Journal
NEW PHYTOLOGIST
Volume 205, Issue 3, Pages 1153-1163Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/nph.13123
Keywords
elevated CO2; free-air carbon enrichment (FACE); fine-root architecture; foraging strategy; nitrogen (N) fertilization; Pinus taeda (loblolly pine)
Categories
Funding
- Office of Science (BER), US Department of Energy [DE-FC03-90ER61010]
- National Science Foundation [1020691]
- Division Of Environmental Biology
- Direct For Biological Sciences [1020691] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Predicting the response of fine roots to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration has important implications for carbon (C) and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. Root architecture is known to play an important role in how trees acquire soil resources in changing environments. However, the effects of elevated CO2 on the fine-root architecture of trees remain unclear. We investigated the architectural response of fine roots exposed to 14yr of CO2 enrichment and 6yr of nitrogen (N) fertilization in a Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) forest. Root traits reflecting geometry, topology and uptake function were measured on intact fine-root branches removed from soil monoliths and the litter layer. CO2 enrichment resulted in the development of a fine-root pool that was less dichotomous and more exploratory under N-limited conditions. The per cent mycorrhizal colonization did not differ among treatments, suggesting that root growth and acclimation to elevated CO2 were quantitatively more important than increased mycorrhizal associations. Our findings emphasize the importance of architectural plasticity in response to environmental change and suggest that changes in root architecture may allow trees to effectively exploit larger volumes of soil, thereby pre-empting progressive nutrient limitations.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available