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Research article2008Peer reviewed

The lateral spread of tree root systems in boreal forests: Estimates based on N-15 uptake and distribution of sporocarps of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Gottlicher, S. G.; Taylor, A. F. S.; Grip, H.; Betson, N. R.; Valinger, E.; Hogberg, M. N.; Hogberg, P.

Abstract

In nutrient poor environments, such as boreal forests, many of the most important interactions between plants take place belowground. Here, we report the results of two approaches to obtain estimates of the lateral spread of tree roots.In a Pinus sylvestris forest and a Picea abies dominated forest, lateral root spread was estimated by analysing the distribution of ectomycorrhizal sporocarps on tree-girdled and adjacent non-girdled plots and by a N-15 uptake experiment, where the soil in circular 1 m(2) plots was labelled and the uptake by surrounding trees was studied.Both methods gave similar estimates of lateral root spread, i.e. between 4 and 5 m, and both studies indicated overlapping of root systems. Up to 11 trees took up tracer from a 1 m(2) labelled area, although not all trees close to the N-15-labelled area took up tracer.The study clearly showed the dependence of ectomycorrhizal fungi on photosynthate and indicated a high potential for belowground competition between trees due to substantially overlapping root systems. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

boreal forest; ectomycorrhizal roots; ectomycorrhizal sporocarps; Picea abies; Pinus sylvestris; tree root system; Vaccinium spp.; N-15 uptake

Published in

Forest Ecology and Management
2008, volume: 255, number: 1, pages: 75-81
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.08.032

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/17512