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An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones

Tree root distribution and activity are determinants of belowground competition. However, studying root response to environmental and management conditions remains logistically challenging. Methodologically, nondestructive in situ tree root ecology analysis has lagged. In this study, we tested a non...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Isaac, Marney E, Anglaaere, Luke C N
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678487/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23762519
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.543
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author Isaac, Marney E
Anglaaere, Luke C N
author_facet Isaac, Marney E
Anglaaere, Luke C N
author_sort Isaac, Marney E
collection PubMed
description Tree root distribution and activity are determinants of belowground competition. However, studying root response to environmental and management conditions remains logistically challenging. Methodologically, nondestructive in situ tree root ecology analysis has lagged. In this study, we tested a nondestructive approach to determine tree coarse root architecture and function of a perennial tree crop, Theobroma cacao L., at two edaphically contrasting sites (sandstone and phyllite–granite derived soils) in Ghana, West Africa. We detected coarse root vertical distribution using ground-penetrating radar and root activity via soil water acquisition using isotopic matching of δ(18)O plant and soil signatures. Coarse roots were detected to a depth of 50 cm, however, intraspecifc coarse root vertical distribution was modified by edaphic conditions. Soil δ(18)O isotopic signature declined with depth, providing conditions for plant–soil δ(18)O isotopic matching. This pattern held only under sandstone conditions where water acquisition zones were identifiably narrow in the 10–20 cm depth but broader under phyllite–granite conditions, presumably due to resource patchiness. Detected coarse root count by depth and measured fine root density were strongly correlated as were detected coarse root count and identified water acquisition zones, thus validating root detection capability of ground-penetrating radar, but exclusively on sandstone soils. This approach was able to characterize trends between intraspecific root architecture and edaphic-dependent resource availability, however, limited by site conditions. This study successfully demonstrates a new approach for in situ root studies that moves beyond invasive point sampling to nondestructive detection of root architecture and function. We discuss the transfer of such an approach to answer root ecology questions in various tree-based landscapes.
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spelling pubmed-36784872013-06-12 An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones Isaac, Marney E Anglaaere, Luke C N Ecol Evol Original Research Tree root distribution and activity are determinants of belowground competition. However, studying root response to environmental and management conditions remains logistically challenging. Methodologically, nondestructive in situ tree root ecology analysis has lagged. In this study, we tested a nondestructive approach to determine tree coarse root architecture and function of a perennial tree crop, Theobroma cacao L., at two edaphically contrasting sites (sandstone and phyllite–granite derived soils) in Ghana, West Africa. We detected coarse root vertical distribution using ground-penetrating radar and root activity via soil water acquisition using isotopic matching of δ(18)O plant and soil signatures. Coarse roots were detected to a depth of 50 cm, however, intraspecifc coarse root vertical distribution was modified by edaphic conditions. Soil δ(18)O isotopic signature declined with depth, providing conditions for plant–soil δ(18)O isotopic matching. This pattern held only under sandstone conditions where water acquisition zones were identifiably narrow in the 10–20 cm depth but broader under phyllite–granite conditions, presumably due to resource patchiness. Detected coarse root count by depth and measured fine root density were strongly correlated as were detected coarse root count and identified water acquisition zones, thus validating root detection capability of ground-penetrating radar, but exclusively on sandstone soils. This approach was able to characterize trends between intraspecific root architecture and edaphic-dependent resource availability, however, limited by site conditions. This study successfully demonstrates a new approach for in situ root studies that moves beyond invasive point sampling to nondestructive detection of root architecture and function. We discuss the transfer of such an approach to answer root ecology questions in various tree-based landscapes. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2013-05 2013-04-10 /pmc/articles/PMC3678487/ /pubmed/23762519 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.543 Text en © 2013 Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ Re-use of this article is permitted in accordance with the Creative Commons Deed, Attribution 2.5, which does not permit commercial exploitation.
spellingShingle Original Research
Isaac, Marney E
Anglaaere, Luke C N
An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
title An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
title_full An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
title_fullStr An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
title_full_unstemmed An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
title_short An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
title_sort in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678487/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23762519
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.543
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