Journal Article

Fine-Root Distribution and Soil Physicochemical Property Variations in Four Contrasting Urban Land-Use Types in South Korea

Jo, Min Seon, Park, Byung Bae, Rahman, SK Abidur, Carvalho, Julia Inacio, Hernandez, Jonathan O., Nguyen, Hai-Hoa, Carayugan, Mark Bryan, Tran, Lan Thi Ngoc, Han, Si Ho, An, Ji Young, Youn, Woo Bin

2024

Overview

Urbanization and associated forest conversions have given rise to a continuum of native (forest fragments) and modified (artificial grasslands and perennial ecosystems) land-use types. However, little is known about how these shifts affect soil and fine-root compartments that are critical to a functioning carbon and nutrient circulation system. In this study, soil physicochemical properties, fine-root mass, and vertical distribution patterns were investigated in four representative urban land-use types: grassland (ZJ), perennial agroecosystem (MP), broadleaf deciduous forest patch (QA), and coniferous evergreen forest patch (PD). We quantified the fine-root mass in the upper 30 cm vertical profile (0–30 cm) and at every 5 cm depth across three diameter classes (<2 mm, 2–5 mm, and <5 mm). Soil physicochemical properties, except for phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and sodium cations, varied significantly across land-use types. The total root biomass (<5 mm) decreased in the order of QA (700.3 g m−2) > PD (487.2 g m−2) > ZJ (440.1 g m−2) > MP (98.3 g m−2). The fine-root mass of ZJ and MP was correlated with soil nutrients, which was attributed to intensive management operations, while the fine-root mass of QA and PD had a significant relationship with soil organic matter due to the high inputs from forest litter. Very fine roots (<2 mm) presented a distinct decremental pattern with depth for all land-use types, except for MP. Very fine roots populated the topmost 5 cm layer in ZJ, QA, and PD at 52.1%, 49.4%, and 39.4%, respectively. Maintaining a woody fine-root system benefits urban landscapes by promoting soil stabilization, improving ground infiltration rates, and increasing carbon sequestration capacity. Our findings underscore the importance of profiling fine-root mass when assessing urban expansion effects on terrestrial ecosystems.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Agricultural ecosystems / agroecosystems / Ammonium / ammonium nitrogen / Biomass / Carbon / Carbon sequestration / Cations / Comparative analysis / Coniferous forests / Deciduous forests / Distribution patterns / Eigenvalues / Environmental aspects / evergreen forests / fine roots / fine-root vertical distribution / forest litter / Forests / Forests and forestry / Grasslands / Habitat fragmentation / Infiltration rate / Land use / Measurement / Nitrates / Nitrogen / Nutrients / Organic matter / phosphorus / Physicochemical properties / Physiological aspects / Root distribution / Roots / Roots (Botany) / sodium / soil depth / Soil fertility / Soil improvement / Soil nutrients / Soil organic matter / Soil properties / Soil stabilization / Soils / South Korea / spatial distribution / Terrestrial ecosystems / Urban environments / urban land-use types / Urban sprawl / Urbanization / Vegetation / Vertical distribution