Impact of soil moisture on the seasonal dynamics of fine root surface area of major afforestation tree species on China’s Loess Plateau

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.07.007

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Fine root surface area is important for nutrient and water uptake, but its seasonal dynamics remain poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate the seasonal dynamics of fine root surface area and its relation with the soil water content in Robinia pseudoacacia, Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis plantations.

Methods The study was conducted in Ansai County (36°30′ N, 108°51′ E), Shaanxi Province, China. Fine root surface area and soil water content were investigated by soil cores (300.0 cm depth, 6.8 cm diameter) taken in April, June, August and October 2007, at different horizontal distances (50, 100 and 150 cm) from the stem. Live root surface area and diameter were measured using the WinRHIZO root morphology and architecture measurement system. Fine root (≤2 mm) area density (surface area of root per unit soil volume, FRAD) was determined for every soil sample. The soil samples were oven-dried at 105 °C for 8 h and weighed to determine the soil water content by dry weight.

Important findings Throughout the study period, large variations in soil water content occurred in the 0-200 cm soil layer where 86.5%, 82.4% and 87.7% of the total fine root surface area were concentrated in the R. pseudoacacia, P. orientalis and P. tabulaeformis plantations, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between vertical distribution of fine root surface area and soil water distribution in the profile. The model S = Ah^B(C + Dh + Eh² + Fh³) describes the fine root surface area vertical distribution of the plantations with R² > 0.85. The mean soil water content in all plantations changed in order of October > April > June > August. The highest value of fine root surface area was in June for R. pseudoacacia and P. tabulaeformis and in June and October for P. orientalis. There were differences in the seasonal dynamics of fine root surface area and soil water content. Of the water that the three plantations needed for growth, 87% came from precipitation, but there was no significant correlation (p < 0.05) between fine root surface area and soil water content. The study indicates that combined and integrated soil moisture, temperature, available nitrogen and genetic characteristics of tree species should be considered in research on seasonal dynamics of fine roots.

Key words: afforestation tree species, fine root, Loess Plateau, seasonal dynamics, soil water content

WANG Di-Hai, ZHAO Zhong, LI Jian. Impact of soil moisture on the seasonal dynamics of fine root surface area of major afforestation tree species on China’s Loess Plateau[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(7): 819-826.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.07.007

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2010/V34/I7/819

Figures/Tables 4

References 31

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序号 No.	树种 Tree species	坡向 Slope aspect	坡度 Slope gradient (°)	土壤 Soil	林龄 Stand age (a)	平均树高Average tree height (m)	平均胸径Average DBH (cm)	林分密度 Stand density (tree·hm^-2)
1	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	东北Northeast	30	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	40	14.9	23.3	1 180
2	刺槐 R. pseudoacacia	东北Northeast	30	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	40	13.5	23.5	1 176
3	刺槐 R. pseudoacacia	东北Northeast	32	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	40	16.1	25.3	1 185
4	侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	西北Northwest	15	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	2.2	3.3	1 243
5	侧柏 P. orientalis	西北Northwest	15	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	2.5	4.3	1 245
6	侧柏 P. orientalis	西北Northwest	15	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	2.6	4.1	1 240
7	油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	西北Northwest	20	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	3.1	4.8	1 242

序号 No.	树种 Tree species	坡向 Slope aspect	坡度 Slope gradient (°)	土壤 Soil	林龄 Stand age (a)	平均树高Average tree height (m)	平均胸径Average DBH (cm)	林分密度 Stand density (tree·hm^-2)
1	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	东北Northeast	30	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	40	14.9	23.3	1 180
2	刺槐 R. pseudoacacia	东北Northeast	30	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	40	13.5	23.5	1 176
3	刺槐 R. pseudoacacia	东北Northeast	32	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	40	16.1	25.3	1 185
4	侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	西北Northwest	15	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	2.2	3.3	1 243
5	侧柏 P. orientalis	西北Northwest	15	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	2.5	4.3	1 245
6	侧柏 P. orientalis	西北Northwest	15	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	2.6	4.1	1 240
7	油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	西北Northwest	20	黄绵土 Yellow loessial soil	21	3.1	4.8	1 242

项目 Item	树种 Tree species	时间 Time
项目 Item	树种 Tree species	2007-04	2007-06	2007-08	2007-10
土壤含水量 Soil water content (%)	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	6.98 ± 0.92^aA	4.30 ± 0.80^bA	3.73 ± 0.65^bA	10.11 ± 1.07^cA
	侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	5.16 ± 1.51^aA	4.44 ± 0.79^aA	4.39 ± 0.57^aA	11.21 ± 0.82^bA
	油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	6.09 ± 0.97^aA	5.32 ± 0.40^aA	5.28 ± 0.37^aA	10.57 ± 0.79^bA
细根表面积 Fine root surface area of trees (cm²·dm^-3)	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	17.85 ± 6.11^abA	27.66 ± 6.84^cA	17.10 ± 6.53^abA	21.19 ± 5.49^bA
	侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	30.62 ± 5.76^aB	41.73 ± 11.83^bB	24.46 ± 5.68^aB	39.49 ± 13.01^bB
	油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	29.45 ± 7.46^aB	42.18 ± 3.61^bB	24.13 ± 4.56^aB	29.07 ± 6.11^aC

项目 Item	树种 Tree species	时间 Time
项目 Item	树种 Tree species	2007-04	2007-06	2007-08	2007-10
土壤含水量 Soil water content (%)	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	6.98 ± 0.92^aA	4.30 ± 0.80^bA	3.73 ± 0.65^bA	10.11 ± 1.07^cA
	侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	5.16 ± 1.51^aA	4.44 ± 0.79^aA	4.39 ± 0.57^aA	11.21 ± 0.82^bA
	油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	6.09 ± 0.97^aA	5.32 ± 0.40^aA	5.28 ± 0.37^aA	10.57 ± 0.79^bA
细根表面积 Fine root surface area of trees (cm²·dm^-3)	刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	17.85 ± 6.11^abA	27.66 ± 6.84^cA	17.10 ± 6.53^abA	21.19 ± 5.49^bA
	侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	30.62 ± 5.76^aB	41.73 ± 11.83^bB	24.46 ± 5.68^aB	39.49 ± 13.01^bB
	油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	29.45 ± 7.46^aB	42.18 ± 3.61^bB	24.13 ± 4.56^aB	29.07 ± 6.11^aC

树种 Tree species	A	B	C	D	E	F	R²	h_max (cm)	h_p (cm)	h_q (cm)	η₁ (%)
刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia	0.004 91	0.005 61	10 214.80	-107.975 0	0.473 87	-0.000 72	0.98	311.12	17.56	203.74	88.31
侧柏 Platycladus orientalis	0.014 66	-0.761 91	60 166.67	-259.219 0	2.068 19	-0.004 56	0.98	307.57	12.95	204.72	87.42
油松 Pinus tabulaeformis	0.001 23	0.366 42	2 609.55	-25.984 4	0.117 11	-0.000 17	0.85	300.23	10.28	200.32	87.16