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Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry of the Rhizosphere in Forested Ecosystems

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Forest Hydrology and Biogeochemistry

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 216))

Abstract

The rhizosphere, defined as the narrow zone within the soil centered on the root–soil interface, is a hotspot for biogeochemical cycling within the soil. In this chapter, we focus on three rhizosphere mechanisms that differentiate the ecohydrological and biogeochemical processes characteristic of the rhizosphere from those of bulk soil. These are (1) double-funneling of stemflow into root-induced preferential flow pathways; (2) hydraulic redistribution (HR) of soil water by roots from wetter to drier soil zones; and (3) CO2 dynamics of the rhizosphere. We follow with several examples of external influences on the ecohydrology of the rhizosphere. Finally, we present suggestions for future research directions for advancing our understanding of ecohydrology and biogeochemistry of the rhizosphere, and discuss global change issues as they relate to the rhizosphere of forested ecosystems.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In this paper, the term “bulk soil” is used to describe soil in the area outside of the rhizosphere but still within the rooting depth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Mark S. Johnson

  2. Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Georg Jost

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  1. Mark S. Johnson
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  2. Georg Jost
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Correspondence to Mark S. Johnson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geography, Center for Climate Research, University of Delaware, Newark, 19716-2541, Delaware, USA

    Delphis F. Levia

  2. , Department of Geography, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, V2C 5N3, British Columbia, Canada

    Darryl Carlyle-Moses

  3. , Department of International Affairs, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Tadashi Tanaka

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Johnson, M.S., Jost, G. (2011). Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry of the Rhizosphere in Forested Ecosystems. In: Levia, D., Carlyle-Moses, D., Tanaka, T. (eds) Forest Hydrology and Biogeochemistry. Ecological Studies, vol 216. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1363-5_24

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