Soil nutrients affect biomass allocation at the individual tree level in Populus_deltoides

Dataset · Fri Jan 23 00:00:00 EST 2026

DOI:https://doi.org/10.25983/CBI/3014218· OSTI ID:3014218

Li, Xuefeng; Ftwi, Nahom; Kleinsasser, Janna L.; Isimikalu, Theophilus O.; Cumming, Jonthan R.

The allocation of carbon (C) to tree roots has implication for forest productivity and soil C storage. Here, we elucidated the factors affecting absolute and relative production of resource-acquiring absorptive fine roots (AFR) and other tree organs. We assessed soil properties, leaf (Leaves), stem and branch (Stem-Br), coarse root (CR), transport fine root (TFR), and AFR biomass, production, and allocation and leaf litterfall and AFR and TFR turnover for 12 trees in a youngPopulus deltoides plantation. On a biomass basis, standing crop of AFRs was significantly related to that of TFRs, but both were independent of biomass of leaves, CRs and Stem-Brs. Production (standing crop + turnover) as a proportion of total biomass (allocation) highlighted significant relationships between AFR%, TFR%, and tree and soil characteristics. AFR% and TFR% were negatively correlated with Stem-Br%, Leaf%, and total tree production. Spatial variation in soil nutrient gradients altered allocation withinP. deltoides.AFR% and TFR% were negatively correlated with CEC, N, and Ca but positively correlated with soil P, Fe, and Na. Stem-Br% was positively correlated with CEC and soil N but negatively correlated with P. AFR and TFR growth and death are tightly coupled at the individual tree level. AFR allocation, but not standing biomass, is highly correlated with allocation to leaves, suggesting tight regulation of the growth of these two resource-acquiring organs. Lower soil N and Ca increased allocation to AFRs at the cost of leaves, whereas allocation to AFRs and leaves increased with soil P. Such changes in response to soil P may control whole-tree production in the current study.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 3014218
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Biomass allocation
CBI
Fine roots
Production
Soil nutrients
Tree organs