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An optimized fine root sampling methodology balancing accuracy and time investment

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Abstract

Aims

Tree roots are spatially highly heterogeneous and it thus requires large numbers of samples to detect statistically significant changes in root biomass. The objectives of this study were to understand and quantify the sources of error in the assessment of fine root biomass (<2 mm) during the second year of a high-density Populus plantation.

Methods

Soil cores were collected in winter (n = 35) and in summer (n = 20), and fine roots were picked by hand for varying lengths of time: 1, 2, 5, 20, 40, and 60 min. The root biomass data were used to identify the best combination of the time spent for root picking and the number of samples collected, that minimizes the overall uncertainty (i.e. the combination of the spatial error due to the incomplete sampling and the temporal error due to the incomplete core processing).

Results

On average, 25 min was enough time to pick 90 % of the fine root biomass in winter, while in summer only 10 min were needed. In winter fewer samples were needed, but more time for picking was necessary as compared to summer when root biomass was higher.

Conclusions

Fine root sampling can be optimized by minimizing the uncertainty of the biomass estimates and simultaneously decreasing root sampling time investment.

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Acknowledgments

This research has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) as ERC Advanced Grant agreement # 233366 (POPFULL), as well as from the Flemish Hercules Foundation as Infrastructure contract ZW09-06. Further funding was provided by the Flemish Methusalem Programme and by the Research Council of the University of Antwerp. GB holds a grant from the Erasmus-Mundus External Cooperation, Consortium EADIC – Window Lot 16 financed by the European Union Mobility Programme # 2009-1655/001-001. JSK was supported as a visiting professor at the University of Antwerp by the International Francqui Foundation and by the US State Department Commission for Educational Exchange Fulbright Program. We gratefully acknowledge the excellent technical support of Joris Cools, the field management of Kristof Mouton, the logistic support of the POPFULL team including Nadine Calluy, as well as the generous assistance of Jonas Lembrechts, Alexander Vandesompele and Maud Lampaert for tedious fine root picking.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium

    G. Berhongaray, I. A. Janssens & R. Ceulemans

  2. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    J. S. King

Authors
  1. G. Berhongaray
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  2. J. S. King
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  3. I. A. Janssens
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  4. R. Ceulemans
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Berhongaray.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Alexia Stokes.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

  1. 1)

    Definition of the relative standard error used in the calculations.

figure a

Explanatory note: the relative standard error (RSE) is calculated from the standard deviation (SD), the number of samples (n) and the mean \( \left( {\overline {\text{x}} } \right) \). The RSE is an alternative option for the coefficient of variation (CV) that varies with the number of samples used.

  1. 2)

    The total relative standard error (TRSE) is the sum of the defined two contributors to uncertainty in fine root biomass: the picking duration (picking duration error = PDE) and spatial distribution (ecosystem scale standard error = ESSE).

PDE is a RSE that is calculated for each duration of picking, using the SD and the proportion of root picked \( \left( {\overline {\text{x}} } \right) \) at each duration of picking, and n from Eq. 2 presented in Materials and methods section.

$$ {\text{PDE}} = \frac{\text{SD}}{{\frac{{\overline {\text{x}} }}{{\sqrt {n} }}}} $$

Explanatory example for the calculation of the PDE:

Duration of picking (min)

Proportion of roots \( {\text{picked}} = \overline {\text{x}} \)

SD

Total time processing (min)

Time invested (min)

n (Eq. 2)

PDE

1

0.50

1.0

10

300

30

0.365

2

0.70

0.8

12

300

25

0.229

3

0.80

0.7

14

300

21

0.189

5

0.90

0.6

16

300

19

0.154

20

0.95

0.5

18

300

17

0.129

40

0.98

0.4

20

300

15

0.105

60

0.99

0.3

22

300

14

0.082

ESSE is a RSE that is calculated using only the SD and the mean \( \left( {\overline {\text{x}} } \right) \) from the absolute value at the maximum picking duration and varying n obtained from Eq. 2 presented in Materials and methods section.

$$ {\text{ESSE}} = \frac{\text{SD}}{{\frac{{\overline {\text{x}} }}{{\sqrt {n} }}}} $$

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Berhongaray, G., King, J.S., Janssens, I.A. et al. An optimized fine root sampling methodology balancing accuracy and time investment. Plant Soil 366, 351–361 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1438-6

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