Understory fine roots are more ephemeral than those of trees in subtropical Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) stands

Published Date
September 2016, Volume 73, Issue 3, pp 657–667

Title 

Understory fine roots are more ephemeral than those of trees in subtropical Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) stands

• Author 

• Jinxue Huang, 
• Guangshui Chen, 
• Zhijie Yang, 
• Decheng Xiong, 
• Jianfen Guo, 
• Jinsheng Xie, 
• David Robinson, 
• Yusheng Yang

Abstract

Key message

We tested the life span of fine roots of Chinese fir trees and understory plants in two stands in subtropical China. Fine roots from understory plants were much more ephemeral than those from trees. The life span of fine roots of understory plants and Chinese fir was shorter in the younger than in the older stand, although most of the factors affecting fine-root life spans were similar between trees and understory plants.

Context

Understory fine root can contribute significantly to total fine root biomass and belowground carbon.

Aims

The contribution of understory vegetation to belowground carbon and nutrient cycling is often neglected in forest stands. Potential differences in fine-root life span between understory and trees remain poorly known. This study aimed to document fine-root life spans in trees and understory plants in two Chinese fir plantations with different ages.

Methods

We measured fine-root (≤2 mm in diameter) life span for trees and understory vegetation in 16- and 88-year-old Chinese fir plantations in southern China during 4 years with minirhizotron. Factors controlling fine-root life spans were identified with Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

Fine roots were more ephemeral in understory plants than in trees in the two plantations. Fine-root life spans for both trees and understory plants were longer in the older than in the younger plantation. Root diameter at appearance, rooting depth, and season of emergence had a significant effect on fine-root life span.

Conclusion

These results highlight the importance of taking into account understory fine-root life span estimates when assessing the dynamics of fine-root recycling in Chinese fir forests.

Keywords

Fine-root Overstory tree Fine-root diameter Rooting depth Fine-root longevityUnderstory vegetation

Handling Editor: Ana Rincon

Contribution of co-authors

Guangshui Chen and Yusheng Yang designed the research.

Jinxue Huang and Guangshui Chen analyzed the data. Yusheng Yang, Zhijie Yang, Decheng Xiong, Jianfen Guo, Jinsheng Xie, and David Robinson contributed to data interpretation.

Jinxue Huang, Guangshui Chen, and David Robinson wrote the manuscript.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13595-016-0551-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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