GC, Blancaflor EB (2010) Fern root development. In: Beeckman T (ed) Annual plant reviews, root development, vol vol 37. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 192–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Imada S, Yamanaka N, Tamai S (2008) Water table depth affectsPopulus albafine root growth and whole plant biomass. Funct Ecol 22:1018–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson RB, Canadell J, Ehleringer JR, Mooney HA, Sala OE, Schulze ED (1996) A global analysis of root distributions for terrestrial biomes. Oecologia 108:389–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson LE, Burger M, Cavagnaro TR (2008) Roots, nitrogen transformations, and ecosystem services. Annu Rev Plant Biol 59:341–363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kong D, Ma C, Zhang Q, Li L, Chen X, Zeng H, Guo D (2014) Leading dimensions in absorptive root trait variation across 96 subtropical forest species. New Phytol 203:863–872

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lei P, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Bauhus J (2012) The effect of tree species diversity on fine-root production in a young temperate forest. Oecologia 169:1105–1115

    Article  PubMed  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 

  • Ma M, Wang DY, Sun RG, Shen YY, Huang LX (2013) Gaseous mercury emissions from subtropical forested and open field soils in a national nature reserve, southwest China. Atmos Environ 64:116–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacPherson DM, Lieffers VJ, Blenis PV (2001) Productivity of aspen stands with and without a spruce understorey in Alberta’s boreal mixedwood forests. For Chron 77:351–356

    Article  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  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Noguchi K, Nagakura J, Kaneko S (2013) Biomass and morphology of fine roots of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) after 3 years of nitrogen fertilization. Front Plant Sci 4:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostonen I, Lõhmus K, Lasn R (1999) The role of soil conditions in fine root ecomorphology in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). Plant Soil 208:283–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ostonen I, Lõhmus K, Helmisaari HS, Truu J, Meel S (2007) Fine root morphological adaptations in Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch along a latitudinal gradient in boreal forests. Tree Physiol 27:1627–1634

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Persson HÅ, Stadenberg I (2009) Spatial distribution of fine-roots in boreal forests in eastern Sweden. Plant Soil 318:1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Persson HÅ, Stadenberg I (2010) Fine root dynamics in a Norway spruce forest (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in eastern Sweden. Plant Soil 330:329–344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Püttsepp Ü, Lõhmus K, Persson HÅ, Ahlström K (2006) Fine-root distribution and morphology in an acidic Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand in SW Sweden in relation to granulated wood ash application. For Ecol Manag 221:291–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan MG, Hubbard RM, Pongracic S, Raison RJ, McMurtrie RE (1996) Foliage, fine-root, woody-tissue and stand respiration in Pinus radiata in relation to nitrogen status. Tree Physiol 16:333–343

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sayer EJ, Tanner EVJ, Cheesman AW (2006) Increased litterfall changes fine root distribution in a moist tropical forest. Plant Soil 281:5–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheirer CJ, Ray WS, Hare N (1976) The analysis of ranked data derived from completely randomized factorial designs. Biometrics 32:429–434

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schenk HJ (2008) The shallowest possible water extraction profile: A null model for global root distributions. Vadose Zone J 7:1119–1124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger WH, Lichter J (2001) Limited carbon storage in soil and litter of experimental forest plots under increased atmospheric CO2. Nature 411:466–469

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1995) Biometry: principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 3rd edn. WHFreeman and Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Subke JA, Hahn V, Battipaglia G, Linder S, Buchmann N, Cotrufo MF (2004) Feedback interactions between needle litter decomposition and rhizosphere activity. Oecologia 139:551–559

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt KA, Persson HÅ (1991) Measuring growth and development of roots. In: Lassoie JP, Hinckley TM (eds) Techniques and approaches in forest tree ecophysiology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 477–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Chen H (2012) Plant functional groups based on vegetative and reproductive traits in a subtropical forest community. J For Res 18:482–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zak DR, Holmes WE, Finzi AC, Norby RJ, Schlesinger WH (2003) Soil nitrogen cycling under elevated CO2: A synthesis of forest face experiments. Ecol Appl 13:1508–1514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong ZC (1988) Ecological study on evergreen broadleaved forest. Southwest China Normal University Press, Chongqing, pp. 1–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Shangguan Z (2006) Vertical distribution of fine roots in relation to soil factors in Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. forest of the Loess Plateau of China. Plant Soil 291:119–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y, Su J, Janssens IA, Zhou G, Xiao C (2014) Fine root and litterfall dynamics of three Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests along an altitudinal gradient. Plant Soil 374:19–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zogg GP, Zak DR, Burton AJ, Pregitzer KS (1996) Fine root respiration in northern hardwood forests in relation to temperature and nitrogen availability. Tree Physiol 16:719–725

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2013jcyjA20019). The authors thank Xue Lu, Ling-Yan Xiao, and Hong-Wei Liu for their field and laboratory assistance. We are grateful to Prof. Cornelissen J. H. C., Dr. Yong-Jian Wang and Qing-Xue Guo for frequent and valuable discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Wang, Jinchun Liu & Jianping Tao

  2. College of Forestry and Life Science, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, 402168, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Wang & Kai Hu

  3. Center for Ecological Studies, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaogang Wu

Authors
  1. Wei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaogang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kai Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jinchun Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianping Tao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jianping Tao.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, W., Wu, X., Hu, K. et al. Understorey fine root mass and morphology in the litter and upper soil layers of three Chinese subtropical forests. Plant Soil 406, 219–230 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2878-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2878-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation