FINE ROOT PRODUCTION ALONG A CHRONOSEQUENCE OF BARRIER ISLAND
COMMUNITIES.
Fine root production was quantified by an ingrowth core method
along a chronosequence of dune communities on Hog Island, a Virginia
Coast Reserve LTER site. The dune communities are dominated by
Ammophila breviligulata, Spartina patens, and
Aristida tuberculosa. Production estimates for fine roots (<=
2 mm), were estimated using biomass ingrowth into root-free soil
volumes for one growing season. Fine root production was greater in
N-fertilized plots than unfertilized plots. The most substantial
level of fine root production for unfertilized plots occurred in the
upper 0-10 cm depth in R120. The unfertilized plots showed no real
differences in production between communities at 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm
and 30-40 cm depth. R24 and R36 produced similar root production
measurements in their N-fertilized plots. There was no substantial
increase in total phosphorous concentrations in any of the dune
communities. There was an increase in total nitrogen concentrations
in fine roots from all dune communities in N-fertilized plots.