Phosphorus and base cations drive contrasting root dynamics in a central Amazon forest

Abstract Background and aims In highly weathered soils of central Amazonia, where nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and base cations are scarce, fertilization experiments have demonstrated above- and belowground effects on total net primary productivity (NPP). This study examined how fine root stocks and turnover responded to added nutrients over a two-year period. We predicted that adding a limiting nutrient would decrease fine root stocks and increase turnover, with the strongest effects from P, followed by base cations, and no response to N. Methods Fine roots (< 2 mm diameter) were sampled from the 0–30 cm soil layer in a low-fertility primary forest in central Amazon subjected to a large-scale factorial experiment adding P, base cations, and N over two years. Fine root turnover was calculated as the ratio between fine root productivity, measured with in-growth cores, and fine root stock. Results Fine root stocks remained unchanged with nutrient addition. However, P increased root turnover by 23% and 48% in the first and second years, respectively, while base cations addition reduced turnover by 24% in year two. N had no significant effect, though a trend toward reduced turnover was observed in the second year. Conclusion The results of this study show that fine root standing stock and turnover in the central Amazon are regulated by soil nutrient availability, especially P and base cations. The contrasting responses observed suggest distinct belowground resource-use strategies for different nutrients, shaped by the nutrient specific mobility in the soil and physiological role in the plant.

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Publication Details

Journal
Plant and Soil
Published
2026-02-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-026-08303-2
Primary Topic
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Phosphorus and base cations drive contrasting root dynamics in a central Amazon forest

Carlos Alberto Quesada, Iain P. Hartley, Nathielly Martins, Adriana Costa Conceição et al.
Plant and Soil
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
article

Phosphorus and base cations drive contrasting root dynamics in a central Amazon forest

Carlos Alberto Quesada, Iain P. Hartley, Nathielly Martins, Adriana Costa Conceição, Raffaello Di Ponzio, Jéssica Schmeisk Rosa, Gyovanni Augusto Aguiar Ribeiro, Oscar J. Valverde‐Barrantes, Sara Deambrozi Coelho, Kelly M. Andersen, Rafael L. Assis, Patrick Meir, Adriana Leal Cordeiro, Bruno Takeshi Tanaka Portela, José Augusto Salim, Ana Cláudia Francisco Salomão, Hellen F. V. Cunha, Maria Pires Martins, Anja Rammig, Anna Carolina Martins Moraes, Érick Oblitas, Sheila Trierveiler de Souza, Laynara F. Lugli, Renata Vilar de Almeida, José Luís C. Camargo
article en

Abstract

Abstract Background and aims In highly weathered soils of central Amazonia, where nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and base cations are scarce, fertilization experiments have demonstrated above- and belowground effects on total net primary productivity (NPP). This study examined how fine root stocks and turnover responded to added nutrients over a two-year period. We predicted that adding a limiting nutrient would decrease fine root stocks and increase turnover, with the strongest effects from P, followed by base cations, and no response to N. Methods Fine roots (< 2 mm diameter) were sampled from the 0–30 cm soil layer in a low-fertility primary forest in central Amazon subjected to a large-scale factorial experiment adding P, base cations, and N over two years. Fine root turnover was calculated as the ratio between fine root productivity, measured with in-growth cores, and fine root stock. Results Fine root stocks remained unchanged with nutrient addition. However, P increased root turnover by 23% and 48% in the first and second years, respectively, while base cations addition reduced turnover by 24% in year two. N had no significant effect, though a trend toward reduced turnover was observed in the second year. Conclusion The results of this study show that fine root standing stock and turnover in the central Amazon are regulated by soil nutrient availability, especially P and base cations. The contrasting responses observed suggest distinct belowground resource-use strategies for different nutrients, shaped by the nutrient specific mobility in the soil and physiological role in the plant.

Plant and Soil
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR), Australian National University (AU), University of Minnesota (US), Vale (Brazil) (BR), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR), Florida International University (US), University of Exeter (GB), Missouri Botanical Garden (US), Technical University of Munich (DE), University of Edinburgh (GB)
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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