Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts
IntroductionSeasonal droughts will become more severe and frequent under the context of global climate change, this would result in significant variations in the root distribution and water utilization patterns of plants. However, research on the determining factors of deep fine root and water utili...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1275464/full |
| _version_ | 1827811940077928448 |
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| author | Peipei Jiang Jinliang Yan Rongxin Liu Xuejie Zhang Shoujin Fan |
| author_facet | Peipei Jiang Jinliang Yan Rongxin Liu Xuejie Zhang Shoujin Fan |
| author_sort | Peipei Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionSeasonal droughts will become more severe and frequent under the context of global climate change, this would result in significant variations in the root distribution and water utilization patterns of plants. However, research on the determining factors of deep fine root and water utilization is limited.MethodsWe measured the fine root biomass and water utilization of trees, shrubs and herbs, and soil properties, light transmission, and community structure parameters in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts.Results and DiscussionWe found that the proportion of deep fine roots (below 1 m depth) is only 0.2-5.1%, but that of deep soil water utilization can reach 20.9-38.6% during the dry season. Trees improve deep soil water capture capacity by enhancing their dominance in occupying deep soil volume, and enhance their deep resource foraging by increasing their branching capacity of absorptive roots. Shrubs and herbs showed different strategies for deep water competition: shrubs tend to exhibit a “conservative” strategy and tend to increase individual competitiveness, while herbs exhibited an “opportunistic” strategy and tend to increase variety and quantity to adapt to competitions.ConclusionOur results improve our understanding of different deep fine root distribution and water use strategies between overstory trees and understory vegetations, and emphasize the importance of deep fine root in drought resistance as well as the roles of deep soil water utilization in shaping community assembly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:11:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-377497350a2e4b46a2ebc1189f189207 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:11:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-377497350a2e4b46a2ebc1189f1892072023-09-21T07:39:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-09-011410.3389/fpls.2023.12754641275464Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughtsPeipei Jiang0Jinliang Yan1Rongxin Liu2Xuejie Zhang3Shoujin Fan4Key Lab of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, Shandong, ChinaYangji Forest Farm (Yangtianshan Provincial Nature Reserve Protection Center) of Qingzhou, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaKey Lab of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, Shandong, ChinaKey Lab of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, Shandong, ChinaKey Lab of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, Shandong, ChinaIntroductionSeasonal droughts will become more severe and frequent under the context of global climate change, this would result in significant variations in the root distribution and water utilization patterns of plants. However, research on the determining factors of deep fine root and water utilization is limited.MethodsWe measured the fine root biomass and water utilization of trees, shrubs and herbs, and soil properties, light transmission, and community structure parameters in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts.Results and DiscussionWe found that the proportion of deep fine roots (below 1 m depth) is only 0.2-5.1%, but that of deep soil water utilization can reach 20.9-38.6% during the dry season. Trees improve deep soil water capture capacity by enhancing their dominance in occupying deep soil volume, and enhance their deep resource foraging by increasing their branching capacity of absorptive roots. Shrubs and herbs showed different strategies for deep water competition: shrubs tend to exhibit a “conservative” strategy and tend to increase individual competitiveness, while herbs exhibited an “opportunistic” strategy and tend to increase variety and quantity to adapt to competitions.ConclusionOur results improve our understanding of different deep fine root distribution and water use strategies between overstory trees and understory vegetations, and emphasize the importance of deep fine root in drought resistance as well as the roles of deep soil water utilization in shaping community assembly.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1275464/fullcommunity structuredeep fine rootdeep soil water utilizationlight transmissionseasonal dynamicssoil property |
| spellingShingle | Peipei Jiang Jinliang Yan Rongxin Liu Xuejie Zhang Shoujin Fan Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts Frontiers in Plant Science community structure deep fine root deep soil water utilization light transmission seasonal dynamics soil property |
| title | Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts |
| title_full | Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts |
| title_fullStr | Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts |
| title_short | Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts |
| title_sort | patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts |
| topic | community structure deep fine root deep soil water utilization light transmission seasonal dynamics soil property |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1275464/full |
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