Fine root biomass and its turn-over rates in forests

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Annual and seasonal changes in fine root biomass were studied over a 3 year period in a 40 year Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.forest in Mt.Hiei.Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Amounts of fine root were estimated using the soil core sampling methods. Fine roots consisted of two sizes of roots, i.e.less than 1 mm and 1-3 mm in diameter class. The smaller fine roots were categorized by their morphological characters.In the moder type soils, the majority of fine root occurred in the surface layr of O-10 cm soil corresponding to the upper mineral soil layr(A layr). In the mor type soils, the majority of fine roots distributed in the soil organic layr(A0-1ayr).The horizontal distribution of fine roots was independent of the position of trees within the study site, suggested a rather homogeneous distribution of fine roots. Thus, the soil core sampling method were appropriate for the estimation of fine root mass in this study site.Fine root (size of less than 1 mm )biomass showed seasonal and annual variation over the study period and ranged from 2.0-3.0t/ha. Biomass of fine roots of size above 1 mm ranged from 0.83 - l.3lt/ha. Total fine root mass was estimated to be 2.7-3.9t/ha. Fine root production was estimated by the balance methods and litter bag methods, and was l.32 t/ha. The estimated fine root biomass, and production were compared with other fine root studies in the North American coniferous forests.