Decomposition of different root branch orders and its dominant controlling factors in four temperate tree species

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2018.0080

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Fine root decomposition is the major pathway of carbon and nutrient input to the soil in forest ecosystems. However, the patterns and controlling factors of the decomposition of these roots, especially the finest roots, are poorly understood.

Methods Using a root branch-order classification, we separated the first four orders of fine root systems of Pinus koraiensis, Larix gmelinii, Fraxinus mandschurica and Betula platyphylla into two classes: first- and second-?order roots combined into lower-order; third- and fourth-order roots combined into higher-order. We conducted a four-year field litterbag study on decomposition of these four root orders of four temperate tree species in northeast China.

Important findings The results showed that the lower-order and higher-order roots had a decomposition rate constant of 0.342 and 0.461 for Pinus koraiensis, 0.304 and 0.436 for Larix gmelinii, 0.450 and 0.555 for Fraxinus mandschurica, and 0.441 and 0.579 for Betula platyphylla, respectively. We observed slower decay rates in lower-order than in higher-order roots in all four studied tree species. The root decay constants (k) was significantly correlated with both acid-unhydrolyzable fraction (AUF) and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC). We concluded that slow decomposition of lower-order roots was mainly driven by their high AUF and low TNC concentrations.

Key words: fine-root decomposition, root order, acid-unhydrolyzable fraction, non-structural carbohydrate, temperate tree species

GU Wei-Ping, LIU Rui-Peng, LI Xing-Huan, SUN Tao, ZHANG Zi-Jia, ZAN Peng, WEN Lu-Ning, MA Peng-Yu, MAO Zi-Jun. Decomposition of different root branch orders and its dominant controlling factors in four temperate tree species[J]. Chin J Plan Ecolo, 2018, 42(9): 955-962.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2018.0080

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2018/V42/I9/955

Figures/Tables 6

References 33

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林型 Forest type	T₁₀ (℃)	W₁₀ (g·g^-1)	林龄 Age (a)	密度 Density (trees·hm^-2)	DBH (cm)	主要树种 Dominant tree species
落叶松人工林 Larix gmelinii plantation	11.6	0.396	40	1 682	18.7	落叶松 Larix gmelinii
红松人工林 Pinus koraiensis plantation	10.8	0.458	46	2 904	16.1	红松 Pinus koraiensis
杨-桦林 Aspen-birch forest	12.9	0.552	58	2 381	12.9	山杨、白桦 Populus davidiana, Betula platyphylla
阔叶林 Hardwood forest	12.3	0.579	49	2 017	15.6	水曲柳、胡桃楸 Fraxinus mandschurica, Juglans mandshurica

林型 Forest type	T₁₀ (℃)	W₁₀ (g·g^-1)	林龄 Age (a)	密度 Density (trees·hm^-2)	DBH (cm)	主要树种 Dominant tree species
落叶松人工林 Larix gmelinii plantation	11.6	0.396	40	1 682	18.7	落叶松 Larix gmelinii
红松人工林 Pinus koraiensis plantation	10.8	0.458	46	2 904	16.1	红松 Pinus koraiensis
杨-桦林 Aspen-birch forest	12.9	0.552	58	2 381	12.9	山杨、白桦 Populus davidiana, Betula platyphylla
阔叶林 Hardwood forest	12.3	0.579	49	2 017	15.6	水曲柳、胡桃楸 Fraxinus mandschurica, Juglans mandshurica

树种 Tree species	根直径 Root diameter (mm)
树种 Tree species	一级 First-order	二级 Second-order	三级 Third-order	四级 Fourth-order
红松 Pinus koraiensis	0.29 ± 0.01	0.29 ± 0.02	0.53 ± 0.03	1.59 ± 0.12
落叶松 Larix gmelinii	0.26 ± 0.02	0.28 ± 0.01	0.46 ± 0.05	0.85 ± 0.09
水曲柳 Fraxinus mandschurica	0.34 ± 0.01	0.45 ± 0.01	0.55 ± 0.02	0.89 ± 0.07
白桦 Betula platyphylla	0.21 ± 0.01	0.26 ± 0.03	0.27 ± 0.06	0.43 ± 0.09

树种 Tree species	根直径 Root diameter (mm)
树种 Tree species	一级 First-order	二级 Second-order	三级 Third-order	四级 Fourth-order
红松 Pinus koraiensis	0.29 ± 0.01	0.29 ± 0.02	0.53 ± 0.03	1.59 ± 0.12
落叶松 Larix gmelinii	0.26 ± 0.02	0.28 ± 0.01	0.46 ± 0.05	0.85 ± 0.09
水曲柳 Fraxinus mandschurica	0.34 ± 0.01	0.45 ± 0.01	0.55 ± 0.02	0.89 ± 0.07
白桦 Betula platyphylla	0.21 ± 0.01	0.26 ± 0.03	0.27 ± 0.06	0.43 ± 0.09

根序 Root order	红松 Pinus koraiensis		落叶松 Larix gmelinii		水曲柳 Fraxinus mandschurica		白桦 Betula platyphylla
根序 Root order	k	R²	k	R²	k	R²	k	R²
[1+2]	0.342	0.983	0.304	0.985	0.450	0.993	0.441	0.987
[3+4]	0.461	0.987	0.436	0.980	0.555	0.995	0.579	0.994