Abstract
We studied effects of nitrogen, other nutrients and water (liquid fertilization; LF) on fine root dynamics (production, mortality) and life span of mycorrhizal short roots in a Norway spruce stand, using minirhizotrons. Data were collected and analyzed during a two-year period at depths of 0–20 cm, 21–40 cm and 41–85 cm, six years after the start of treatment. Relative to control (C), root production was lower in LF plots at depth 0–20 cm. Root production increased significantly at depth 41–85 cm. Fine root mortality in LF plots was higher at all depths. Life span of mycorrhizal short roots in LF plots was significantly lower than C plots and at the end of the study no mycorrhizal short roots were alive. It is suggested that the water and nitrogen input lower longevity of mycorrhizal short roots and promote fine root production at deeper soil layers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ågren G I, Axelsson B, Flower-Ellis J G K, Linder S, Persson H, Staaf H and Troeng H 1980 Annual carbon budget for a young Scots pine.In Structure and Function of Northern Coniferous Forests - an Ecosystem Study. Ed. T Persson. Ecol. Bull. (Stockholm) 32, 307–313.
Ahlström K, Persson H and Börjesson I 1988 Fertilization in a mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand - effects on fine roots. Plant and Soil 106, 179–190.
Arthur M A and Fahy T J 1992 Biomass and nutrients in an Engelmann spruce subalpine fir forest in north central Colarado: pools, annual production and internal cycling. Can. J. For. Res. 22, 315–325.
Bergholm J, Jansson P-E, Johansson U, Majdi H, Nilsson L-O, Persson H, Rosengren-Brinck U and Wiklund K 1995 Air pollution, tree vitality and forest production- the Skogaby project. General description of a field experiment withPicea abies in South SwedenIn Nutrient uptake and cycling in Forest Ecosystem. European Commission Ecosystem. Eds. L-O Nilsson, R F Hüttl, U T Johansson and P Mathy. pp 69–87. Research Report, No 21. Halmstad, Sweden. Office for Official Publication of the European Communities, L 2985, Luxemburg.
Dean J D 1979 Fluctuations of the soil environment and fine root growth and development of plants in young Sitka spruce plantation. Plant and Soil 52, 191–208.
Hendrick R L and Pregitzer K S 1992 The demography of fine roots in a northern hardwood forests. Ecology 73, 1094–1104.
Hendrick R L and Pregitzer K S 1993 Patterns of fine root mortality in two sugar maple forests. Nature 361, 59–61.
Hendricks J J, Nadelhoffer K J and Aber J D 1993 Assessing the role of fine roots in carbon and nutrient cycling. Tree 8, 174–178.
Joslin J D and Henderson G S 1987 Organic matter and nutrients associated with fine root turnover in a white oak stand. For. Sci. 33, 330–346.
Kaplan E L and Meier P 1958 Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 53, 457–481.
Kåren O and Nylund J-E 1996 Effects of N-free fertilization on ectomycorrhiza community structure in Norway spruce stands in Southern Sweden. Plant and Soil 181, 295–305.
Kurz W A and Kimmins J P 1987 Analysis of error in methods used to determine fine root production in forest ecosystems: a simulation approach. Can. J. For. Res. 17, 909–912.
Lyr H and Hoffmann G 1967 Growth rates and growth periodicity of tree roots. Int. Rev. For. Res. 2, 181–206.
Majdi H and Persson H 1995 Effects of ammonium sulphate application on the chemistry of bulk soil, rhizosphere, and fine-root distribution in aPicea abies (L.) Karst. stand. Plant and Soil 168/169, 151–160.
Majdi H and Kangas P 1996 Demography of fine roots in response to nutrient applications in a Norway spruce stand in SW Sweden. Ecoscience 4:2.
Mantel N and Haenszel W 1959 Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 22, 719–748.
Nadelhoffer K and Raich J W 1992 Fine root production estimates and belowground carbon allocation in forest ecosystems. Ecology 73, 1139–1147.
Nilsson L-O and Wiklund K 1992 Influence of nutrient and water stress on Norway spruce production in south Sweden-the role of air pollutants. Plant and Soil 147, 251–265.
Nilsson L-O and Wiklund K 1995 Nitrogen uptake in a Norway spruce stand following ammonium sulphate application, fertigation, irrigation, drought and nitrogen-free-fertilisation. Plant and Soil 164, 221–229.
Orlov A Y 1957 Observations on absorbing roots of spruce (Picea excelsa Link) under natural conditions. Bot. Z. 42, 1172–1180.
Orlov A Y 1960 Growth and modification with age of the absorbing roots of spruce (Picea excelsa Link). Bot. Z. 45, 888–896.
Santantonio D and Grace J C 1987 Estimating fine root production and turnover from biomass and decomposition data: a compartment flow model. Can. J. For. Res. 17, 900–908.
Singh J S, Lauenroth W K, Hunt H W and Swift D M 1984 Bias and random errors in estimators of net root production: a simulation approach. Ecology 65, 1760–1764.
Vogt K A and Persson H 1991 Measuring growth and development of roots.In Techniques and Approaches in Forest Tree Ecophysiology. Eds. T Hinckley and J P Lassoie. pp 477–501. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Majdi, H., Nylund, JE. Does liquid fertilization affect fine root dynamics and lifespan of mycorrhizal short roots?. Plant Soil 185, 305–309 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257536
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257536