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Abstract

The turnover of fine-roots is a crucial component for the input of carbon to the soil. The amount of root litter input is depending on estimates of turnover times from different techniques. Turnover times from fine-root cameras (minirhizotrons) often yield 75% higher root litter input estimates than turnover times estimated with the bomb-radiocarbon signature of fine-roots. We introduce a generic framework for the analysis of fine-root 14C with different survival functions. So far, mostly an exponential function has been used to estimate the turnover time and mean age of fine-roots. In the context of the introduced survival function framework we clarify the terms turnover time, mean residence time, mean longevity and mean age commonly used in studies of root turnover. Using a unique time series of fine-root 14C (Fröberg 2012), we test if survival functions other than the exponential function are better in accordance with turnover time estimates commonly found with other methods. A survival function that corresponds to a two-pool model was best in agreement with minirhizotron-based estimates (mean residence time of 1.9 years). We argue that using fine-root 14C and minirhizotron time-to-death data together would give the best constraints on fine-root turnover. At the same time this could allow quantifying systematic biases inherent two both techniques.