Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan

Fine roots (≤ 2 mm in diameter) account for up to 50% of total net primary production in forests, representing a major flow of both carbon and nutrients into the soil. We investigated the vertical distribution and production of fine roots in a warm temperate old-growth evergreen broadleaved forest i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: The Doi Bui, Van Do Tran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2020-03-01
Series:Journal of Forest Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/jfs-202003-0001_vertical-distribution-and-production-of-fine-roots-in-an-old-growth-forest-japan.php
_version_ 1797898709248245760
author The Doi Bui
Van Do Tran
author_facet The Doi Bui
Van Do Tran
author_sort The Doi Bui
collection DOAJ
description Fine roots (≤ 2 mm in diameter) account for up to 50% of total net primary production in forests, representing a major flow of both carbon and nutrients into the soil. We investigated the vertical distribution and production of fine roots in a warm temperate old-growth evergreen broadleaved forest in southwestern Japan. We used a continuous inflow method that considered different rates of diameter-dependent root mortality, decomposition, and thickening. Fine roots were classified into two classes (≤ 1 mm and 1-2 mm diameter). The experiment was conducted over a 1-year period to collect data on the mass of live fine roots and mass of dead fine roots in January, May, November and the following January. Decomposition ratios were assessed for three intervals (January to May, May to November, and November to January). More than 70% of fine roots occurred in the 0-20 cm soil layer, and less than 4% were found in the 50-80 cm soil layer. Decomposition ratios varied seasonally in both root size classes, peaking in summer and reaching a minimum in winter. The same pattern was found for production, mortality, and decomposition. The peak rate of production was 1.62 g.m-2.day-1 in ≤ 1 mm and 0.63 g.m-2.day-1 in 1-2 mm fine roots. The lowest production was 0.62 g.m-2.day-1 in ≤ 1 mm and 0.38 g.m-2.day-1 in 1-2 mm fine roots. Total fine root production over a 1-year period was 6.61 t.ha-1. A mass of 2.70 t.ha-1yr-1 of dead fine roots was decomposed to return nutrients to the soil. It is concluded that a warm temperate old-growth evergreen broadleaved forest in southwestern Japan plays an important role in carbon cycle and nutrient return through a high amount of production and decomposition.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T08:17:26Z
format Article
id doaj.art-76ccc5076fd64b45b8c2752bd47bc9ca
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1212-4834
1805-935X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T08:17:26Z
publishDate 2020-03-01
publisher Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
record_format Article
series Journal of Forest Science
spelling doaj.art-76ccc5076fd64b45b8c2752bd47bc9ca2023-02-23T03:43:05ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesJournal of Forest Science1212-48341805-935X2020-03-01663899610.17221/121/2019-JFSjfs-202003-0001Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, JapanThe Doi Bui0Van Do Tran1Vietnam National University of Forestry, Xuan Mai, Hanoi, VietnamSilviculture Research Institute, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Hanoi, VietnamFine roots (≤ 2 mm in diameter) account for up to 50% of total net primary production in forests, representing a major flow of both carbon and nutrients into the soil. We investigated the vertical distribution and production of fine roots in a warm temperate old-growth evergreen broadleaved forest in southwestern Japan. We used a continuous inflow method that considered different rates of diameter-dependent root mortality, decomposition, and thickening. Fine roots were classified into two classes (≤ 1 mm and 1-2 mm diameter). The experiment was conducted over a 1-year period to collect data on the mass of live fine roots and mass of dead fine roots in January, May, November and the following January. Decomposition ratios were assessed for three intervals (January to May, May to November, and November to January). More than 70% of fine roots occurred in the 0-20 cm soil layer, and less than 4% were found in the 50-80 cm soil layer. Decomposition ratios varied seasonally in both root size classes, peaking in summer and reaching a minimum in winter. The same pattern was found for production, mortality, and decomposition. The peak rate of production was 1.62 g.m-2.day-1 in ≤ 1 mm and 0.63 g.m-2.day-1 in 1-2 mm fine roots. The lowest production was 0.62 g.m-2.day-1 in ≤ 1 mm and 0.38 g.m-2.day-1 in 1-2 mm fine roots. Total fine root production over a 1-year period was 6.61 t.ha-1. A mass of 2.70 t.ha-1yr-1 of dead fine roots was decomposed to return nutrients to the soil. It is concluded that a warm temperate old-growth evergreen broadleaved forest in southwestern Japan plays an important role in carbon cycle and nutrient return through a high amount of production and decomposition.https://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/jfs-202003-0001_vertical-distribution-and-production-of-fine-roots-in-an-old-growth-forest-japan.phpcontinuous inflow methoddecomposition ratiofine rootsmortalityproduction
spellingShingle The Doi Bui
Van Do Tran
Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan
Journal of Forest Science
continuous inflow method
decomposition ratio
fine roots
mortality
production
title Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan
title_full Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan
title_fullStr Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan
title_full_unstemmed Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan
title_short Vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old-growth forest, Japan
title_sort vertical distribution and production of fine roots in an old growth forest japan
topic continuous inflow method
decomposition ratio
fine roots
mortality
production
url https://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/jfs-202003-0001_vertical-distribution-and-production-of-fine-roots-in-an-old-growth-forest-japan.php
work_keys_str_mv AT thedoibui verticaldistributionandproductionoffinerootsinanoldgrowthforestjapan
AT vandotran verticaldistributionandproductionoffinerootsinanoldgrowthforestjapan