INFLUENCE OF FINE AND COARSE ROOTS ON N MINERALIZATION IN SOILS OF A REGROWING SUBTROPICAL HUMID FORESTKUSUM ARUNACHAI,AM, AND A. ARUNACHALAMAbstract In vitro N mineralization and immobilization as influenced by fine and coarse roots was studied in soils of 7-, 13- and 16-year old stands of a subtropical humid forest regrowing after selective tree cutting. The fine and coarse roots differed significantly in their quality; concentrations of C and lignin were significantly higher in the former, while N and P concentrations were more in the latter. The net N mineralization rate was higher in the 7-year old forest soils, followed by a decline in the 13-year old stand and again showed a significant increase in the soil of the 16-year old stand. The release of N was significantly higher from the fine roots as compared to coarse roots in all the three forest stands; maximum release was from the fine roots of the younger regrowth and minimum in the 16-year old regrowth. N release from the roots was positively correlated with initial N concentration and negatively with initial lignin concentration.
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