Authors
Willis Gwenzi, Erik J Veneklaas, Karen W Holmes, Timothy M Bleby, Ian R Phillips, Christoph Hinz
Publication date
2011/7
Journal
Plant and Soil
Volume
344
Pages
255-272
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Description
(1) to investigate the spatial distribution of fine roots and its correlation with selected soil properties on an artificial ecosystem dominated by woody vegetation species, and (2) to compare the root distribution to that predicted using a global model for natural ecosystems. Root diameter distribution (≤5 mm), root biomass density (RBD), root length density (RLD), soil pH, soil electrical conductivity and dry soil bulk density were measured on soil core samples (217) collected from a trench wall using a 20 × 20-cm grid sampling. Approximately 90% of the RBD (mean ± standard error: 0.27 ± 0.027 kg m−3) and RLD (1.57 ± 0.023 cm cm−3) occurred in the top 40 cm, decreasing exponentially to a maximum rooting depth of 150 cm. RBD exhibited a vertical spatial structure associated with soil pH (p < 0.05; r2 = 0.48), and a random lateral distribution. Coefficients of variation (CV) of RBD were high …
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