To reveal the variation characteristics of absorptive root morphology, biomass and root length density of plants with different life forms in two typical Larix gmelinii forest types, this study selected Carex-L.gmelinii forest and grass-L.gmelinii forest in Hongwei Forest Farm, Huzhong District of the Greater Khingan Mountains. The soil core method was adopted to determine the absorptive root morphology, biomass and root length density of L. gmelinii, understory shrubs and herbs in the organic layer and mineral soil layer, and the relationships between root characteristics of L.gmelinii and soil factors were further analyzed. The results showed that soil layer, forest type and life form all significantly affected absorptive root characteristics (P<0.05). In the two forest types, the absorptive root diameter of plants with three life forms in the organic layer was significantly lower than that in the mineral soil layer, while the specific root length showed an opposite trend. Between different forest types, the absorptive root morphology of three life forms differed significantly in the organic layer. In Carex-L.gmelinii forest, the specific root length of L.gmelinii was remarkably higher than that in grass-L.gmelinii forest, whereas the root tissue density was significantly lower than those in the grass-L.gmelinii forest. For understory vegetation, the absorptive root diameter of shrubs in grass-L.gmelinii forest was notably greater than that in Carex-L.gmelinii forest. In terms of root biomass and root length density, for all life forms in both forest types, the organic layer was significantly higher than the mineral soil layer, and the grass-L.gmelinii forest was significantly higher than the Carex-L.gmelinii forest. For biomass and root length density proportions, shrubs had the highest absorptive root biomass in both forest types. Correlation analysis indicated that the effects of soil factors on L.gmelinii absorptive roots differed between soil layers. Soil water content and total phosphorus were the main influencing factors in the organic layer, whereas total carbon, total nitrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and total phosphorus were the key factors in the mineral soil layer. In conclusion, the characteristics of absorptive roots of L.gmelinii, understory herbs, and shrubs varies among forest types and soil layers, and soil factors exert differential effects on the absorptive root traits of L.gmelinii, which sheds light on the mechanistic understanding in species coexistence and diversity maintenance in this region.
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