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Fine root functional group based estimates of fine root production and turnover rate in natural mangrove forests

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Abstract

Aims

It has been increasingly recognized that only distal lower order roots turn over actively within the <2 mm fine root system of trees. This study aimed to estimate fine root production and turnover rate based on lower order fine roots and their relations to soil variables in mangroves.

Methods

We conducted sequential coring in five natural mangrove forests at Dongzhai Bay, China. Annual fine root production and turnover rate were calculated based on the seasonal variations of the biomass and necromass of lower order roots or the whole fine root system.

Results

Annual fine root production and turnover rate ranged between 571 and 2838 g m−2 and 1.46–5.96 yr−1, respectively, estimated with lower order roots, and they were increased by 0–30 % and reduced by 13–48 %, respectively, estimated with the whole fine root system. Annual fine root production was 1–3.5 times higher than aboveground litter production and was positively related to soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Fine root turnover rate was negatively related to soil salinity.

Conclusions

Mangrove fine root turnover plays a more important role than aboveground litter production in soil C accumulation. Sites with higher soil nutrients and lower salinity favor fine root production and turnover, and thus favor soil C accumulation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jianhai Chen for his assistance in the field. We thank Dr. Jiacun Gu for constructive suggestions on manuscript preparation and Drs. Deliang Kong and Donna Devlin for helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. Thanks to two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that greatly improved the manuscript. This work was supported by the Chinese Academy of Forestry (RITFYWZX2015-03), the Forestry Administration of Guangdong (2014KJCX021-01) and the State Forestry Administration of China (2016-LYPT-DW-130).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, 510520, China

    Yanmei Xiong, Xiu Liu, Wei Guan, Baowen Liao, Yujun Chen & Mei Li

  2. Guangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning, 530002, China

    Xiu Liu

  3. Dongzhai Harbor National Natural Reserve, Haikou, 571129, China

    Cairong Zhong

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  1. Yanmei Xiong
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  2. Xiu Liu
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  4. Baowen Liao
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Correspondence to Yanmei Xiong.

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Responsible Editor: Alexia Stokes.

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Xiong, Y., Liu, X., Guan, W. et al. Fine root functional group based estimates of fine root production and turnover rate in natural mangrove forests. Plant Soil 413, 83–95 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-3082-z

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