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Fine root dynamics and partitioning of root respiration into growth and maintenance components in cool temperate deciduous and evergreen forests

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Abstract

Aims

We aim to show the seasonality of fine root dynamics and examine the relationship between root respiration (Rr) and fine root dynamics. In addition, we try partitioning Rr into growth (Rg) and maintenance (Rm) components.

Methods

Soil respiration (Rs), fine root biomass (B), and fine root production (P) were measured simultaneously over a growing season in adjoining deciduous (DF) and evergreen (EF) forests. The Rr was separated from Rs by the trenching method, and Rr was partitioned into Rg and Rm using an empirical model.

Results

The seasonality of P was almost the same in both forests, though that of B was different. The Rr showed a positive correlation with P in both sites. Annual Rr was estimated to be 610 (DF) and 393 (EF) g C m−2 year−1. Annual Rg and Rm were 121 and 166 (DF), and 86 and 182 (EF) g C m−2 year−1, respectively.

Conclusions

We found a clear seasonal pattern in P and a positive linearity between Rr and P. Despite considerable uncertainty due to the small sample size, presence of larger roots, and measurement uncertainty, the results suggest that our approach is capable of partitioning Rr.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (nos. 25241002 and 17 K20037) and the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (2-1705) of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency. We thank the Hokkaido Regional Office of the Forestry Agency for allowing us to use the study site, and N. Saigusa, R. Hirata and the staff of CGER for managing the site, and K. Fukuzawa and K. Takagi for teaching us how to measure fine roots.

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  1. Tomotsugu Yazaki

    Present address: School of Agriculture, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, N9 W9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan

    Lifei Sun, Takashi Hirano & Tomotsugu Yazaki

  2. Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan

    Munemasa Teramoto & Naishen Liang

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  1. Lifei Sun
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  2. Takashi Hirano
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Correspondence to Takashi Hirano.

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Sun, L., Hirano, T., Yazaki, T. et al. Fine root dynamics and partitioning of root respiration into growth and maintenance components in cool temperate deciduous and evergreen forests. Plant Soil 446, 471–486 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04343-z

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