Variations in functional traits between different orders of fine roots of three dominant trees in Zijin mountain
[Objective]In order to provide a theoretical basis for understanding the underground physiological and ecological processes mediated by fine roots in different root orders,the variations of fine root functional traits of three dominant trees in Zijin mountain were investigated.[Method]Three 20 m×20 m plots were set up by using a random block design in Zijin mountain.Inside the plots,the fine roots of three dominant tree species,including Aphananthe aspera,Celtis sinensis and Liquidamabar formosana,were collected.The root diameter,specific root length,specific surface area,root tissue density,C content,N content,and P content of these fine roots in orders were quantified and compared.[Result]1)Species identity significantly affected all parameters mentioned above,while fine root order only had significant effects on fine root parameters,i.e.root diameter,specific root length,specific surface area,N content,P content,and C/N ratio.2)With the increase of fine root order,root diameter and C/N increased,specific root length,specific surface area,N content,and P content decreased,while root tissue density and C content had no response.3)Among the three species,C.sinensis had the smallest diameter,the largest specific root length and specific surface area,and the highest C content,A.aspera had the highest root tissue density,and L.formosana had the smallest C/N in 1st-5th root orders;A.aspera had the highest N content,and the of C.sinensis had the highest P content in the 1st root order.In addition,the fine root biomass of A.aspera and L.formosana increased with the increase of root order,and the 1st order root biomass in C.sinensis was higher than that of the 2nd and 3rd grade roots.4)The principal component analysis showed that the fine root functional traits of the three tree species could be divided into two variation dimensions.A.aspera preferred resource acquisition type,C.sinensis preferred autonomous foraging resource acquisition type,and L.formosana preferred the trade-offof different strategies.[Conclusion]The functional characteristics of fine roots and multi-dimensional root strategy are different among tree species.This indicate that the nutrient absorption efficiency of fine roots of A.aspera and C.sinensis are higher,while that of L.formosana is lower.However,the fine root decomposition rate of L.formosana may be faster than that of A.aspera and C.sinensis.
functional traitsfine root morphologychemical traitdominant treefine root order
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
