Estimating fine root longevity in a temperate Norway spruce forest using three independent methods
Dirk Gaul A , Dietrich Hertel A and Christoph Leuschner A BA Plant Ecology, Albrecht-von-Haller Institute for Plant Sciences, Untere Karspüle 2, University of Göttingen, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany.
B Corresponding author. Email: cleusch@gwdg.de
Functional Plant Biology 36(1) 11-19 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08195
Submitted: 11 July 2008 Accepted: 18 October 2008 Published: 7 January 2009
Abstract
The importance of root systems for C cycling depends crucially on fine root longevity. We investigated mean values for fine root longevity with root diameter, root C/N ratio and soil depth using radiocarbon (14C) analyses in a temperate Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] forest. In addition, we applied sequential soil coring and minirhizotron observations to estimate fine root longevity in the organic layer of the same stand. The mean radiocarbon age of C in fine roots increased with depth from 5 years in the organic layer to 13 years in 40–60 cm mineral soil depth. Similarly, the C/N ratios of fine root samples were lowest in the organic layer with a mean value of 24 and increased with soil depth. Roots >0.5 mm in diameter tended to live longer than those being <0.5 mm in diameter. By far the strongest variability in fine root longevity estimates was due to the chosen method of investigation, with radiocarbon analyses yielding much higher estimates (5.4 years) than sequential soil coring (0.9 years) and minirhizotron observations (0.7 years). We conclude that sequential soil coring and minirhizotron observations are likely to underestimate mean fine root longevity, and radiocarbon analyses may lead to an overestimation of mean root longevity.
Additional keywords: fine root diameter, minirhizotrons, radiocarbon, root C/N ratio, root turnover, sequential coring.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the framework of the Research Group 562 ‘Soil processes under extreme meteorological conditions’. We thank Irmgard Gerstmann for supporting us during the fine root analyses. Egbert Matzner and Werner Borken coordinated the research group. Gerhard Müller, Uwe Hell and Andreas Kolb from Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) provided technical assistance during installation and operation of the research plots. Radiocarbon analyses were conducted at the AMS facility of Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena (Germany); this technical support is gratefully acknowledged.
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