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Fine Root Biomass of Temperate Forests in Relation to Soil Acidity and Fertility, Climate, Age and Species

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Progress in Botany

Part of the book series: Progress in Botany ((BOTANY,volume 64))

Abstract

Root growth represents an important component of ecosystem carbon cycling because, in a global perspective, belowground carbon storage is more important than aboveground storage (Schlesinger 1997). Together with above-ground litter fall, root production provides the primary input of organic carbon to soils. Due to methodological problems, only slow progress in our understanding of ecosystem belowground processes has occurred and, as a consequence, carbon storage in, and carbon flow through the root system is only poorly represented in most models on plant and ecosystem carbon turnover. However, prediction of the effects of global warming, nitrogen deposition or soil acidification on plant growth and carbon sequestration remains questionable if root processes are not adequately covered.

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  1. Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften Abt. Ökologie und Ökosystemforschung, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Prof. Dr. Christoph Leuschner & Dr. Dietrich Hertel

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  1. Prof. Dr. Christoph Leuschner
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  1. Bochum

    K. Esser

  2. Darmstadt

    U. Lüttge

  3. Bielefeld

    W. Beyschlag

  4. Jena

    F. Hellwig

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Leuschner, C., Hertel, D. (2003). Fine Root Biomass of Temperate Forests in Relation to Soil Acidity and Fertility, Climate, Age and Species. In: Esser, K., Lüttge, U., Beyschlag, W., Hellwig, F. (eds) Progress in Botany. Progress in Botany, vol 64. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55819-1_16

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