Fine root biomass and turnover of two fast-growing poplar genotypes in a short-rotation coppice culture
Open accessAbstract
Background and aims The quantification of root dynamics remains a major challenge in ecological research because root sampling is laborious and prone to error due to unavoidable disturbance of the delicate soil-root interface. The objective of the present study was to quantify the distribution of the biomass and turnover of roots of poplars (Populus) and associated understory vegetation during the second growing season of a high-density short rotation coppice culture. Methods Roots were manually picked from soil samples collected with a soil core from narrow (75 cm apart) and wide rows (150 cm apart) of the double-row planting system from two genetically contrasting poplar genotypes. Several methods of estimating root production and turnover were compared. Results Poplar fine root biomass was higher in the narrow rows than in the wide rows. In spite of genetic differences in above-ground biomass, annual fine root productivity was similar for both genotypes (ca. 44 g DM m−2 year−1). Weed root biomass was equally distributed over the ground surface, and root productivity was more than two times higher compared to poplar fine roots (ca. 109 g DM m−2 year−1). Conclusions Early in SRC plantation development, weeds result in significant root competition to the crop tree poplars, but may confer certain ecosystem services such as carbon input to soil and retention of available soil N until the trees fully occupy the site.
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Values for fine roots from willow and poplar grown as short-rotation forestry are lower than for short-rotation coppice.
“Several authors investigated fine roots from willow and poplar grown as SRC [5, 30, 81, 82, 88, 89] and SRF [72, 90–93], values for the latter being lower (Table 1).”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [81]
Data for carbon inputs from belowground biomass are difficult to interpret, especially for roots, because they are based on many single observations rather than time series.
“Data for C inputs from BGB are difficult to interpret, especially for roots because they are based on many single observations [45, 61, 62, 64, 80] rather than time series [26, 32, 81–83].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [81]
Inputs were often based on snapshots, while detailed time series were the exception, especially with regard to root production and turnover.
“It is important to realise that inputs were often based on snapshots, whilst detailed time series were the exception, especially with regard to root production and turnover [32, 81, 82].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [81]
Fine willow and poplar roots were characterised by a high turnover rate.
“However, fine willow [58] and poplar roots [81] were characterised by a high turnover rate (Table 2).”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [81]
Very coarse anchoring roots are likely to have a long mean residence time, such as the lifetime of the stand, but there are no reports on decomposition of those.
“Very coarse, anchoring roots are likely to have a long MRT (e.g. lifetime of the stand), but there are no reports on decomposition of those [81, 82, 99].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [81]
A small number of studies using isotopes, model systems and field sampling allow scaling of mean residence times to in situ rates.
“However, a small number of studies using isotopes [109], model systems [110, 111] and field sampling [32, 81, 82] allow their scaling to in situ rates.”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [81]
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References 74 · Cited by 54
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Block RMA (2004) Fine root dynamics and carbon sequestration in juvenile hybrid poplar plantations in Saskatchewan. MSc. Thesis. In: Centre for Northern Agroforestry and Afforestation. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
- Dickmann DI, Pregitzer KS (1992) The structure and dynamics of woody plant root systems. In: Mitchell CP, Ford-Robertson JB, Hinckley T, Sennerby-Forse L (Eds) Ecophysiology of short rotation crops. Elsevier Applied Science, London and New York, p. 95–123
- Dickmann DI Isebrands JG Blake TJ Kosola K Kort J Dickmann DI Isebrands JG Eckenwalder JE Richardson J Physiological ecology of poplars Poplar Culture in North America 2001 Ottawa NRC Research Press 77 115
- Dillen SY El Kasmioui O Marron N Calfapietra C Ceulemans R Halford NG Karp A Poplar Energy Crops 2010 Cambridge The Royal Society of Chemistry 275 300
- Scarascia-Mugnozza G (1991) Physiological and morphological determinants of yield in intensively cultured poplars (Populus spp.). PhD dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, 164p.
- Authors
- Berhongaray, G., Janssens, I. A., King, J. S., & Ceulemans, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Berhongaray, Gonzalo
- Venue
- Plant and Soil
- Published
- 2013-06-13
- Volume
- 373
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 269-283
- ISSN
- 0032-079X (ISSN-L)
- 1573-5036
- PMC
- PMC4372833
- OpenAlex
- W2060600369
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 74
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 10.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Plant and Soil (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Fulbright Program
- European Commission (233366, 2007–2013, FP7 2007-2013, FP7/2007, 2009-1655/001-001)
- Universiteit Antwerpen (FP7/2007-2013)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Forest ecology and management
- Keywords
- fine root biomass, root turnover, poplar, short rotation coppice, poplar genotypes, row spacing, understory vegetation, root competition, root productivity, soil carbon inputs, nitrogen retention, forest plantations
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