Biomass of root and shoot systems of Quercus coccifera shrublands in Eastern Spain Isabel Cañellas Rey de Viñas, Alfonso San Miguel Ayanz To cite this version: Isabel Cañellas Rey de Viñas, Alfonso San Miguel Ayanz. Biomass of root and shoot systems of Quercus coccifera shrublands in Eastern Spain. Annals of Forest Science, Springer Nature (since 2011)/EDP Science (until 2010), 2000, 57 (8), pp.803-810. 10.1051/forest:2000160. hal-00883436 HAL Id: hal-00883436 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00883436 Submitted on 1 Jan 2000 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Ann. For. Sci. 57 (2000) 803–810 803 © INRA, EDP Sciences Original article Biomass of root and shoot systems of Quercus coccifera shrublands in Eastern Spain Isabel Cañellas Rey de Viñasa,* and Alfonso San Miguel Ayanzb a Dpto Selvicultura, CIFOR-INIA, Ap.8.111, 28080 Madrid, Spain b Dpto. Silvopascicultura, E.T.S.I. Montes, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain (Received 12 October 1999; accepted 14 February 2000) Abstract – Belowground and aboveground biomass of kermes oak shrublands (Quercus coccifera L.), an evergreen sclerophyllous species common in garrigue communities in Spain, have been studied by controlled excavation and harvesting. Aboveground bio- mass has been measured on 320 1-m2 plots. Total biomass varies with age and ranges between 0.4 (7 months) to 2.8 kg m–2 D.M. (> 40 year), and leaf biomass increases with age until 6–8 years (0.56 kg m–2 D.M.) and then decreases and reaches a steady state around 0.35 kg m–2 D.M. (> 40 year). Total belowground biomass ranges from 34 to 81 mg ha–1 D.M., including rhizomes and ligno- tubers. Roots and rhizomes were concentrated in the uppermost 15 to 35 cm of the soils. The root area always exceeded the shoot area. The average dry weight root:shoot ratio was 3.5, ranging from 2.61 to 4.73. It is quite higher than that of other Mediterranean ecosystems. Kermes oak / productivity / Quercus coccifera / shoot biomass / root biomass / root:shoot ratio Résumé – Biomasses des systèmes souterrains et aériens des garrigues de Quercus coccifera de l’Est de l’Espagne. Les bio- masses souterraines et aériennes de Quercus coccifera, espèce arbustive et persistante assez courante dans les garrigues espagnoles, ont été mesurées au moyen de techniques d’excavation et de coupe. La biomasse aérienne a été mesurée sur 320 placettes de 1 m2 chacune. La biomasse totale change avec l’âge, en prenant des valeurs qui varient entre les 0.4 kg m–2 M.S. (à l’âge de 7 mois) à 2.8 kg m–2 (> 40 années). De même, la biomasse foliaire augmente avec l’âge jusqu’à 6–8 ans (0.56 kg m–2 M.S.), et diminue ensuite en prenant des valeurs très proches de 0.35 kg m–2 M.S. (> 40 années). La biomasse souterraine, y compris les rhizomes, varie entre 34 et 81 mg ha–1 M.S. Les racines et les rhizomes étaient concentrés dans la partie la plus superficielle du sol (jusqu’à 15–35 cm d’épaisseur). L’extension des racines débordait toujours de la projection au sol de la partie aérienne. La moyenne du rapport poids sec biomasse souterraine/biomasse aérienne était égale à 3.5 en variant de 2.71 à 4.73; ces valeurs sont un peu supérieures à celles trouvées pour d’autres écosystèmes méditerranéens. chêne Kermès / production / Quercus coccifera / biomasse aérienne / biomasse souterraine / rapport biomasse souterraine/ biomasse aérienne 1. INTRODUCTION Mediterranean ecosystems, information on aboveground biomass, shrub size and structure is scarce, and relevant An accurate assessment of shrub biomass is important estimation methods are not very well known. There are for the evaluation of the productivity of ecosystems, and only a few studies of this type in Spain [6, 7, 9, 37]. In their cycling of nutrients and carbon. In shrubland contrast, there is more information in other countries and * Correspondence and reprints Tel. (34) 913 476 867; Fax. (34) 913 572 293; e-mail: [email protected] 804 I. Cañellas Rey de Viñas and A. San Miguel Ayanz similar ecosystems [4, 5, 24, 35, 42]. This research con- the Mediterranean coastal provinces and also in the inte- centrates on tree communities [12, 13, 38, 43, 44]. rior. It plays a very important role in erosion control, Compared with the relative abundance of information especially after fire, as a fundamental fodder source for on aboveground standing crops, belowground informa- wildlife and livestock (mostly sheep and goats). It is also tion is limited. Root systems are an important fraction of an important habitat for small game species, such as rab- plant biomass and play a significant role in forest net pri- bits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) and red legged partridge mary production [27]. This component is frequently (Alectoris rufa), which are often the most useful natural more important than aboveground biomass in the miner- resources of these plant communities from the economic al turnover process [15]. Although plant roots have been point of view [6, 7]. studied in their morphological and physiological aspects There is not very much information on above- and for a long time, little is known about characteristics such belowground biomass of Spanish Q. coccifera shrub- as the size of the roots systems, root growth rates under lands but there are more abundant data in other field conditions, interrelations among root systems of Mediterranean countries. Long et al. [23] and Rapp and different plants species, root turnover rates, and so on. Lossaint [34] presented the first data about biomass (shoot and root) and root and shoot ratios in the garrigue Although scientists recognise the important role of of Southern France. Kummerow et al. [22], Rambal [32] these biomass fractions, the studies are scarce. This is at and Rambal and Leuterne [33] evaluated and analyzed least partially due to the fact that roots, but even more the characteristics of the root systems of these French so, entire root ecosystems, are difficult to observe, that communities. Christodoulakis and Psaras [10] studied the has made it difficult to develop a reliable methodology root anatomy characteristic of Greek kermes oak shrub- of study. Comparison, generalisation and modelling of lands; and Arianoutsou [1] and Tsiouvaras [41] have root systems, are very difficult to study due to the scarci- published some data about shoot and browse biomass. ty of data, and lack of precision in the methodology used. Thus there is no global theory which explains the The purpose of the present study is to contribute with dynamic and structural relations of root systems in natur- quantitative data to the generally scarce knowledge of al ecosystems. Q. coccifera root and shoot systems and their ratio. The shrubland Mediterranean American ecosystems are among the most studied [16, 19, 29, 30]. In Spain, 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS studies about root biomass and its productivity were made on grasslands [18], and some forests [14]. However there is not much information on root systems 2.1. The study site in shrubland ecosystems [27, 28]. Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) is undoubtedly Our study was carried out in Valencia (eastern Spain) one of the most important shrub species in the on eight kermes oak shrublands of different ages. The Mediterranean Basin, which covers more than 2 million precise location of our experimental plots, and their main hectares. It grows under typical Mediterranean climates, characteristics are shown in table I. with a considerable summer drought period and on a The climate could be included in the lower meso- great variety of soil types, either on acidic or basic par- Mediterranean belt and dry ombrotype, according to the ent materials [6]. In Spain, it is widely distributed along Rivas Martínez bioclimatic typology [36]. The mean Table I. Main characteristics of Quercus coccifera experimental plots at Valencia (Eastern Spain). Plot Age at ground Longitude Latitude Elevation Height Slope base (years) (m) (m) (%) Acentinela 0.6 0º43' W 39º29' N 360 0.10 15 Moratilla 3.2 0º54' W 39º27' N 805 0.38 5 La Nevera 4.2 0º47' W 39º32' N 450 0.50 30 Requena 4.8 1º00' W 39º25' N 830 0.40 5 La Parra 5.0 0º47' W 39º26' N 600 1.20 30 Venta Moro 7.7 1º20' W 39º28' N 950 0.60 10 Yátova 10.8 0º51' W 39º23' N 605 0.60 10 Hortunas 16.67 1º10' W 39º35' N 600 1.10 25 Buñol > 40 0º45' W 39º24' N 725 1.55 5 Root and shoot systems of kermes oak shrublands 805 annual rainfall is 500 mm, and the average temperature 2.3. Belowground biomass is 11.1 ºC. There is a possible frost period from late fall (November) to early spring (March), with an absolute The roots were harvested on 24 (3 samples × 8 plots) minimum temperature of –12 °C. The soil belongs to the 1-m2 plots subdivided into three soil layers: 0–15 cm, Calcic Cambisol–Calcaric Regsol association [11]. The 15–30 cm and 30–45 cm, although reaching the last layer potential vegetation is an evergreen sclerophyllous for- was not always possible by the frequent presence of est: Bupleuro-Quercetum rotundifoliae with Pistacia large rocks.