Quantifying Carbon in Structural Tree Root Systems using 3D Architecture Models

为了准确报告生态系统中的碳清单，需要量化根系中的碳;然而，确定树木根系中的碳是资源密集型的。细根一直是许多地下研究的重点，在过去，但结构的树木根系，占大部分的地下碳在树木根系生物量的量化。因此，需要新的工具来量化根系碳以及了解结构性根系如何受到环境过程和土壤特性的影响。在过去的10年里，三维（3D）树根结构模型得到了快速发展，特别是在欧洲。这个NSERC建议的目的是应用这些三维建筑根模型杰克松在萨斯喀彻温省的北方森林。生长在北方森林南部边缘和向北600公里较浅土壤上的短叶松将挖掘其根系，并使用三维数字化仪（Fastrak单位）绘制每个根系的空间图（即x、y、z坐标）。数字化数据（空间位置，直径等）将与专门的软件一起使用，以创建3D建筑根模型。这些模型可以分析各种根系特征，以预测根系生物量，以及研究土壤质地如何影响粗根发育。这些数据还将用于过程模型（根类型），该模型可以参数化以预测结构根发育和生物量随时间的变化。这项研究是新颖的，因为它将为加拿大的研究人员提供新的工具，用于预测结构根的发展，可用于应对与气候变化，碳固存和林木遗传改良有关的新挑战。这些树木根系的3D结构模型还将有助于更好地估计根系碳固存，可用于生态系统规模的碳模型，如碳预算模型（CFS 3-CBM），该模型将随着时间的推移在大空间尺度上量化碳。据我所知，这将是加拿大的第一项研究，其中北方树种粗木质根结构的3D模型将用于确定根生物量。

Quantifying carbon in root systems is required for accurate reporting of carbon inventory in ecosystems; however, determining carbon in tree roots systems is resource intensive. Fine roots have been the focus of much belowground research in the past but structural tree root systems which account for the majority of belowground carbon in tree root biomass are poorly quantified. Thus new tools are needed to quantify root carbon as well as understanding how structural roots are affected by environmental processes and soil properties. In the last 10 years there has been a rapid development in 3 dimensional (3D) tree root architecture models, especially in Europe. The objective of this NSERC proposal is to apply these 3D architectural root models for jack pine in the boreal forest in Saskatchewan. Jack pine trees growing at the southern edge of the boreal forest and 600 km to the north on shallower soils will have their root systems excavated and each root spatially mapped (i.e. x,y,z coordinates) with a 3D digitizer (Fastrak unit). The digitized data (spatial location, diameters etc) will be used with specialized software to create 3D architectural root models. These models can be analyzed for various root characteristics to predict root biomass as well as to study how soil texture influences coarse root development. The data will also be used in a process model (Root Typ) that can be parameterized to predict structural root development and biomass with time. This research is novel in that it will provide researchers in Canada with new tools for predicting structural root development that can be used to address the emerging challenges related to climate change, carbon sequestration and for genetic improvements in forest trees. These 3D architecture models of tree root systems will also aid in better estimates of root carbon sequestration that can be used in ecosystem scale carbon models such as the Carbon Budget Model (CFS3-CBM) which will quantify carbon on large spatial scales over time. This will be the first study to my knowledge in Canada where 3D models of coarse woody root architecture for boreal tree species will be utilized to determine root biomass.