Response of fine root biomass to changes in spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture and nitrogen in Larix principis-rupprechtii forest

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00965

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Fine root biomass is known to respond to spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of soil characteristics. Cutting disturbance created changes of soil physical and chemical factors, but how the changes affect fine root biomass and turnover processes remain unclear. Our objective was to analyze the relationships of spatial heterogeneity of the fine root biomass with changes of soil moisture and nitrogen by cutting disturbance in Larix principis- rupprechtii forest.
Methods This study was conducted in L. principis-rupprechtii forest of Pangquangou National Natural Reserve, located in Guandi Mountain, Shanxi Province, China. Two plots (32 m × 32 m) were placed. Plot A was a disturbed stand, but plot B was undisturbed. Each soil core (30 cm depth) was separated into 3 sections, 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. The live fine roots were classified into two categories (≤ 1 and 1-2 mm). The partial correlation and the multi-regression coefficients of the semivariance between fine root biomass and soil moisture, nitrogen and pH were analyzed based on theory and methodology of spatial pattern analysis in geostatistics.
Important findings Spatial variability of fine root biomass and spatial heterogeneity of soil nitrogen and soil moisture were positively correlated, with the latter being significantly stronger than the former. After cutting disturbance, the correlation became more significant. The correlation between spatial variability of fine root biomass and spatial heterogeneity of soil ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and pH was unclear in disturbed and undisturbed stands. Multiple regressions of soil factors against biomass of fine root were statistically significant. However, spatial distribution of biomass of fine roots was largely affected by soil moisture and total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen after cutting disturbance.

Key words: cutting disturbance, fine root biomass, Larix principis-rupprechtii forest, soil nitrogen, soil water content

YANG Xiu-Yun, HAN You-Zhi, WU Xiao-Gang. Response of fine root biomass to changes in spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture and nitrogen in Larix principis-rupprechtii forest[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2012, 36(9): 965-972.

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Figures/Tables 5

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样地 Plot	胸径 DBH (cm)	树高 Tree height (m)	林分密度 Density of stand (ind.·hm^-2)	郁闭度 Canopy density	坡度 Slope gradient (°)	坡向 Slope aspect	坡位 Slope position	海拔 Altitude (m)	枯枝落叶层厚度 Thickness of litter (cm)
采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	23.5	22	507	0.6	25	东北Northeast	中 Middle slope	1 822	2
未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	17.9	24	751	0.8	30	东北Northeast	中上 Upper-middle slope	1 890	3

样地 Plot	胸径 DBH (cm)	树高 Tree height (m)	林分密度 Density of stand (ind.·hm^-2)	郁闭度 Canopy density	坡度 Slope gradient (°)	坡向 Slope aspect	坡位 Slope position	海拔 Altitude (m)	枯枝落叶层厚度 Thickness of litter (cm)
采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	23.5	22	507	0.6	25	东北Northeast	中 Middle slope	1 822	2
未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	17.9	24	751	0.8	30	东北Northeast	中上 Upper-middle slope	1 890	3

样地 Plot	细根径级 Diameter class of fine root	土层 Soil layer (cm)	土壤含水量 Soil water content	土壤全氮 Soil total nitrogen	土壤硝态氮 Soil nitrate nitrogen	土壤铵态氮 Soil ammonium nitrogen	土壤pH Soil pH
采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	≤1 mm	0-10	0.328^**	0.109^**	0.078^*	0.050	0.021
		10-20	0.227^**	0.022	0.101	0.166^**	0.010
		20-30	0.128^**	0.114	0.134^**	0.036	0.059
	1-2 mm	0-10	0.258^**	0.041	0.091^**	0.020	0.069
		10-20	0.030	0.097^**	0.105	0.162^**	0.083
		20-30	0.142	0.186^**	0.041	0.185^**	0.153^**
未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	≤1 mm	0-10	0.207^**	0.156^**	0.102	0.009	0.104^*
		10-20	0.277^**	0.095^**	0.055	0.007	0.038
		20-30	0.248^**	0.023	0.051	0.040	0.077
	1-2 mm	0-10	0.080^**	0.032	0.050	0.170^**	0.007
		10-20	0.254^**	0.119^**	0.164^**	0.091	0.016
		20-30	0.188^**	0.023	0.068	0.017	0.013

样地 Plot	细根径级 Diameter class of fine root	土层 Soil layer (cm)	土壤含水量 Soil water content	土壤全氮 Soil total nitrogen	土壤硝态氮 Soil nitrate nitrogen	土壤铵态氮 Soil ammonium nitrogen	土壤pH Soil pH
采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	≤1 mm	0-10	0.328^**	0.109^**	0.078^*	0.050	0.021
		10-20	0.227^**	0.022	0.101	0.166^**	0.010
		20-30	0.128^**	0.114	0.134^**	0.036	0.059
	1-2 mm	0-10	0.258^**	0.041	0.091^**	0.020	0.069
		10-20	0.030	0.097^**	0.105	0.162^**	0.083
		20-30	0.142	0.186^**	0.041	0.185^**	0.153^**
未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	≤1 mm	0-10	0.207^**	0.156^**	0.102	0.009	0.104^*
		10-20	0.277^**	0.095^**	0.055	0.007	0.038
		20-30	0.248^**	0.023	0.051	0.040	0.077
	1-2 mm	0-10	0.080^**	0.032	0.050	0.170^**	0.007
		10-20	0.254^**	0.119^**	0.164^**	0.091	0.016
		20-30	0.188^**	0.023	0.068	0.017	0.013

细根径级 Diameter class of fine root	土层 Soil layer (cm)	样地 Plot	土壤含水量 Soil water content	土壤pH Soil pH	土壤全氮 Soil total nitrogen	土壤硝态氮 Soil nitrate nitrogen	土壤铵态氮 Soil ammonium nitrogen	R²	F
≤1 mm	0-10	采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	2.085^*	-0.383	0.044	-0.108	-1.686^**	0.732	8.170^*
	0-10	未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	-0.195	-0.054	-0.053	0.962^**	0.146	0.842	15.233^**
	10-20	采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	-0.063	0.766^**	-0.860	1.172	0.082	0.195	1.388
	10-20	未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	0.354	-0.345	0.743	-0.834^**	-0.073	0.338	2.120
	20-30	采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	0.812	0.040	0.245	-0.217	0.004	0.642	5.618^*
	20-30	未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	-0.866	0.537	0.377	0.053	-0.120	0.142	1.178
1-2 mm	0-10	采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	1.005	0.077	-0.088	-0.232	-1.346^*	0.693	6.896^*
	0-10	未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	0.230	0.765^*	0.436	-0.641	-0.354	0.259	1.679
	10-20	采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	-0.312	0.134	0.344	-0.871	0.139	0.785	10.660^**
	10-20	未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	-0.087	-0.257	0.725^*	-0.535	0.443	0.569	4.326^*
	20-30	采伐干扰样地 Cutting disturbance plot	-0.576	0.504	-0.143	-0.590	-0.043	0.645	5.681^**
	20-30	未采伐干扰样地 Non-cutting disturbance plot	-0.151	0.820^**	0.452^**	-0.520^**	0.199	0.906	27.170^**