Erratum: Fine-root mass, growth and nitrogen content for six tropical tree species (Plant Soil (2007) 290 (357-370) DOI: 10.1007/S11104-006-9168-2) Other Scholarly Work

Valverde-Barrantes, OJ, Raich, JW, Russell, AE. (2009). Erratum: Fine-root mass, growth and nitrogen content for six tropical tree species (Plant Soil (2007) 290 (357-370) DOI: 10.1007/S11104-006-9168-2) . PLANT AND SOIL, 320(1-2), 333-334. 10.1007/s11104-009-9996-y

cited authors

  • Valverde-Barrantes, OJ; Raich, JW; Russell, AE

authors

abstract

  • Although fine roots might account for 50% of the annual net primary productivity in moist tropical forests, there are relatively few studies of fine-root dynamics in this biome. We examined fine-root distributions, mass, growth and tissue N and C concentrations for six tree species established in 16-year-old plantations in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica in a randomized-block design (n=4). The study included five native species (Hyeronima alchorneoides, Pentaclethra macroloba, Virola koschnyi, Vochysia ferruginea and Vochysia guatemalensis) and one exotic (Pinus patula). Under all species >60% of the total fine-root mass to one meter deep was located in the uppermost 15 cm of the soil. Fine-root live biomass and necromass (i.e., the mass of dead fine roots) varied significantly among species but only within the uppermost 15 cm, with biomass values ranging from 182 gm-2 in Pinus to 433 gm-2 in Hyeronima plots, and necromass ranging from 48 gm -2 in Pinus to 183 gm-2 in Virola plots. Root growth, measured using ingrowth cores, differed significantly among species, ranging from 261 gm-2 yr -1 in Pinus to 891 gm-2 yr -1 in Hyeronima. Turnover rates of fine root biomass ranged from 1.09 to 2.03 yr -1 in Virola and Hyeronima plots respectively. Fine-root biomass was significantly and positively correlated with fine-root growth (r=0.79, P<0.0001), but did not correlate with fine-root turnover (r=0.10; P=0.20), suggesting that fine-root accumulation is a function of growth rate rather than mortality. Fine-root longevity was not correlated (r=0.20, P=0.34) and growth was negatively correlated with root N concentration across species (r=-0.78, P<0.0001), contrary to reported trends for leaves, perhaps because N was relatively abundant at this site. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

publication date

  • July 1, 2009

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 333

end page

  • 334

volume

  • 320

issue

  • 1-2