Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptive tactics and characteristics of tree fine roots

  • Chapter
The Supporting Roots of Trees and Woody Plants: Form, Function and Physiology

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 87))

Abstract

Tree fine roots form an integrated network in the forest soil, decreasing in density from the soil surface downwards. Fine roots are opportunistic and exploitive in their growth habits, adapting rapidly to climatic variation and to changes in mineral nutrient and water supply. There is a substantial variation in fine-root biomass (live), necromass (dead) and the live/dead ratios in tree stands depending on tree age and site quality. As uptake organs they sustain the growth processes of forest trees and are sensitive indicators of the growth response of forest trees to soil resources. Mixed tree stands may have more fine roots than pure stands, stand density being an important factor determining the quantity of fine roots. Increasing fine-root biomass and decreasing live/dead ratios with age is to a great extent overshadowed by site factors favouring growth such as increased water and mineral nutrient availability. At the stand level, nitrogen fertilisation may cause a shift in carbon investments on a relative basis from below- to aboveground tree structures. A reverse relationship is often observed between the amount of fine roots and nutrient availability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ã…gren G, Axelsson B, Flower-Ellis J G K, Linder S, Persson H, Staaf H and Troeng E 1980 Annual carbon budget for a young Scots pine. Ecol. Bull. 32, 307–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahlström K, Persson H and Börjesson I 1988 Fertilization in a mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand: effects on fine roots. Plant Soil 106, 179–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ares A and Peinemann N 1992 Fine-root distribution of coniferous plantations in relation to site in southern Buenos Aires, Argentina. Can. J. For. Res. 22, 1575–1581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen G D 1991 Soil temperature, root growth, and plant function. In Plant Roots: the Hidden Half. Eds Y Waisel, A Eshel and U Kafkafi. pp 309–330. Marcel Dekker, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke M and Raynal D J 1994 Fine root phenology. Production, and turnover in a northern hardwood forest ecosystem. Plant Soil 162, 135–146.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braekke F H and Kozlowski T T 1977 Distribution and growth of roots in Pinus resinosa and Betula papyrifera stands. Medd. Norsk Inst. Skogforsk. 33, 437–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemensson-Lindell A and Persson H 1993 Long-term effects of liming on the fine-root standing crop of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in relation to chemical changes in the soil. Scand. J. For. Res. 8, 384–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemensson-Lindell A and Persson H 1995 The effects of nitrogen addition and removal on Norway spruce fine-root vitality and distribution in three catchment areas at Gärdsjön. For. Ecol. Manage. 71, 123–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemensson-Lindell A and Persson H 1993 Fine root vitality in a Norway spruce stand subjected to various nutrient supplies. Plant Soil 168–169, 167–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deans J D 1979 Fluctuations of the soil environment and fine root growth in a young sitka spruce plantation. Plant Soil 52, 195–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flower-Ellis J G K and Persson H 1980 Investigations of structural properties and dynamics of Scots pine stands. Ecol. Bull. 32, 125–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredericksen T S and Zedaker S M 1995 Fine root biomass, distribution, and production in young pine-hardwood stands. New Forests 10, 99–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gower S T 1987 Relations between mineral nutrient availability and fine root biomass in two Costa Rican tropical wet forest. Biotropica 19, 252–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gower S T and Vitousek P M 1989 Effect of nutrient amendments on fine root biomass of a primary successional tropical forest in Hawaii. Oecologia 81, 566–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grier C C, Vogt K, Keyes M and Edmonds R 1981 Biomass distribution and above-and below-ground production in young and mature Abies amabilis zone ecosystems of the Washington Cascades. Can. J. For. Res. 11, 155–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley J L and Smith S E 1983. Mycorrhizal Symbiosis, Academic Press, London, 483 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick R L and Pregitzer K S 1993 The dynamics of fine root length, biomass, and nitrogen content in two northern hardwood ecosystems, Can. J. For. Res. 23, 2507–2520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg P 1989 Growth and nitrogen inflow rates in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings of Pinus sylvestris. For. Ecol. Manage. 28, 7–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köstler J N, Bruckner E and Bibelrieter H 1968 Die Wurzeln der Waldbäume. Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg, 284 pp. (in German).

    Google Scholar 

  • Linder S and Axelsson B 1982 Changes in carbon uptake and allocation patterns as a result of irrigation and fertilization in a young Pinus sylvestris stand. In Carbon Uptake and Allocation in Subalpine Ecosystems as a Key to Management. Ed. R H Waring. pp 38–44. For. Res. Lab., Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyr H and Hoffmann G 1967 Growth rates and growth periodicity of tree roots. Int. Rev. For. Res. 2, 181–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Majdi H and Persson H 1993 Spatial distribution of fine roots, rhizosphere and bulk-soil chemistry in an acidified Picea abies stand. Scand. J. For. Res. 8, 147–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H, Häussling M and Eckhard G 1991 Ammonium and nitrate uptake rates and rhizosphere pH in non-mycorrhizal roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies ( L.) Karst.). Trees 5, 14–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMichael B L and Burke J L 1996 Temperature effect on root growth. In Plant Roots: the Hidden Half. 2nd edn. Eds Y Waisel, A Eshel and U Kafkafi. pp. 383–396. Marcel Dekker, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadelhoffer K J, Aber J D and Melilo J M 1985 Fine roots, net primary production, and soil nitrogen availability: a new hypothesis. Ecology 73, 1139–1147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ovington J D 1957 Dry-matter production by Pinus sylvestris L. Ann. Bot. NS 21, 288–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1978 Root dynamics in a young Scots pine stand in Central Sweden. Oikos 30, 508–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1980 Fine-root dynamics in a Scots pine stand, with and without near optimum nutrient and water regimes. Acta Phytogeogr. Suec. 68, 101–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1980 Spatial distribution of fine root growth, mortality and decomposition in a young Scots pine stand in Central Sweden. Oikos 34, 77–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1982 Changes in the tree and dwarf shrub fine-roots after clear cutting in a mature Scots pine stand. Swed. Con. For. Proj., Techn. Rep. 31, 18 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1983 The distribution and productivity of fine roots in boreal forests. Plant Soil 71, 87–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1984 The dynamic fine roots of forest trees. In State and Change in Forest Ecosystems — Indicators of Current Research. Ed. Agren, G. Dept. Ecol. and Env. Res., Res. Rep. 13, pp 193–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1988 Root growth and root processes — effects of air pollution in forest stands. In Relationships between above and below ground influences of air pollutants on forest trees. Eds J Bervaes, O Mathy and P Evers. Air Pollution Research Report 16, pp 180–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H 1996 Fine-root dynamics in forest trees. Acta Phytogeogr. Suec. 81, 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H and Ahlström K 1991 The effects of forest liming on fine-root growth. Water Air Soil Pollut. 54, 305–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H and Ahlström K 1994 The effects of alkalizing compounds on fine-root growth in a Norway spruce stand in SW Sweden. J. Environ. Sci. Health 29, 803–820.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H and Ahlström K 2000 Effect of nitrogen deposition on tree roots in boreal forests. In Going Underground — Ecological Studies in Forest Soils. Eds N Rastin and J Bauhus (In press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H and Ahlström K Submitted Fine-root response to nitrogen in three nitrogen manipulated Norway spruce catchment areas during a five year period.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H, von Firks Y, Majdi H and Nilsson L 0 1995 Root distribution in a Norway spruce (Picea abies ( L.) Karst.) stand subjected to drought and ammonium-sulphate application. Plant Soil 168–169, 161–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson H, Majdi H and Clemensson-Lindell A 1995 Effects of acid deposition on tree roots. Ecol. Bull. 44, 158–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puhe J, Persson H and Börjesson I 1986 Wurzelwachstum and Wurzelschäden in Skandinavischen Nadelwäldern. Allge. Forst Zeitschr. 20, 488–492 (in German).

    Google Scholar 

  • Roehrig Hansen H B and Thomsen L 1992 Rodundersögelser og biomassemâlinger pâ tre danske rödgranlokaliteter. Report Laboratoriet for Okologi og Mil)oelaere, Lyngby, Denmark, 111 pp. (in Danish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Santantonio D and Santantonio E 1987 Effect of thinning on production and mortality of fine roots in a Pinus radiata plantation on a fertile site in New Zealand. Can. J. For. Res. 17, 919–927.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santantonio D and Hermann R K 1985 Standing crop, production, and turnover of fine roots on dry, moderate and wet sites of mature Douglas-fir in Western Washington. Ann. Sci. 42, 113–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze E D 1989 Air pollution and forest decline in a spruce (Picea abies) forest. Science 244, 776–783.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh K P and S K Srivasta 1984 Spatial distribution of fine root mass in young trees (Tectonia grandis) of varying girth sizes. Pedobiologia 27, 101–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staaf H, Persson T and Bertills U (Eds) 1996 Skogsmarkskalkning. Naturvârdsverket, Rep. 4559, 290 pp. (in Swedish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone E L and Kalisz P J 1991 On the maximum extent of tree roots. For. Ecol. Manage. 46, 59–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamm C O 1991 Nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems. Ecol. Stud. 81, 1–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich B, Pirouzpanah D and Murach D 1984 Beziehubgen zwischen Bodenversaurung und Wurzelentwicklung von Fichten mit unterschiedlich starken Schadesymptomen. Forstarchiv 55, 124–134 (in German).

    Google Scholar 

  • Praag H J, Sougnez-Remy S, Weissen F and Carlett G 1988 Root turnover in a beech and a spruce stand of the Belgian Ardennes. Plant Soil 105, 87–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt K A and Persson H 1991 Measuring growth and development of roots. In Techniques and Approaches in Forest Tree Eco-physiology. Eds J P Lassoie and T M Hinckley. pp 477–501. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt K A, Edmonds R I and Grier C C 1981 Seasonal changes in biomass and vertical distribution of mycorrhizal and fibrous-textured conifer fine roots in 23- and 180-year-old subalpine Abies amalis stands. Can. J. For. Res. 11, 223–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt K A, Moore E E, Vogt D J, Redlin M J and Edmonds R L 1983 Conifer fine root mycorrhizal root biomass within the forest floors of Douglas-fir stands of diffrent ages and site productivities. Can. J. For. Res. 13, 429–437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt K A, Grier C C, Meir C E and Edmonds R L 1986 Overestimation of net root production: a real or imaginary problem. Ecology 67, 577–579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7072, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    Hans Persson

Authors
  1. Hans Persson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Rheologie du Bois de Bordeaux, Domaine de l’Hermitage, BP 10, 33610, Cestas Gazinet, France

    A. Stokes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Persson, H. (2000). Adaptive tactics and characteristics of tree fine roots. In: Stokes, A. (eds) The Supporting Roots of Trees and Woody Plants: Form, Function and Physiology. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 87. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3469-1_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3469-1_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5318-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-3469-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation