Fine root biomass, production and turnover in a fertilized Larix leptolepis plantation in central Korea

The effects of fertilization [control (C), 200 kg N ha(-1) + 25 kg P ha(-1) (LNP) and 400 kg N ha(-1) + 50 kg P ha(-1) (HNP)] on fine root dynamics were examined in a 40-year-old Larix leptolepis plantation in central Korea. The average fine root biomass during the growing season for C, LNP and HNP was 957, 934 and 814 kg ha(-1) , respectively, whereas the fine root production for C, LNP and HNP was 2103, 2131 and 2066 kg ha(-1) , respectively. Nitrogen and P inputs into the soil via fine root turnover for C, LNP and HNP were 23.0 and 1.2, 23.3 and 1.2 and 22.6 and 1.2 kg ha(-1) , respectively. There were no significant differences in fine root biomass, production and N and P inputs through fine root turnover between the fertilization treatments during the first growing season after fertilization.