caa a22 4500 606219374 CHVBK 20210128101118.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151001xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s11104-015-2573-7 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s11104-015-2573-7 Fine root interactions in subtropical mixed forests in China depend on tree species composition [Elektronische Daten] [Wenhua Xiang, Gangwei Fan, Pifeng Lei, Yelin Zeng, Jie Tong, Xi Fang, Xiangwen Deng, Changhui Peng] Background and aims: Belowground interactions can greatly modify fine root (≤2mm in diameter) traits to increase soil resource acquisition for tree growth. We examined how mixed forests alter fine root traits compared to pure forests. Methods: A pseudo-experimental tree cluster design was used to select small-area plots of single and mixed species in a Pinus massoniana-Lithocarpus glaber (PM-LG) forest and a L. glaber-Cyclobalanopsis glauca (LG-CG) forest. In each plot, soil cores were sampled down to 30cm at a 0.5m interval between target and neighbouring trees. Fine roots in soil cores were then divided by species to determine biomass and morphological traits. Results: The mixed PM-LG plots exhibited significantly higher fine root biomass while the mixed LG-CG plots had no significant differences in fine root biomass compared to their respective pure plots. In pure plots, P. massoniana had higher fine root biomass and lower specific root length (SRL) and specific root area (SRA) than L. glaber, whereas fine root traits were similar for L. glaber and C. glauca. Compared with pure plots for a given species, fine root biomass in the entire soil profile decreased for P. massoniana but increased for L. glaber in mixed PM-LG plots. In mixed LG-CG plots, fine root biomass decreased for each species at all soil depths. Conclusions: Whether positive interactions of fine roots occur is dependent on tree species composition. Fine root biomass was greater in mixed forests where tree species showed contrasting growth strategies and root traits, such as PM-LG forests, thus suggesting positive interactions. Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2015 Competition ability index nationallicence Fine root biomass nationallicence Fine root morphology nationallicence Subtropical secondary forest nationallicence Tree species composition nationallicence Vertical distribution nationallicence Xiang Wenhua Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Fan Gangwei Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Lei Pifeng Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Zeng Yelin Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Tong Jie Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Fang Xi Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Deng Xiangwen Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut Peng Changhui Huitong National Field Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystem in Hunan Province, 438107, Huitong, Hunan, China aut Plant and Soil Springer International Publishing 395/1-2(2015-10-01), 335-349 0032-079X 395:1-2<335 2015 395 11104 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2573-7 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2573-7 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Xiang Wenhua Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Fan Gangwei Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Lei Pifeng Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Zeng Yelin Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Tong Jie Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Fang Xi Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Deng Xiangwen Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 410004, Changsha, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Peng Changhui Huitong National Field Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystem in Hunan Province, 438107, Huitong, Hunan, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Plant and Soil Springer International Publishing 395/1-2(2015-10-01), 335-349 0032-079X 395:1-2<335 2015 395 11104