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<p>Improving forest soil quality through effective afforestation and management practices remain a global challenge and understanding the interactions between tree roots and their surrounding soil environment is essential. However, the dynamic relationships between forest tree roots and changing soil conditions are not well understood. This study investigated the adaptive characteristics of Chinese fir (<i>Cunninghamia lanceolata</i>) roots in response to variations in soil water and nutrient availability. We explored roots distribution, architecture, biomass allocation, and associated soil properties in 16-year-old Chinese fir plantations established across different slope positions. Our findings revealed that nutrient-rich surface soil (0–20&#xa0;cm) varied significantly by slope position, with the upper slope exhibiting lower nutrient content. For example, phosphorus content at the upper slope averaged only 91.30% and 87.50% of that found on the middle and lower slopes, respectively. Additionally, soil moisture content increased as slope position decreased, reaching 15.87–25.86% on the lower slope. Root distribution was most extensive on the middle slope, with horizontal and vertical root spread averaging 2.58 ± 0.18&#xa0;m and 1.49 ± 0.15&#xa0;m, respectively. Across all slope positions, Chinese fir roots consistently exhibited a fishtail-shaped branching structure. As slope position decreased, soil water and nutrient resources became more abundant, the proportion of root biomass relative to total plant biomass also declined. On the lower slope, root biomass accounted for only 68.89% and 84.56% of the proportion observed on the upper and middle slopes, respectively. These results highlight the importance of understanding root–soil interactions for optimizing root development and plant adaptation. Tailoring water and nutrient management strategies to specific site conditions can enhance Chinese fir root architecture and productivity under varying environmental constraints.</p>

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Root spatial distribution and architectural formation of Chinese fir plantations: changes in soil water and nutrients based on different slope positions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月7日

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  • Linxin Li,
  • Xiaoli Yan,
  • Yunlong Tian,
  • Zihao Zhao,
  • Shengxian Wu,
  • Taimoor Hassan Farooq,
  • Ming Li,
  • Xiangqing Ma,
  • Pengfei Wu

摘要

Improving forest soil quality through effective afforestation and management practices remain a global challenge and understanding the interactions between tree roots and their surrounding soil environment is essential. However, the dynamic relationships between forest tree roots and changing soil conditions are not well understood. This study investigated the adaptive characteristics of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) roots in response to variations in soil water and nutrient availability. We explored roots distribution, architecture, biomass allocation, and associated soil properties in 16-year-old Chinese fir plantations established across different slope positions. Our findings revealed that nutrient-rich surface soil (0–20 cm) varied significantly by slope position, with the upper slope exhibiting lower nutrient content. For example, phosphorus content at the upper slope averaged only 91.30% and 87.50% of that found on the middle and lower slopes, respectively. Additionally, soil moisture content increased as slope position decreased, reaching 15.87–25.86% on the lower slope. Root distribution was most extensive on the middle slope, with horizontal and vertical root spread averaging 2.58 ± 0.18 m and 1.49 ± 0.15 m, respectively. Across all slope positions, Chinese fir roots consistently exhibited a fishtail-shaped branching structure. As slope position decreased, soil water and nutrient resources became more abundant, the proportion of root biomass relative to total plant biomass also declined. On the lower slope, root biomass accounted for only 68.89% and 84.56% of the proportion observed on the upper and middle slopes, respectively. These results highlight the importance of understanding root–soil interactions for optimizing root development and plant adaptation. Tailoring water and nutrient management strategies to specific site conditions can enhance Chinese fir root architecture and productivity under varying environmental constraints.