Root elongation in tropical Eucalyptus plantations: effect of soil water content |
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Authors: | Armel Thongo M’bou Christophe Jourdan Philippe Deleporte Yann Nouvellon Laurent Saint-André Jean-Pierre Bouillet Fidèle Mialoundama André Mabiala Daniel Epron |
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Institution: | 1. Unité de Recherche sur la Productivité des Plantations Industrielles, BP 1291, Pointe-Noire, Congo 2. Faculté des Sciences, Université de Brazzaville, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo 3. UMR INRA UHP 1137 Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestières, Faculté des Sciences, Nancy-Université - Université Henri Poincaré, BP 239, 54506, Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France 4. UPR écosystèmes de Plantations, CIRAD, 34398, Montpellier, France
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Abstract: | ? Sustainability of Eucalyptus plantations is often questioned in resource-limited environments, especially in areas characterized by soils with poor nutrient and water holding capacities. Yet, field-based observations of fine root dynamics in relation with the seasonality of rainfall are lacking. ? This study was undertaken on two Eucalyptus stands planted in the Kouilou Region (south-western Congo), which is characterized by a four-month-long dry season. Fine root (less than 2 mm in diameter) dynamics were studied using rhizotron observations of root elongation in the field. ? Fine root elongation rates displayed a seasonal variation in the two stands, with higher elongation rates during the rainy season than during the dry season. Positive and significant correlations were found between fine root elongation rates and soil water content at all depths, but a better correlation was found with soil water content in the deep soil horizon than in the superficial horizons. ? These results suggest that the temporal variations in fine root elongation were related to the seasonality of rainfall, and they were probably associated with seasonal changes in tree water status, carbon assimilation and belowground allocation. |
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