Abstract
Fine roots constitute a large and dynamic component of the carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. The reported fivefold discrepancy in turnover estimates between median longevity (ML) from minirhizotrons and mean residence time (MRT) using carbon isotopes may have global consequences.
Keywords
carbon isotope,
ecosystem carbon balance,
fine roots,
minirhizotron,
root branch order,
root longevity,
root turnover
Citation
Guo, Dali; Li, Harbin; Mitchell, Robert J.; Wenxuan, Han; Hendricks, Joseph J.; Fahey, Timothy J.; Hendrick, Ronald L. 2008. Fine root heterogeneity by branch order: exploring the discrepancy in root turnover estimates between minirhizotron and carbon isotopic methods. New Phytologist (2008) 177: 443?456