Seasonal dynamics of fine root length in European beech: unveiling unexpected winter peaks and summer declines.

ABSTRACT: Fine roots play a crucial role in many ecological and biogeochemical processes in temperate forests. Generally, fine root biomass is expected to increase during the growing season, when water and nutrient demands are high, but information on seasonal variability is still scarce. Here, seasonal differences in root length of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were analysed at eight sites within its north-eastern distribution range. Fine roots of mature trees were monitored using minirhizotrons. Scans were taken for three different depths at the beginning of winter, the end of winter and over the summer for two consecutive years, and analysed automatically by an AI-algorithm (RootDetector). An additional experiment was carried out to show that the RootDetector was unaffected by changes in so

SUBMITTER: Garthen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11805861 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature