The measurement of woody root decomposition using two methodologies in a Sitka spruce forest ecosystem

Olajuyigbe, Samuel; Tobin, Brian; Hawkins, Michael; Nieuwenhuis, Maarten

doi:10.1007/s11104-012-1222-7

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Despite a higher N concentration, a lower [C : N], a high specific root area, and nonwoody structure, which collectively should facilitate microbe‐mediated mineralization, the lower order roots commonly have a lower rate of decomposition than the woody higher order roots. This unusual pattern of root decomposition has been reported across multiple species and ecosystems in which the branching‐order specific decomposition of fine roots has been investigated (Fan & Guo, ; Goebel et al ., ; Olajuyigbe et al ., ; Sun et al ., ; Xiong et al ., ; Wang et al ., ). This challenges the current paradigm that links elemental ratios to the decomposability of below‐ground plant tissues (Hobbie et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenolic profile within the fine‐root branching orders of an evergreen species highlights a disconnect in root tissue quality predicted by elemental‐ and molecular‐level carbon composition

et al. 2015

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SummaryFine roots constitute a significant source of plant productivity and litter turnover across terrestrial ecosystems, but less is known about the quantitative and qualitative profile of phenolic compounds within the fine-root architecture, which could regulate the potential contribution of plant roots to the soil organic matter pool.To understand the linkage between traditional macro-elemental and morphological traits of roots and their molecular-level carbon chemistry, we analyzed seasonal variations in monomeric yields of the free, bound, and lignin phenols in fine roots (distal five orders) and leaves of Ardisia quinquegona.Fine roots contained two-fold higher concentrations of bound phenols and three-fold higher concentrations of lignin phenols than leaves. Within fine roots, the concentrations of free and bound phenols decreased with increasing root order, and seasonal variation in the phenolic profile was more evident in lower order than in higher order roots. The morphological and macro-elemental root traits were decoupled from the quantity, composition and tissue association of phenolic compounds, revealing the potential inability of these traditional parameters to capture the molecular identity of phenolic carbon within the fine-root architecture and between fine roots and leaves.Our results highlight the molecular-level heterogeneity in phenolic carbon composition within the fine-root architecture, and imply that traits that capture the molecular identity of the root construct might better predict the decomposition dynamics within fine-root orders.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenolic profile within the fine‐root branching orders of an evergreen species highlights a disconnect in root tissue quality predicted by elemental‐ and molecular‐level carbon composition

et al. 2015

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“…With its slow turnover of C and nutrients, coarse root decomposition may be more important to long-term ecosystem productivity 28 29 30 . Although several studies have shown that fine and coarse roots differ markedly in their morphology, nutrient concentrations, functions, and decomposition mechanisms 31 32 33 34 , the global pattern between the decomposition of fine and coarse root is still largely unknown.…”

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confidence: 99%

The decomposition of fine and coarse roots: their global patterns and controlling factors

Zhang

Wang

2015

Sci Rep

129

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Fine root decomposition represents a large carbon (C) cost to plants, and serves as a potential soil C source, as well as a substantial proportion of net primary productivity. Coarse roots differ markedly from fine roots in morphology, nutrient concentrations, functions, and decomposition mechanisms. Still poorly understood is whether a consistent global pattern exists between the decomposition of fine (<2 mm root diameter) and coarse (≥2 mm) roots. A comprehensive terrestrial root decomposition dataset, including 530 observations from 71 sampling sites, was thus used to compare global patterns of decomposition of fine and coarse roots. Fine roots decomposed significantly faster than coarse roots in middle latitude areas, but their decomposition in low latitude regions was not significantly different from that of coarse roots. Coarse root decomposition showed more dependence on climate, especially mean annual temperature (MAT), than did fine roots. Initial litter lignin content was the most important predictor of fine root decomposition, while lignin to nitrogen ratios, MAT, and mean annual precipitation were the most important predictors of coarse root decomposition. Our study emphasizes the necessity of separating fine roots and coarse roots when predicting the response of belowground C release to future climate changes.

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“…The observed changes in the chemical construct of fine roots across root orders and when exposed to environmental stress such as drought may have potential implications for the decomposition of these roots. Despite the lower C : N, lignin : N content and nonwoody structure, which collectively should facilitate more rapid tissue decomposition, the distal first‐ and second‐order roots (younger) decompose more slowly than third‐ and fourth‐order roots (older) with a higher C : N (Hobbie et al ., 2010; Olajuyigbe et al ., 2012; Sun et al ., 2013, 2018). Recently, it was reported that the decomposition rate of the first‐order roots was negatively correlated with the concentration of both bound phenolics and CT in their tissues (Sun et al ., 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical plasticity in the fine root construct of Quercus spp. varies with root order and drought

Suseela¹,

Tharayil²,

Orr

et al. 2020

New Phytologist

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Fine roots of trees exhibit varying degree of plasticity to adapt to environmental stress. Although the morphological and physiological plasticity of roots has been well studied, less known are the accompanying changes in the chemical composite (chemical plasticity) of fine roots, which regulates both root function and soil carbon sequestration. We investigated the changes in quantity, composition and localization of phenolic compounds in fine root orders of Quercus alba and Quercus rubra subjected to drought stress. In both species the total quantity of lignins varied only by root orders, where the distal (first and second) root orders had lower lignin compared to higher orders. Despite a lower lignin content, the distal root orders had higher content of guaiacyl lignin and bound phenolics that would provide a greater meshing of lignocellulosic matrix, and thus a higher tissue integrity. Unlike lignins, drought altered the quantity and composition of tannins. In Q. alba, the ellagitannins decreased in the distal root orders exposed to drought, while the fiber-bound condensed tannnins increased. The lower content of ellagitannins with antimicrobial properties under drought reveals an adaptive response by fine roots to promote symbiotic association, as evidenced by the higher colonization of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Our study revealed that, when exposed to drought, the composition of heteropolymers are strategically varied across fine root orders, so as to provide a greater root function without compromising the tissue protection.

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The measurement of woody root decomposition using two methodologies in a Sitka spruce forest ecosystem

Cited by 12 publications

References 62 publications

Phenolic profile within the fine‐root branching orders of an evergreen species highlights a disconnect in root tissue quality predicted by elemental‐ and molecular‐level carbon composition

Phenolic profile within the fine‐root branching orders of an evergreen species highlights a disconnect in root tissue quality predicted by elemental‐ and molecular‐level carbon composition

The decomposition of fine and coarse roots: their global patterns and controlling factors

Chemical plasticity in the fine root construct of Quercus spp. varies with root order and drought

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