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Fine‐root dynamics vary with soil depth and precipitation in a low‐nutrient tropical forest in the Central Amazonia
Author(s) -
Cordeiro Amanda L.,
Norby Richard J.,
Andersen Kelly M.,
ValverdeBarrantes Oscar,
Fuchslueger Lucia,
Oblitas Erick,
Hartley Iain P.,
Iversen Colleen M.,
Gonçalves Nathan B.,
Takeshi Bruno,
Lapola David M.,
Quesada Carlos A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plant‐environment interactions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2575-6265
DOI - 10.1002/pei3.10010
Subject(s) - environmental science , precipitation , productivity , biomass (ecology) , amazon rainforest , nutrient , soil water , plateau (mathematics) , soil horizon , ecology , tropical forest , soil science , biology , geography , mathematics , mathematical analysis , economics , macroeconomics , meteorology
Why this research Matters A common assumption in tropical ecology is that root systems respond rapidly to climatic cues but that most of that response is limited to the uppermost layer of the soil, with relatively limited changes in deeper layers. However, this assumption has not been tested directly, preventing models from accurately predicting the response of tropical forests to environmental change. We measured seasonal dynamics of fine roots in an upper‐slope plateau in Central Amazonia mature forest using minirhizotrons to 90 cm depth, which were calibrated with fine roots extracted from soil cores. Root productivity and mortality in surface soil layers were positively correlated with precipitation, whereas root standing length was greater during the dry periods at the deeper layers. Contrary to historical assumptions, a large fraction of fine‐root standing biomass (46%) and productivity (41%) was found in soil layers deeper than 30 cm. Furthermore, root turnover decreased linearly with soil depth. Our findings demonstrate a relationship between fine‐root dynamics and precipitation regimes in Central Amazonia. Our results also emphasize the importance of deeper roots for accurate estimates of primary productivity and the interaction between roots and carbon, water, and nutrients.

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