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Fine-root mass, growth and nitrogen content for six tropical tree species

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An Erratum to this article was published on 20 May 2009

Abstract

Although fine roots might account for 50% of the annual net primary productivity in moist tropical forests, there are relatively few studies of fine-root dynamics in this biome. We examined fine-root distributions, mass, growth and tissue N and C concentrations for six tree species established in 16-year-old plantations in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica in a randomized-block design (n = 4). The study included five native species (Hyeronima alchorneoides, Pentaclethra macroloba, Virola koschnyi, Vochysia ferruginea and Vochysia guatemalensis) and one exotic (Pinus patula). Under all species >60% of the total fine-root mass to 1 m deep was located in the uppermost 15 cm of the soil. Fine-root live biomass and necromass (i.e., the mass of dead fine-roots) varied significantly among species but only within the uppermost 15 cm, with biomass values ranging from 182 g m−2 in Pinus to 433 g m−2 in Hyeronima plots, and necromass ranging from 48 g m−2 in Pinus to 183 g m−2 in Virola plots. Root growth, measured using ingrowth cores, differed significantly among species, ranging from 304 g m−2 year−1 in Pinus to 1,308 g m−2 year−1 in Hyeronima. These growth rates were one to five times those reported for moist temperate areas. Turnover rates of fine-root biomass ranged from 1.6 to 3.0 year−1 in Virola and Hyeronima plots, respectively. Fine-root biomass was significantly and positively correlated with fine-root growth (r = 0.79, P < 0.0001), but did not correlate with fine-root turnover (r = 0.10, P = 0.20), suggesting that fine-root accumulation is a function of growth rate rather than mortality. Fine-root longevity was not correlated (r = 0.20, P = 0.34) and growth was negatively correlated with root N concentration across species (r = −0.78, P < 0.0001), contrary to reported trends for leaves, perhaps because N was relatively abundant at this site.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dennes Chavarría, Róger Gómez, Ricardo Bedoya, Marlón Hernández, Marvin, Eduardo and Bernal Paniagua, Joshua De Marree, and Nathan O’Leary for their assistance in the field and lab, and La Selva Biological Station staff for their logistical support. Robert Stephenson provided insightful assistance with the statistical analysis, and Heidi Asbjornsen, Richard Schultz, Brian Wilsey and Kurt Pregitzer provided useful comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. This research was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation grant DEB-0236502.

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  1. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 253 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes & James W. Raich

  2. Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, 339 Science II, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Ann E. Russell

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  1. Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes
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Correspondence to Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9996-y.

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Valverde-Barrantes, O.J., Raich, J.W. & Russell, A.E. Fine-root mass, growth and nitrogen content for six tropical tree species. Plant Soil 290, 357–370 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-9168-2

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