Variation in root morphology amongst tree species influences soil hydraulic conductivity and macroporosity

Webb, Bid; Robinson, David A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7290-4867; Marshall, Miles R.; Ford, Hilary; Pagella, Tim; Healey, John R.; Smith, Andrew R.. 2022 Variation in root morphology amongst tree species influences soil hydraulic conductivity and macroporosity. Geoderma, 425, 116057. 12, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116057

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116057

Abstract/Summary

Natural approaches to flood risk management are gaining interest as sustainable flood mitigation options. Targeted tree planting has the potential to reduce local flood risk, however attention is generally focused on the hydrological impacts of catchment afforestation linked to generic tree features, whilst the species-specific impacts of trees on soil hydrology remain poorly understood. This study compared effects of different tree species on soil hydraulic properties. Monocultures of Alnus glutinosa (common alder), Fraxinus excelsior (European ash), Fagus sylvatica (European beech), Betula pendula (silver birch), Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut), Quercus robur (English oak) and Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) were used to determine effects of tree species identity on soil hydraulic properties (near-saturated K and soil water retention) in a sandy loam soil, North Wales, United Kingdom. The interaction of F. excelsior root properties and soil class on hydraulic conductivity was also examined in four different soils (Rendzic Leptosol, Haplic Luvisol, Dystric Fluvic Cambisol and Dystric Gleysol) across England and Wales. Fine root biomass (FRB) and morphological characteristics were determined at three depths (0–0.1, 0.1–0.2 and 0.2–0.3 m) and complemented by in situ surface measurement of soil hydraulic conductivity. Root morphological traits were closely associated with species identity and pore-size distribution, and FRB was strongly correlated with soil hydraulic conductivity (R2 = 0.64 for 0–0.1 m depth FRB; R2 = 0.69 for 0.1–0.2 m depth FRB). Fine root biomass of F. excelsior was sixfold greater than C. sativa (p < 0.001), and the frequency of 0.01 mm radius soil pores under F. excelsior was twice that of Q. robur. Near-saturated hydraulic conductivity under F. excelsior was 7.91 ± 1.23 cm day−1, double the mean rate of the other species. Soil classification did not significantly influence FRB (p = 0.056) or near-saturated hydraulic conductivity (p = 0.076) in the 0.0–0.1 m depth soil, but soil water retention varied with depth. Species-specific traits of trees should be considered in landscape design to maximise the local hydrological benefits of trees.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116057
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0016-7061
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	land use, infiltration, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, hydrology, soil porosity, soil classification
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	30 Dec 2022 21:55 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533785

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116057

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0016-7061

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

land use, infiltration, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, hydrology, soil porosity, soil classification