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Relation of fine root distribution to soil C in a Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in subtropical China

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Abstract

Background and aims

Growth and distribution of fine roots closely depend on soil resource availability and affect soil C distribution in return. Understanding of relationships between fine root distribution and soil C can help to predict the contribution of fine root turnover to soil C accumulation.

Methods

A study was conducted in a subtropical Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation to assess the fine root mass density (FRMD), fine root C density (FRCD) of different fine root groups as well as their relations with soil C.

Results

The FRMD and FRCD of short-lived roots, dead roots and herb roots peaked in the 0–10 cm soil layer and decreased with soil depth, while FRMD, FRCD of long-lived roots peaked in the 10–20 cm soil layer. Soil C was positively related to FRMD and FRCD of total fine roots (across all three soil layers), dead roots (0–10 cm) and herb roots (10–20 cm) as well as FRCD of short-lived roots (20–40 cm) (P <0.05).

Conclusions

Soil C was mainly affected by herb roots in upper soil layers and by woody plant roots in deeper soil layers.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (2012CB416903), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31210103920; 31200406; 31260172).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A11, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

    Yingchun Liao, M. Luke McCormack, Huimin Wang & Dali Guo

  2. Institute of Ecology & Environmental Science, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang, 330099, China

    Yingchun Liao, Houbao Fan, Jianping Wu, Jie Tu & Wenfei Liu

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Yingchun Liao

Authors
  1. Yingchun Liao
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  2. M. Luke McCormack
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  3. Houbao Fan
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  4. Huimin Wang
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  5. Jianping Wu
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  6. Jie Tu
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  7. Wenfei Liu
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  8. Dali Guo
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Correspondence to Huimin Wang.

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Responsible Editor: Katja Klumpp.

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Liao, Y., McCormack, M.L., Fan, H. et al. Relation of fine root distribution to soil C in a Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in subtropical China. Plant Soil 381, 225–234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2114-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2114-9

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