Effect of microsites on fine root production in evergreen broad-leaved forest, Northwestern, Japan
Keywords:
Evergreen broadleaved forest,, fine root, litterbag, production, soil-coringAbstract
Fine roots (diameter ≤ 2 mm) function as absorbing water and nutrients to sustain tree’s life and play an important role in carbon cycle and soil nutrient in forest ecosystem. The study results in evergreen broad-leaved, Northwestern Japan indicated that microsites such as soil depth play an important role in fine root production, and then mortality and decomposition for nutrient return to the soil. In a duration of a year, total fine root production in good microsite was 374.4 g m -2 , while in poor microsite it was 299.6 g m -2 ; mortality in good microsite was 282.7 g m -2 , while in poor microsite it was 204.7 g m -2 ; and decomposition in good microsite was 175.5 g m -2 , while in poor microsite it was 126.7 g m -2 . It indicated that nutrient return to the soil in poor microsite was much lower than that in good microsite; it is not easy to improve soil fertility in poor microsite from fine root decomposition.
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