Fine Root Mortality Increased by Earthquake Induced Landslides

This study determined the effects of earthquake induced landslide on fine root mortality. It is useful to understand underground soil process after earthquake. We established 9 plots at each of non-moved and landslide site in Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei forest stands near the fault belt of the Wenchuan Earthquake. Fine roots were sampled at 0 - 10 and 10 - 15 cm soil layer using aluminum cylinders (100 cm ³). We found that earthquake induced landslide significantly increased fine root mortality in Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei forest stands. Fine root biomass also decreased by landslide at 0 - 10 cm soil layer. We observed that the fine root biomass and mortality were various with forest type. There were higher fine root mortality rate (68.4%) and lower fine root biomass (0.48 t/hm ²) in Cupressus funebris than the Cryptomeria fortunei soils (0.97 t/hm ² and 37.4%).

• Earthquake
• Forest
• Landslide
• Fine Root
• Root Mortality

1. Introduction

The Wenchuan Earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.0, was one of the largest earthquakes in the world which not only made people homeless, and caused serious economic losses, but also disturbed ecosystem, soil process and fine root development. Fine root, as an important organ for water and nutrition uptake, is easily damaged by earthquake and disturbs [1] . Intense disturbs would decrease fine root biomass and increase root mortality [2] . However, there has been relatively little information on the earthquake-induced disturbs on fine root biomass and mortality rate.

It was reported that the earthquake moved the forest as much as 60 m downhill from their original elevations along the slopes [3] . Our previous study discussed the effects of the landslide on soil environment and root parameters as well as the causes of the tree death after earthquake. We found earthquake-induced landslides decreased mean tip length/length and mean tip/biomass of fine root [4] . Previous report suggested that fine root was significantly impacted by earthquake [4] - [6] . However, there are no data reported the fine root mortality and the biomass changes under the earthquake. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to 1) evaluate fine root mortality rate in the landslides and 2) to understand whether the fine root mortality disturbed in earthquake various with forest type.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Site Description

The study area was located in the northern section of the main seismic fault. It was extended between N31˚38′-31˚49' and E104˚16′-104˚28' and elevated between 759 m and 1397 m. The mean annual precipitation ranged from 1261 mm to 1399 mm, and the mean annual temperature was from 15.6˚C to 16.3˚C.

2.2. Experiment Design

Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei forest were choose to investigate the fine root mortality after earthquake. These two forest stands are main species plantation in this region. All the plantations were with approximately 0.5 m × 0.5 m density and 23 - 27 year old. A total of 11 plots were established at two sites (Shiyan, Shuangdian) near the seismic fault. Each of the plots with 20 m × 20 m in size. At Shiyan site, 6 plots were located in Cupressus funebris forest, 3 of them were landslide after earthquake and the other 3 were no-landslide. At Shuangdian site, 5 plots were located in Cryptomeria fortunei forest. 2 of them were landslide after earthquake and the other 3 were no-landslide. The landslides were moved 20 m to 60 m down from the upper elevations.

2.3. Root Sampling

Within each of the plots, 9 points with the distance of 5 meters were determined for the soil collection. At each of the points, three intact soil cores with a 100 cm³ volume (5 cm in diameter, and 5 cm in height) was taken from the surface layer (0 - 10 cm, >10 - 15 cm), respectively, it contains 198 sample in total. All samples were collection with zip bag and taken to laboratory, and then picking fine root from that. We distinguish live and dead fine root (diameter < 2 mm) by root color, elasticity and appearance. Live root elastic, hard, having bright color, died root with darker color and brittle break easily. After picking, live and dead fine root were measured using a digital balance after drying in an oven at 85˚C for 72 h. Biomass were calculating by the following equation:

Fine root biomass (t∙hm⁻²) = dry weight of soil cylinder × 100/[π(d/2)²], π was pi; d was the diameter (cm) of soil core [7] .

2.4. Data Analysis

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) were used to assess the species and soil status for fine root biomass. All analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0 (IBM, USA), and graphs were drawn using Sigmaplot 10.0.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Fine Root Biomass and Mortality Rate Changes with Forest Status

Forests status statistically influenced fine root biomass and mortality at the soil depth of 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm (Table 1). Live fine root biomass was significantly lower in Cupressus funebris (0.48 t/hm²) than the Cryptomeria fortunei soils (0.97 t/hm²) in 0 - 10 cm soil layer. However, the live fine root in the soil layer of 10 - 15 cm have no significantly difference between the two forests (Figure 1). Fine root mortality rate in 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm soil layer were 68.4% and 48.4% in Cupressus funebris. Fine root mortality rate in 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm soil layer were 37.4% and 57.6% in Cryptomeria fortunei. Our results suggested that earthquake induced soil physical property changes disturbed soil root growth. Fine root, as a main organ for nutrient and water

Figure 1

Fine root biomass in different forest species varied with soil depth. Cypress instead of Cupressus funebris, Cedar instead of Cryptomeria fortunei

Table 1

Analysis of covariance for effects of forest species (Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei), soil status (non- moved and landslide soils) and their interactions on fine root biomass. Bolded number indicates a significant difference (P < 0.05)

	Species	Soil status	Species*Soil status
Live root (0 - 10 cm)	0.007	<0.001	0.008
Dead root (0 - 10 cm)	0.040	0.603	0.277
Live root (10 - 15 cm)	0.693	0.003	0.386
Dead root (10 - 15 cm)	0.033	0.012	<0.001

uptake, were very sensitive to environment disturbs. Large amount of fine root mortality accelerate root turnover in forests. Higher fine root mortality in Cupressus funebris than Cryptomeria fortunei was probably due to smaller specific root area and specific root length in the roots of Cupressus funebris than that of Cryptomeriafortune after the earthquake [6] . Earthquake induced landslide inhibited the elongation of the fine root of Cupressus funebris than that of Cryptomeria fortunei.

3.2. Fine Root Biomass and Mortality Rate Changes with Earthquake Induced Soil Status

Soil status statistically influenced fine root biomass and mortality at the soil depth of 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm (Table 1). Live fine root biomass was significantly lower in landslide plots (0.37 t/hm²) than the no slide plots (1.05 t/hm²) in 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm soil layer (Figure 2).

Fine root mortality rate in 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm soil layer were 88.4% and 72.9% in landslide plots. Fine root mortality rate in 0 - 10 cm and 10 - 15 cm soil layer were 45.3% and 36.8% in no landslide plots. The mechanism of fine root mortality were induced by two main reasons: one was physical injury which induced by landslides; another reason was that earthquake induced landslide makes soil surface compact and dryer. Compact and dryer situation not suit for root development because severe drought may increase the effects of compaction, for example fine roots and tips may shrink due to desiccation [8] .

3.3. The Interactive Effects of Forest and Soil Status on Fine Root Biomass and Mortality

Forests and soil status statistically influenced fine root biomass and mortality in our study (Table 1). At the plot of Cryptomeria fortunei soils, live fine root biomass were significant lower in slide plots than no slide plot whenever in 0 - 10 cm soil layer or in 10 - 15 cm soil layer (Figure 3). Dead fine root biomass were higher in slide plots than no slide plot. Fine root mortality rate were higher in landslide plots in both of Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei plots.

Figure 2

Fine root biomass in different soil status varied with soil depth

Figure 3

Interactive effects of forest species and soil status on fine root biomass

4. Conclusion

Our data showed that earthquake induced landslides have significantly disturbed fine root biomass and increased fine root mortality in surface layer of forest soil. Fine root mortality rate varied with forest type in our study. Fine root mortality rate in 0 - 10 cm soil layer was 68.4% in Cupressus funebris which was higher than that of 37.4% in Cryptomeria fortunei. It is probably that Cupressus funebris fine root is more sensitive to earthquake induced disturbs.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Research Funds of Southwest University of Science and Technology (No. 14zx7154). We would like to thank Zhongyong Zhang, Qian He, Yan Su, Bo Chen, Zhihua Li, Rongxi Li, Bo Peng and Gang Xiong for their assistance in the field and laboratory.

References

1. Pregitzer, K.S., DeForest, J.L., Burton, A.J., Allen, M.F., Ruess, R.W. and Hendrick, R.L. (2002) Fine Root Architecture of Nine North American Trees. Ecological Monographs, 72, 293-309. <br />http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/0012-9615(2002)072[0293:FRAONN]2.0.CO;2

2. Joslin, J.D. and Wolfe, M.H. (1999) Disturbances during Minirhizotron Installation Can Affect Root Observation Data. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 63, 218-221. <br />http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1999.03615995006300010031x

3. Schuster, R.L. and Highland, L.M. (2007) Overview of the Effects of Mass Wasting on the Natural Environment. Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 13, 25-44. <br />http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.13.1.25

4. Cheng, S., Yang, G., Yu, H., Li, J. and Zhang, L. (2012) Impacts of Wenchuan Earthquake-Induced Landslides on Soil Physical Properties and Tree Growth. Ecological Indicators, 15, 263-270. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.09.028

5. Yang, G., Cheng, S., Yu, H., Zhang, L. and Gao, Y. (2011) Changes in Soil Physical Properties of Forest Floors in the Wenchuan Earthquake-Induced Landslides. (iCBBE) 2011 5th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, Wuhan, 10-12 May 2011, 1-4. <br />http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/icbbe.2011.5781592

6. Yu, H., Cheng, S., Yang, G., Gao, Y.H., Zhang, Z.Y., Peng, B., et al. (2012) Changes in Cupressus funebris and Cryptomeria fortunei Root Parameters in Landslides Caused by the Wenchuan Earthquake. Advanced Materials Research, 378, 381-384.

7. Li, X.W., Zhang, J., Chen, W.D., Fan, B. and Dong, H.X. (2005) Study on the Distribution and Growth Characteristics of the Fine Root of Triploidpopulus tomentosa and Root of Lolium multiflorum under Compound Pattern in Both Cultivating Land and Forest. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 14, 73-78.

8. Skinner, A.K., Lunt, I.D., Spooner, P. and Mcintyre, S. (2009) The Effect of Soil Compaction on Germination and Early Growth of Eucalyptus albens and an Exotic Annual Grass. Austral Ecology, 36, 698-704. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.01977.x