Soil acidity affects fine root turnover of European beech
2013
Richter, A. K. | Hajdas, I. | Frossard, E. | Brunner, I.
The impact of soil chemical parameters (pH and base saturation) and soil depth on fine root dynamics in six acidic European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands with low soil base saturation was examined. The results were compared with published data from other European forests. Fine roots were sampled by sequential coring down to 1 m depth. Production, mortality, turnover and estimated age were calculated, and the ages of fine roots from two stands were measured by radiocarbon. In all stands, fine root biomass, necromass, production and mortality decreased significantly with soil depth. No relationships were observed between any of the soil chemical parameters and the fine root biomass, necromass, production and mortality. A significant negative correlation was found between soil pH and fine root turnover when our data were combined with the published data. The ages of fine roots estimated with sequential coring ranged from 0.9 to 2.9 years, and with radiocarbon from 3 to 26 years. These divergent results indicate the occurrence of two different fine root pools.
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