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Fine-root morphological and growth traits in a Turkey-oak stand in relation to seasonal changes in soil moisture in the Southern Apennines, Italy

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Ecological Research

Abstract

We investigated the effects of seasonal changes in soil moisture on the morphological and growth traits of fine roots (<2 mm in diameter) in a mature Turkey-oak stand (Quercus cerris L.) in the Southern Apennines of Italy. Root samples (diameter: <0.5, 0.5–1.0, 1.0–1.5, and 1.5–2.0 mm) were collected with the Auger method. Mean annual fine-root mass and length on site was 443 g m−2 (oak fine roots 321 g m−2; other species 122 g m−2) and 3.18 km m−2 (oak fine roots 1.14 km m−2; other species 2.04 km m−2), respectively. Mean specific root length was 8.3 m g−1. All fine-root traits displayed a complex pattern that was significantly related to season. In the four diameter classes, both fine-root biomass and length peaked in summer when soil water content was the lowest and air temperature the highest of the season. Moreover, both fine-root biomass and length were inversely related with soil moisture (p < 0.001). The finest roots (<0.5 mm in diameter) constituted an important fraction of total fine-root length (79 %), but only 21 % of biomass. Only in this root class, consequent to change in mean diameter, specific root length peaked when soil water content was lowest showing an inverse relationship (p < 0.001). Furthermore, fine-root production and turnover decreased with increasing root diameter. These results suggest that changes in root length per unit mass, and pulses in root growth to exploit transient periods of low soil water content may enable trees to increase nutrient and water uptake under seasonal drought conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We give special thanks to Dr. Dalila Trupiano and Dr. Bruno Lassere (Università del Molise) for their help in laboratory and field activities. This work was developed as part of the research project “Trees and Italian forests, sinks of carbon and biodiversity, for the reduction of atmospheric CO2 and improvement of environmental quality” funded by Italian Ministry of Environment. The authors also acknowledge SBI (Italian Botanic Society Onlus) for supporting this research. We are grateful to Jean Ann Gilder (Scientific Communication srl) for editing the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy

    Antonio Montagnoli, Mattia Terzaghi, Antonino Di Iorio & Donato Chiatante

  2. Department of Science and Technology for Environment and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86190, Pesche, IS, Italy

    Gabriella Stefania Scippa

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  1. Antonio Montagnoli
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Correspondence to Antonio Montagnoli.

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Montagnoli, A., Terzaghi, M., Di Iorio, A. et al. Fine-root morphological and growth traits in a Turkey-oak stand in relation to seasonal changes in soil moisture in the Southern Apennines, Italy. Ecol Res 27, 1015–1025 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-012-0981-1

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