Relations Between Mineral Nutrient Availability and Fine Root Biomass in Two Costa Rican Tropical Wet Forests: A Hypothesis

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Abstract
Fine root biomass was estimated for two Costa Rican broad-leaf evergreen forests with apparent differences in soil nutrient status. Live fine root biomass (< 5 mm diameter) for the two sites was 187 and 125 g .cntdot. m-2 while total fine root biomass was 662 and 369 g .cntdot. m-2. The greater fine root biomass occurred on the site with the lowest soil phosphorus and calcium content. Reviews of the tropical literature suggest that total fine root biomass is inversely related to phosphorus and calcium availability. No apparent relationship was observed between fine root biomass and nitrogen availability in tropical forests.