Fine Roots Dynamics in Two Forest Strata of a Semi-Deciduous Forest in Northern Republic of Congo

Abstract

The belowground biomass is represented by coarse and fine roots. Concentrated in the superficial horizons of the soil, the fine roots play a crucial role in the functioning of a forest ecosystem. However, studies on their dynamics in natural forests are almost non-existent in the Republic of Congo. Here, we estimated the biomass, production, turnover and fine root lifespan of two forest strata of a semi-deciduous forest: the Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (De Wild.) J. Leonard forest (GF) and the mixed forest (MF) of land. The ingrowth cores method was used to estimate the biomass, production, turnover and lifespan of fine roots. The results of this study revealed that the biomass, production and fine root turnover of the two forest strata studied significantly decreased with increasing soil depth, with an increase in lifespan. The annual fine root biomass of GF (2284.50 ± 37.62  and 1034.61 ± 14.52 ) was slightly lower than that of MF (2430.07 ± 40.68  and 1043.10 ± 11.75 ) in the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm horizons, respectively. The annual production of fine roots from these latter horizons was respectively 1300.19 ± 32.17  and 539.18 ± 11.55  in GF and 1362.24 ± 39.59  and 492.95 ± 14.38  in the MF. Root turnover was higher in the GF (1.68 ± 0.05  and 1.35 ± 0.03 ) than in the MF (1.57 ± 0.05  and 1.13 ± 0.02 ). The lifespan of fine roots increased with the depth of the soil. The difference in fine root dynamics observed between the forest strata studied was influenced by the Evenness index and the above-ground biomass.