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Sampling root-respired CO2 in-situ for 13C measurement

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Abstract

Background and aims

Root-respired δ13CO2 can be useful for exploring plant carbon allocation and root respiratory fractionation as well as for partitioning soil-surface CO2 emissions into plant root and soil organic matter (SOM) sources, a necessary measure for calculating the contribution of heterotrophic respiration of soil carbon to net ecosystem exchange. Root CO2 is usually sampled from excised roots, however, excision alters respiration rate and isolates the root sample from aboveground plant processes.

Methods

To improve the integrity of root efflux δ13CO2 measurements, we designed a chamber for sampling root-respired CO2 in situ from minimally disturbed tree roots. We compared root δ13CO2 values from excised and attached roots in the field and we pruned mature Scots pine trees to induce a measureable change in root δ13CO2.

Results

Excised root samples containing root wounds gave more 13C-depleted measurements of root-respired δ13CO2 than intact roots by 1.8 ‰. Using chambers to sample CO2 from attached roots, we measured a diurnal change in root-respired δ13CO2 of 3–4 ‰, triggered by pruning foliage from the trees.

Conclusions

This chamber system permits high-frequency sampling of live root-respired δ13CO2 that enables greater insight into plant respiratory processes and more accurate partitioning of soil-surface CO2 emissions.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Alan Wilson for building the chambers and to Barry Thornton and staff for IRMS analysis. This project was funded by a NERC studentship for HS. We thank two anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant & Soil Science, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, UK

    Helen S. K. Snell & David Robinson

  2. Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK

    Helen S. K. Snell & Andrew J. Midwood

Authors
  1. Helen S. K. Snell
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  2. David Robinson
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  3. Andrew J. Midwood
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Correspondence to Helen S. K. Snell.

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Responsible Editor: Per Ambus.

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Snell, H.S.K., Robinson, D. & Midwood, A.J. Sampling root-respired CO2 in-situ for 13C measurement. Plant Soil 393, 259–271 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2493-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2493-6

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