Decomposition of Fine Woody Roots: a Time Series Approach, 1995 to 2006

uid=AND,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all public read TD031 Decomposition of Fine Woody Roots: a Time Series Approach, 1995 to 2006 Mark E. Harmon

Oregon State University;Dept. of Forest Science;321 Richardson Hall Corvallis OR 97331-5752 USA

(541) 737-8455 (978) 724-0045 ext 223 mark.harmon@oregonstate.edu http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu/people?path=people/harmon-mark http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4195-8288 Mark E. Harmon

Oregon State University;Dept. of Forest Science;321 Richardson Hall Corvallis OR 97331-5752 USA

Biology Department ;University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield IL 62703 USA

217-206-8339 334-559-9354 hchen40@uis.edu Other Researcher Becky Fasth

Oregon State University;College of Forestry;Dept. of Forest Ecosystems and Society; 201L Richardson Hall Corvallis OR 97331 USA

(541) 737-8431 (541) 737-8460 becky.fasth@oregonstate.edu Abstractor Mark E. Harmon

Oregon State University;Dept. of Forest Science;321 Richardson Hall Corvallis OR 97331-5752 USA

(541) 737-8455 (978) 724-0045 ext 223 mark.harmon@oregonstate.edu http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu/people?path=people/harmon-mark http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4195-8288 Creator 2016-11-15 We examined the effects of species, initial substrate quality, and site differences on woody root decomposition and its nitrogen dynamics in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominated forests in Oregon, U.S.A. using a time series approach. Roots of fourteen species and five size classes were placed in the field to incubate and then collected at pre-planned intervals to determine mass loss and nitrogen content. decomposition inorganic nutrients nitrogen organic matter roots fine roots LTER controlled vocabulary inorganic nutrients organic matter LTER core research areas Related PublicationsChen, Hua. 1999. Root decomposition in three coniferous forests: effects of substrate quality, temperature, and moisture. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University. 218 p. Ph.D. dissertation.Chen, Hua; Harmon, Mark E.; Griffiths, Robert P.; Hicks, William. 2000. Effects of temperature and moisture on carbon respired from decomposing woody roots. Forest Ecology and Management. 138: 51-64.Chen, Hua; Harmon, Mark E.; Sexton, Jay; Fasth, Becky. 2002. Fine-root decomposition and N dynamics in coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 32: 320-331 .Chen, Hua; Hicks, William. 2003. High asymbiotic N2 fixation rates in woody roots after six years of decomposition: controls and implications. Basic and Applied Ecology. 4: 479-486. Data Use Agreement: The re-use of scientific data has the potential to greatly increase communication, collaboration and synthesis within and among disciplines, and thus is fostered, supported and encouraged. This Data Set is released under the Creative Commons license CC BY "Attribution" (see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Creative Commons license CC BY - Attribution is a license that allows others to distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work (even commercially), as long as you are credited for the original creation. This license accommodates maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials. It is considered professional conduct and an ethical obligation to acknowledge the work of other scientists. The Data User is asked to provide attribution of the original work if this data package is shared in whole or by individual parts or used in the derivation of other products. A recommended citation is provided for each Data Set in the Andrews LTER data catalog (see: http://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/catalog/datacatalog.aspx). A generic citation is also provided for this Data Set on the website https://portal.edirepository.org in the summary metadata page. Data Users are thus strongly encouraged to consider consultation, collaboration and/or co-authorship with the Data Set Creator. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed and all data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. General acknowledgement: Data were provided by the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest research program, funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Program (DEB 2025755), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Oregon State University. http://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/data/abstract.aspx?dbcode=TD031 1995-06-01 2006-06-01 All Organisms All Organisms Highest common category (ca. kingdom) Plantae Division or Phylum Coniferophyta Class Pinopsida Order Pinales Family Pinaceae Genus Pinus Species Pinus ponderosa Species Pinus contorta Species Pinus monticola Genus Abies Species Abies procera Species Abies concolor Species Abies magnifica Genus Picea Species Picea engelmannii Genus Pseudotsuga Species Pseudotsuga menziesii Genus Tsuga Species Tsuga heterophylla Family Cupressaceae Genus Thuja Species Thuja plicata Genus Calocedrus Species Calocedrus decurrens Division or Phylum Magnoliophyta Class Liliopsida Subclass Asteridae Order Scrophulariales Family Oleaceae Genus Fraxinus Species Fraxinus latifolia Class Magnoliopsida Subclass Hamamelididae Order Fagales Family Fagaceae Genus Chrysolepis Species Castanopsis chrysophylla Family Betulaceae Genus Alnus Species Alnus rubra Subclass Rosidae Order Rosales Family Rosaceae Genus Purshia Species Purshia tridentata Order Sapindales Family Aceraceae Genus Acer Species Acer rubrum Species Acer macrophyllum Subclass Dilleniidae Order Ericales Family Ericaceae Genus Rhododendron Species Rhododendron macrophyllum Genus Gonystylus Species Gonystylus bancanus We examined the effects of species, initial substrate quality, and site differences on woody root decomposition and its nitrogen dynamics in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominated forests in Oregon, U.S.A. using a time series approach. Roots of fourteen species and five size classes were placed in the field to incubate and then collected at pre-planned intervals to determine mass loss and nitrogen content.

An update history is logged and maintained with each new version of every dataset.

notPlanned Original metadata creation Version1 2005-06-28 Moved database to SQL server Version2 2005-06-28 Information Manager

Andrews Forest LTER Program US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis OR 97331

hjaweb@fsl.orst.edu http://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/ Mark E. Harmon

Oregon State University;Dept. of Forest Science;321 Richardson Hall Corvallis OR 97331-5752 USA

(541) 737-8455 (978) 724-0045 ext 223 mark.harmon@oregonstate.edu http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu/people?path=people/harmon-mark http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4195-8288 Andrews Forest LTER Site

Forest Ecosystems and Society Department in Forestry Oregon State University 201K Richardson Hall Corvallis OR 97331-5752

(541) 737-8480 lterweb@fsl.orst.edu http://andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/ Field Methods - TD031 Fine root collection A total of 15 species of fine roots, which are dominant or common at Pacific Northwest, were obtained from local tree nurseries including Bend Pine, H. J. Stone, and Wind River Nursery in Oregon and Washington in early spring of 1994. Of these species, 4 deciduous and 11 coniferous species were obtained. After fine roots (less than 2 mm) were trimmed from seedlings at nurseries they were transported to Corvallis, Oregon. Fine roots of each species were cleaned by tap water and then they were spread in trays and air-dried at 15 to 20ºC room temperature to a constant mass (10 days). Approximately 10 g of air-dry fine roots were weighed and put into 20 x 20 cm polyester cloth litter bags and sealed with six monel staples. Sub-samples were retained for initial moisture, ash and nutrient content. Selection of small and other size roots All of the other size classes used in this study were collected from recently uprooted trees. Either wind throw or road building uprooted the chosen trees. The roots obtained from the field were sorted into small (2 - 10 mm), medium (10 - 50 mm), large (50 - 100 mm), and jumbo roots (greater than 100 mm). The roots were then cut into 20 cm long segments (samples). The root segments were air-dried at 15 to 20ºC room temperature to a constant mass (20-50 days). Approximately 10 g of air-dried small roots were weighed and put into 20 x 20 cm polyester cloth litter bags that were sealed with six monel staples. We used the same type of cloth bag as with the fine roots. Sub-samples of small roots were retained for initial moisture and nutrient content. Considering the wide variation of moisture content of the different segments of roots that were large as compared to the small roots, we determined the total air-dried weight of each root segment individually after measuring its moisture content by sub-sample. Before field placement, each segment was sealed at the ends using epoxy to prevent end rot effect before putting it into a mesh bag (mesh size= 0.4 mm). Therefore, the initial dry weight of each sample varied for all the medium, large, and jumbo roots as compared to the fine and small roots which were all roughly the same weight. Each sample was tagged with a numbered aluminum tag on a cable tie. Root incubation and decomposition Root samples that were to be harvested at the same time were tethered together by a nylon line through a cable tie attached to the aluminum tag and the mesh sample bag. Tethered root samples were buried in the top 20 cm of soil. Each site had four replicates with the same set up of root species and sizes. Additionally, one wooden dowel (species: GOBA) was placed at the end of each tethered line in such a way that half of the dowel was above ground and half was belowground. Dowels were 1 cm in diameter, 61 cm long, and composed of Gonystylus bancanus, a non-decay-resistant tropical tree species. The bottom half of the dowel was encased in a 1 mm mesh sleeve for improved sample removal. Samples were placed for incubation in the field in June of 1995. Root samples were harvested in different time intervals within the planned 10 year incubation period of the study. We retrieved fine root litterbags of the backbone species 14 times and the other species 4-6 times within the 10 year period. The fine roots of the four backbone species were harvested in 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 years, respectively. Small and medium roots of the backbone species and large roots of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine were harvested annually. Laboratory Methods - TD031 Decomposition of the roots was estimated from the change in ash free dry weight (mass) of the root samples. Root and dowel samples were returned to laboratory, carefully brushed free of soil and other debris, plus and in-growing roots were removed. Samples were dried to a constant mass at 65 C and then weighed. If the roots were large they were chopped into small pieces before drying. Weight loss from the roots and dowels were calculated after correcting for ash content. Dried root samples were then ground in a Wiley mill and passed through a fine screen (1 mm). Samples were stored in 20 ml vials to prevent moisture changes prior to analyses for ash and nitrogen. The overall experimental design for the root decomposition study was a split-plot with 3 sites, 4 replicates, 5 size classes, and 4 backbone species. The three incubation sites were Cascade Head Exp. For. , H.J. Andrews Exp. For., and Pringle Falls Exp. For. The 5 size classes included fine roots (less than 2 mm diameter), small roots (2-10 mm), medium roots (10-50 mm), large roots (50-100 mm), and jumbo roots (greater than 100 mm). The backbone species were Alnus rubra (red alder), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir), Tsuga heterophylla (western hemlock), and Pinus pondersoa (ponderosa pine). For fine roots another 11 species were included. They are Acer macrophyllum (bigleaf maple), Acer rubrum (red maple), Abies magnifica (California red-fir), A. concolor (white fir), A. procera (noble fir), Calocedrus decurrens (incense-cedar), Fraxinus latifolia (Oregon ash), Picea engelmanni (Engelmann spruce), Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine), P. monticola (western white pine), and Thuja plicata (western redcedar). An additional 3 species were included in the small and medium root classes besides the backbone species. In the large root category, we studied lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir. Jumbo roots included ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine. Andrews Experimental Forest (HJA) -122.26172200 -122.10084700 44.28196400 44.19770400 1631 1631 meter Cascade Head Experimental Forest OR (TD027) -123.99172777 -123.89730000 45.06476948 45.03130000 Pringle Falls Experimental Forest -121.61548044 -121.60590486 43.70822744 43.70581376 Long-Term Ecological Research Sherri L. Johnson

US Forest Service ;Pacific NW Research Station ;3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis OR 97331 USA

541-758-7771 sherri.johnson2@usda.gov sherri.johnson@oregonstate.edu https://www.fs.fed.us/research/people/profile.php?alias=sherrijohnson Principal Investigator Julia A. Jones

Oregon State University;Department of Geosciences; Wilkinson Hall 104 Corvallis OR 97331-5506 USA

(541) 737-1224 Julia.Jones@oregonstate.edu geojulia@comcast.net http://ceoas.oregonstate.edu/profile/jones/ http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9429-8925 Principal Investigator Matthew G Betts

Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; 201E Richardson Hall; College of Forestry; Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331

(541) 737-3841 matt.betts@oregonstate.edu http://www.fsl.orst.edu/flel/index.htm Principal Investigator Michael P. Nelson

Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; 201K Richarson Hall; College of Forestry; Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331

541-737-9221 mpnelson@oregonstate.edu http://www.michaelpnelson.com http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6917-4752 Principal Investigator David Bell david.bell@usda.gov david.bell@oregonstate.edu https://lemma.forestry.oregonstate.edu/about/david-bell Principal Investigator The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is a living laboratory that provides unparalleled opportunities for the study of forest and stream ecosystems in the central Cascade Range of Oregon. Since 1980, as a part of the National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research (NSF-LTER) program, the Andrews Experimental Forest has become a leader in the analysis of forest and stream ecosystem dynamics. Long-term field experiments and measurement programs have focused on climate dynamics, streamflow, water quality, and vegetation succession. Currently researchers are working to develop concepts and tools needed to predict effects of natural disturbance, land use, and climate change on ecosystem structure, function, and species composition. The Andrews Experimental Forest is administered cooperatively by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University and the Willamette National Forest. Funding for the research program comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Oregon State University, and other sources. Data were provided by the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest research program, funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-Term Ecological Research Program (DEB 2025755), US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Oregon State University. National Science Foundation: DEB1440409 The Andrews Forest is situated in the western Cascade Range of Oregon, and covers the entire 15,800-acre (6400-ha) drainage basin of Lookout Creek. Elevation ranges from 1350 to 5340 feet (410 to 1630 m). Broadly representative of the rugged mountainous landscape of the Pacific Northwest, the Andrews Forest contains excellent examples of the region's conifer forests and associated wildlife and stream ecosystems. These forests are among the tallest and most productive in the world, with tree heights of often greater than 250 ft (75 m). Streams are steep, cold and clean, providing habitat for numerous aquatic organisms. 1 TD03101 Sample weights, mass loss, carbon and nitrogen dynamics: TD03101.csv 202127 408238e72bc12bf7d0cf0e2330a11161 1 \r\n column , " http://andlter.forestry.oregonstate.edu/ltermeta/ltersearch/dataaccess.aspx?docid=TD03101_v2.csv DBCODE FSDB database code char(5) TD031 FSDB database code TD031 (Terrestrial: organic decomposition) ENTITY Entity number numeric(2,0) number 1.000000 integer 1.0000 1.0000 SITE Site where samples were incubated char(3) HJA H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Oregon CAH Cascade Head Experimental Forest PRF Pringle Falls Experimental Forest REP Replicate number numeric(1,0) number 1.000000 integer 1.0000 4.0000 TIME The time the litter will be harvested (sequential collection number) numeric(1,0) number 1.000000 integer 1.0000 6.0000 TIMEOUT The amout of time that the root sample incubated in the field numeric(4,2) number of years 0.250000 real 0.2500 2.0000 SPECIES Root species code char(5) ABCO Abies concolor ABMA Abies magnifica ABPR Abies procera ACMA Acer macrophyllum ALRU Alnus rubra CADE3 Calocedrus decurrens FRLA2 Fraxinus latifolia PIEN Picea engelmannii PICO Pinus contorta PIMO Pinus monticola PIPO Pinus ponderosa PSME Pseudotsuga menziesii PUTR Purshia tridentata RHMA Rhododendron macrophyllum THPL Thuja plicata TSHE Tsuga heterophylla CACH Castanopsis chrysophylla GOBA Gonystylus bancanus ACRU2 Acer rubrum TYPE Diameter class of the root sample, position for the GOBA (dowel) sample char(1) A Aboveground dowel B Belowground dowel F Fine root size class <2mm J Jumbo root size class >100mm L Large root size class 50-100mm M Medium root size class 10-50mm S Small root size class 2-10mm SAMP_NUM Unique sample number, except for GOBA dowels that are differentiated by type numeric(5,0) number 1.000000 integer 1.0000 10804.0000 IODW Initial oven dry weight before field incubation numeric(8,3) grams 0.001000 real 0.0000 3549.5000 IASH Percent of initial sample composed of ash numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 0.0000 12.3200 IAFODW Initial ash-free oven dry weight numeric(8,2) grams 0.010000 real 0.0000 3525.7200 INI_C Percent of initial sample composed of carbon ((100-iash)/1.9) numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 44.7400 54.4000 INI_N Percent of initial sample composed of nitrogen numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 0.1300 2.1900 INI_C_CONT Carbon content of initial sample ashfree basis numeric(7,3) grams 0.001000 real 0.0000 1805.5200 INI_N_CONT Nitrogen content of initial sample ashfree basis numeric(7,3) grams 0.001000 real 0.0000 7.1170 FWW Final wet weight of sample after field incubation numeric(7,2) grams 0.010000 real 6.7900 9091.2002 FOW Final oven dry weight of sample after field incubation numeric(7,2) grams 0.010000 real 2.1000 3516.0000 FASH Percent of sample composed of ash after field incubation numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 0.0100 26.3000 FAFOW Final ash-free oven dry weight after field incubation numeric(8,3) grams 0.001000 real 1.6170 3463.2600 MOISTURE Percent moisture of final sample after field incubation, can be over 100 moisture=100*((fww-fow)/fow) ie. water weight/dry weight * 100 numeric(5,1) percent 0.100000 real 2.5000 2439.0000 MASSLOSS Percent of the mass of the sample that was lost during incubation numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real -9.0600 77.2200 CARBON Percent of final sample composed of carbon after field incubation ((100-fash)/1.9) numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 38.7900 52.6300 CARBON_REM Percent of initial carbon content (mass) remaining after field incubation ie. final carbon content/initial carbon content numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 17.4600 106.0300 AF_N Percent of sample composed of nitrogen after field incubation numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 0.0300 2.6000 NITRO_REM Percent of initial nitrogen content (mass) remaining after field incubation ie. final nitrogen content/initial nitrogen content numeric(6,2) percent 0.010000 real 10.4200 219.2300 C_N_RATIO Ratio of carbon to nitrogen (c:n) numeric(6,2) number 0.010000 real 18.1800 1728.7000 PRIMARY TD03101.TYPE TD03101.SAMP_NUM NOTNULL TD03101.SITE TD03101.TYPE TD03101.DBCODE TD03101.SPECIES TD03101.ENTITY TD03101.IASH TD03101.REP TD03101.SAMP_NUM TD03101.TIME TD03101.TIMEOUT 1513 grams; 0.001 kilogram percent; a number dimensionless number, i.e., ratio, count one year excluding leap seconds and leap days, 31536000 seconds (often used for age in years)