Coarse root spatial distribution determined using a ground-penetrating radar technique in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest,China

Coarse roots play a critical role in forest ecosystems and both abiotic and biotic factors affect their spatial distribution.To some extent,coarse root density may reflect the quantity of root biomass and biotic competition in forests.However,using traditional methods(e.g.,excavation)to study coarse roots is challenging,because those methods are time-consuming and laborious.Furthermore,these destructive methods cannot be repeated in the same forests.Therefore,the discovery of non-destructive methods for root studies will be very significant.In this study,we used a ground-penetrating radar technique to detect the coarse root density of three habitats(ridge,slope and valley)and the dominant tree species(Castanopsis eyrei and Schima superba)in a subtropical forest.We found that(i)the mean of coarse root density for these three habitats was 88.04roots m–2,with roots being mainly distributed at depths of 0–40 cm.Coarse root densities were lower in deeper soils and in areas far from the trunk.(ii)Coarse root densities differed significantly among the three habitats studied here with slope habitat having the lowest coarse root density.Compared with S.superba,C.eyrei had more roots distributed in deeper soils.Furthermore,coarse roots with a diameter>3 cm occurred more frequently in the valleys,compared with root densities in ridge and slope habitats,and most coarse roots occurred at soil depths of 20–40 cm.(iii)The coarse root density correlated negatively with tree species richness at soil depths of 40–60 cm.The abundances of the dominant species,such as C.eyrei,Cyclobalanopsis glauca,Pinus massoniana,had significant impacts on coarse root density.(iv)The soil depth of 0–40 cm was the"basic distribution layer"for coarse roots since the majority of coarse roots were found in this soil layer with an average root density of 84.18 roots m–2,which had no significant linear relationships with topography,tree species richness,rarefied tree species richness and tree density.Significant relationships between coarse root density and these factors were found at the soil depth of40–60 cm,which was the"potential distribution layer"for coarse root distribution.

Thinning effects on biomass and element concentrations of roots in adjacent hornbeam and oak stands in Istanbul,Turkey

Background:Thinning is a commonly used treatment in forest management which affects the tree root systems.The effects of thinning on element concentrations and seasonal change of roots were evaluated in adjacent oak(Quercus frainetto Ten.)and hornbeam(Carpinus betulus L.)stands according to the different root diameter classes.Method:Two replicated control and thinning plots(50m×50 m)were set for each species(hornbeam and oak).Thinning treatments(November 2010)reduced 50%of the basal area in both oak and hornbeam stands.Roots were assessed by seasonal collection over 2 years(from October 2010 to October 2012).The roots were then sorted into diameter classes of 0–2mm(fine roots),2–5mm(small roots)and>5mm(coarse roots).C,N,P,K,Ca,Na,Mg,S,Mn,Fe,Al,Zn,Pb,Ni,Cu and Cd were analyzed.Results:Except coarse roots,the highest root biomasses were determined in April-2011 in all plots.Fine-root biomass in oak was found significantly higher in control plots.In contrast to the oak,the fine-root biomass in the thinned hornbeam plots was higher than in the controls.The small-root biomass did not significantly differ between the thinned and the control plots in both oak and hornbeam stands.However,the coarse-root biomass showed significant differences between the control(1989 g∙m^(−2))and thinned plots(1060 g∙m^(−2))in oak,while no difference was detected in hornbeam.The concentrations of C,Al,Pb,Cd,Ni,Zn,Mn,Na,K,Mg and P in the fine roots of oak were significantly higher in the thinned plots.However,the concentration of Pb,Cd and Fe in the fine roots was significantly higher in the thinned plots of hornbeam.Significant differences were observed between the species for all elements in the fine roots except for C,N and P.In particular,elements in the fine roots tended to increase in July in the oak.In the hornbeam,all element concentrations in the fine roots(except C,N,and S)in the thinned plots showed a tendency to increase in April.The concentrations of Pb,Ni,Al,Fe,Cu,Ca,Na,K,Mg and P in the hornbeam control plots increased during the April 2011 period.Conclusion:The results indicated that thinning effects on temporal changes and concentrations of elements in the roots could be attributed to species-specific characteristics.

Species-specific responses to drought,salinity and their interactions in Populus euphratica and P.pruinosa seedlings

Aims Drought and salinity are severe abiotic stress factors,which limit plant growth and productivity,particularly in desert regions.In this study,we employed two desert poplars,Populus euphratica Oliver and Populus pruinosa Schrenk seedlings,to compare their tolerance to drought,salinity and combined stress.Methods We investigated species-specific responses of P.euphratica and P.pruinosa in growth,photosynthetic capacity and pigment contents,nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations,Cl−allocation,osmotic regulation and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS)under drought,salinity and the combined stress.Important Findings Populus pruinosa exhibited greater growth inhibitory effects,photosynthesis decline,stomatal closure and ROS accumulation,and lower antioxidant enzyme activities and osmotic regulation compared with P.euphratica under drought,salinity and especially under their combined stress.On the other hand,salt-stressed P.euphratica plants restricted salt transportation from roots to leaves,and allocated more Cl−to coarse roots and less to leaves,whereas salt-stressed P.pruinosa allocated more Cl−to leaves.It was shown that there is species-specific variation in these two desert poplars,and P.pruinosa suffers greater negative effects compared with P.euphratica under drought,salinity and especially under the combined stress.Therefore,in ecological restoration and afforestation efforts,species-specific responses and tolerances of these two poplar species to drought and salinity should be considered under climate change with increasing drought and soil salinity developing.