Data from: Contrasting depth-related fine root plastic responses to soil warming in a subtropical Chinese fir plantation

Warming-induced soil drought especially in topsoil may
enlarge the spatial mismatch between nutrients and water
along the soil profile, which impedes the uptake of not only
water but also nutrients by trees. Therefore, coordinating the acquisition
of soil water and nutrients along the soil profile is an important
strategy for trees to cope with global warming. This study examined soil
depth-related changes in nutrient concentrations, biomass, and morphology
of fine roots in a Chinese fir plantation after 3 years of large-scale
manipulative soil warming. Soil warming (ambient + 4°C) increased fine
root nitrogen (N) concentrations but decreased
fine root phosphorus (P) concentrations across soil depths. Warming did
not affect total fine root biomass and its vertical distribution. At the
0–10 cm depth, warming increased specific root length (SRL), specific root
area (SRA), fine root diameter (RD), and root length density (RLD) but
reduced root tissue density (RTD). In the 40–60 cm layer, warming reduced
RD, SRL, and RLD while increasing RTD mainly for roots of the 1–2
mm diameter class. Synthesis: We concluded that roots of Chinese fir
plantations could adapt to warming-induced moderate water stress through
contrasting depth-related root morphological adjustments, probably to
optimize the acquisition of both soil water and nutrients. The results of
this study are crucial for understanding the adaptation strategies of
subtropical forests under future climate conditions.