Abstract
Fine roots represent a small proportion of total plant biomass however they represent the most dynamic component of the root systems of woody plants. There is limited information on the beech fine root production in Mediterranean ecosystems and especially in Greece. We measured live, dead and total fine root biomass (d<2 mm) (LFRB, DFRB and TFRB, respectively) over a growing season in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stand on Paiko mountain, NW Greece, in order to contribute to the generally scarce knowledge of the fine root biomass of beech stands. It was found that TFRB and LFRB increased from May to July and then decreased. LFRB decreased with soil depth while there was no pattern at the change of DFRB with soil depth.
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Acknowledgements
We give special thanks of Grigoris Morakis and Martin Chermak for their valuable help in the field and lab work and to Zoi Pesimertzi for spending many hours washing the roots. Finally we thank the students, Xrisanthi Kolovou and Harry Lamridis, who helped in the drying of the samples.