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Applicability of the net sheet method for estimating fine root production in forest ecosystems

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Abstract

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The estimates of fine root production by net sheet method were not affected by the net material or the aperture size, but flexible nets are preferable to avoid an underestimation.

Abstract

The estimation of the fine root production is important for understanding the mechanisms of carbon cycling in ecosystems. The recently developed net sheet method allows the measurement of fine root production in forest ecosystems. The simplicity of this innovative technique reduces labor costs and causes little soil disturbance during installation. However, the protocols and methods are still poorly developed; for example, the effects of net material, mesh aperture size and firmness on the results remain unknown. Therefore, we measured the number and dry mass of fine roots grown through net sheets in forest soils to determine the effect of the net quality and type (polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, stainless steel), mesh aperture size (2 and 4 mm) and firmness (firm and flexible) on the results. The study was conducted in managed and unmanaged Japanese cedar forests in Japan and in a mixed dipterocarp forest in Malaysia. No effect of net material or mesh aperture size on the number of roots grown through the net sheets or on root production was observed. A smaller number of roots grew through the firm type of nets than that of the flexible nets in the managed Japanese cedar and mixed dipterocarp forests. These results suggest that fine root production is not affected by the material of the net sheets or the mesh aperture size, but flexible nets are preferable to avoid an underestimation of fine root production.

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Acknowledgments

Research project 22–533 of the Sasagawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Science Society and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (25281011, 25304027) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science supported this study. We thank the students and teachers of the bio-system research group at the School of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo, Japan, for their help in the field work and sample processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo, 1-1-12 Shinzaike-honcho, Himeji, Hyogo, 670-0092, Japan

    Mizue Ohashi, Aiko Nakano, Hidetoshi Ikeno & Ryohei Fukae

  2. Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Yasuhiro Hirano

  3. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan

    Kyotaro Noguchi

  4. Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Shiso, 671-2515, Japan

    Keitaro Yamase

  5. Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products, Research Institute, Momoyama, Fushimi, Kyoto, 612-0855, Japan

    Naoki Makita

  6. Natural Resources Institute Finland, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Leena Finér

Authors
  1. Mizue Ohashi
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  2. Aiko Nakano
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  3. Yasuhiro Hirano
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  4. Kyotaro Noguchi
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  5. Hidetoshi Ikeno
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  6. Ryohei Fukae
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  7. Keitaro Yamase
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  8. Naoki Makita
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  9. Leena Finér
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Correspondence to Mizue Ohashi.

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Additional information

Communicated by R. Matyssek.

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Ohashi, M., Nakano, A., Hirano, Y. et al. Applicability of the net sheet method for estimating fine root production in forest ecosystems. Trees 30, 571–578 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1308-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1308-y

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