Elevation Distribution of Fine Root Biomass and Soil Organic Carbon Storage of Mature Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) Plantations in East China

Fine roots play an important role in productivity and dynamics of carbon and nutrient in forest ecosystems. The objective of this study is to reveal the elevational distribution patterns of fine-root (≤ 2 mm in diameter) biomass and its carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry, and the relationship between fine-root biomass and soil organic carbon storage in mature Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations (40-45 year old) in Mt. Dabie, eastern China. A field survey was conducted at five different sites along an elevation gradient from 360 m to 1200 m a.s.l. At each site, the sampling stands had similar density (from 1039 to 1238 stems ha–1) with three replicates. The fine-root biomass was ranged from 264.3 to 331.9 g m–2, with marginal significant correlation to elevation (P = 0.052). However, fine-root necromass was significantly decreased with elevation (P = 0.010). The C:N ratios ranged from 52.9 to 56.4 for living fine-roots and from 47.3 to 51.2 for dead ones, and showed an increasing trend over elevation gradient. Soil organic carbon (SOC) storages in the surface 50-cm soil layer ranged from 59.7 to 97.9 Mg ha–1 and significantly increased with elevation (P < 0.001). Positive correlations were observed between fine-root biomass and SOC density across this elevation gradient. These results indicate that fine-root turnover might be an important regulation of SOC in the Chinese fir plantation.