硬覆盖对城市街路行道树土壤呼吸的影响

采用静态气室法测定了长春市人民大街行道树与对照林地不同深度的土壤中CO₂含量。研究发现林地土壤呼吸作用可以用土壤中CO₂含量大小及其变化规律反映出来,而街路行道树土壤中的CO₂含量不能直接反映土壤呼吸速率大小。       

NITROGEN NUTRIENT MECHANISM IN SECONDARY SUCCESSION PROCESS OF THE MIXED BROAD-LEAVED/ KOREAN PINE (PINUS KORAIENSIS) FOREST

INTRODUCTlONThemixcdbroad-leaved/Pinuskor`IiensiSforestwhichisoneofthemainforestsofNortheastChina,isintlleCllangbaiMountail1s(JilinProvince)a11dtheXiaoxing'anMotu1-tains(inHeilonroIangProvince).Thisistl1empicalmixcddeciduous/co11iferforestvegcta-tionofthcarca.But,duetocuttingandanunbalancebctWeenharvesti11gandanntlalin-crement,themixedbroad-leaved/PinuSko-raiensIjforestsha1,ebeenreplacedwithsec-ondaryforests(includingthelargearPaofsecondaryforestleftfrol11thepast)sinceltsclearcutti…     

Phosphorus and potassium depletion by roots of field-grown slash pine: Aerobic and hypoxic conditions

Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) is planted extensively on flatwood and coastal savanna soils of the southeastern USA. Pine roots growing in these soils encounter shallow water tables. Although the fine-root system of pine trees growing in the surface 20–26 cm of those soils will not be continuously submerged, they will encounter short-term reduced soil conditions, with a severely reduced O₂ supply which might affect their ability for ion uptake from the soil solution. The objectives were: (i) to compare P and K depletion by lateral root systems of slash pine roots subjected to a short-term hypoxic treatment, and (ii) to document K and P depletion patterns by lateral root systems of slash pine roots following the removal of the hypoxic treatment. Our purpose was to evaluate the uptake ability of these roots of changing aeration. For the experiment, 17 intact lateral roots from twelve-year-old slash pine trees were inserted into nutrient-uptake root chambers. The chambers were filled with a nutrient solution containing 6.25 μM P (phosphate), and 25.66 μM K. P and K depletion rates were monitored in six consecutive treatments, each lasting five days. Treatments of aerobic and hypoxic conditions were sequentially applied in the following order: aerobic–hypoxic–aerobic. This sequence was repeated twice. Uptake of P and K by slash pine roots was affected by oxygen availability, but the degree of response differed. Under hypoxic nutrient solution conditions, K depletion from solution by pine roots was totally inhibited, resulting in net efflux of K. In contrast, P depletion was not inhibited under hypoxic nutrient solution conditions. Results suggest that pine roots grown in aerobic soil conditions of surface horizons are capable of P depletion when reduced soil conditions are present.     

Nitrogen nutrient mechanism in secondary succession process of the mixed broad-leaved/Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forest

Chemical and biochemical analysis methods were used to monitor the variations of nitrogen nutrient among the dominance trees species in secondary succession process of the mixed broad -leaved/Korean pine forest on Changbai Mountains, Northeast China. Amounts of total nitrogen, ammonium and NRA in soils of virgin broad-leaved/Korean pine forest which is in climax were higher than those ofsecondary birch forests those are in succession stage. The amount of nitrate was in the other hand. In climax, dominance trees species are tolerant mesophytic trees such asPinus Koraiensis, Tilia amurensis, Acer mono and alsoFraxinus mandshurica, they are all ammonium + nitrate adapted species, but they show a preference for the ammonium rather than those of the pioneer trees species in secondary birch forest, such asPopulus davidiava andBetula platyphylla. Because they have more ammonium in their leaves and roots, especiallyPinus koraiensis. Populus davidvana andBetula platyphlla are intolerant trees, amounts of nitrate and total nitrogen is higher in their leaves and roots and also NRA in their leaves, so they preference for the nitrate rather than the others. In secondary birch forest, the regeneration trees species adapt their nitrogen nutrient to the variation of nitrogen nutrient situation in soil, finally they could survival well and the secondary birch forest would succession to climax. In climax, dominance trees species adapt their Nitrogen nutrient to the situation in soil and there are not strong competition in nitrogen nutrient among them, so they can coexist well and keep the climax as stable vegetation.     

Water and nutrient dynamics and tree growth

The balance in the investment of assimilate at any time into leaves and roots may depend on whether water, nutrients or radiation are limiting to growth. Also, for the same investment of assimilate into roots, the root configuration may range from intensive to extensive in both space and time, to take best advantage of the distribution and amount of water and nutrients. Intensive root configurations, which include mycorrhizas and proteoid roots, assist in the uptake of nutrients (such as phosphorus) which are rate-limiting in soil. Mycorrhizas may assist in water uptake in dry or coarse textured soils with low unsaturated hydraulic conductivities.

Adaptations which assist trees to survive in dry and nutrient-deficient environments are discussed. These mechanisms may reduce, maintain or increase growth. In production forestry, it is desirable to exploit those mechanisms which increase growth. When soil water and nutrients limit tree growth, productivity may be improved by increasing the amount of uptake of water and nutrients, or by increasing the efficiency by which they are used in growth. Maximizing water-use efficiency when soil water supply is limiting may be dependent on whether the trees are in mixed stands or in monoculture. Selecting trees with relatively less root may improve productivity in monocultures when weeds are controlled and fertilizer is added. It is well known that trees can ‘re-use’ nutrients by retranslocating them within the tree to zones of demand. Relatively little is known, though, about differences in the biochemical involvement of nutrients at the cellular and subcellular level which contribute to differences in nutrient-use efficiency in trees.     

Acclimation of shoot and needle morphology and photosynthesis of two Picea species to differences in soil nutrient availability

To investigate morphological acclimation to differences in nutrient availability, we compared shoot and needle morphology of Picea glehnii (Friedr. Schmidt) M. T. Mast. and Picea jezoensis (Siebold & Zucc.) Carrière trees growing on nutrient-poor volcanic ash and nutrient-rich, brown forest soil. Trees of both species were shorter and had more open canopies when growing on volcanic ash than when growing on brown forest soil. Nutrient-poor conditions limited height growth less in P. glehnii than in P. jezoensis. In both species, trees growing on volcanic ash had shorter annual increments in the previous year and more needles per shoot length and, hence, a smaller shoot silhouette area (SSA) relative to needle dry mass (NDM) than trees growing on brown forest soil. Soil type had less effect on shoot projected needle area (PNA). Total needle area (TNA) of P. glehnii shoots was similar between soil types, whereas TNA of P. jezoensis was lower in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on brown forest soil. For both species, low SSA in response to nutrient-poor conditions resulted in low shoot SSA/PNA ratios, indicating high within-shoot self-shading. Shoot SSA/TNA of P. glehnii was lower in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on brown forest soil, indicating that needles were sun-acclimated. In contrast, shoot SSA/TNA of P. jezoensis was higher in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on brown forest soil. The contrasting response of TNA to low nutrient availability was associated with species-specific differences in needle morphology. Needles of P. glehnii growing on volcanic ash were slightly shorter, wider, thicker and heavier than those of trees growing on brown forest soil, indicating morphological acclimation to high irradiance. Needles of P. jezoensis growing on volcanic ash were shorter than those of trees growing on brown forest soil, but did not show morphological acclimation to high irradiance in width, thickness or mass. For both species, nutrient-poor conditions decreased maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax) per NDM. However, when expressed per PNA, the decrease in Amax was reduced, and when expressed per SSA, Amax was higher in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on brown forest soil. On volcanic ash, Amax per NDM was lower for P. glehnii than for P. jezoensis. However, morphological changes at the shoot and needle levels reversed this trend when Amax was expressed per SSA or per PNA. The species-specific differences in morphological response to differences in soil nutrient availability suggest that P. glehnii is more tolerant of nutrient-poor conditions, whereas P. jezoensis is better at exploiting nutrient-rich soils.     

Plasticity of shoot and needle morphology and photosynthesis of two Picea species with different site preferences in northern Japan

We compared shoot and needle morphology and photosynthesis in Picea glehnii (Friedr. Schmidt) M.T. Mast. and Picea jezoensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Carr. trees planted on immature volcanic ash and well-developed brown forest soils to investigate whether species differences in morphological and physiological plasticity affected tree growth on different soil types. Height growth of P. glehnii was reduced by about 10% on volcanic ash compared with forest soil, whereas that of P. jezoensis was reduced by more than 60%. Needle morphology of P. glehnii was unaffected by soil type. In contrast, needles of P. jezoensis trees growing on volcanic ash were shorter, narrower and thicker, with less dry mass and area, than those of trees growing on forest soil, and specific needle area was lower, indicating lower foliar light-interception efficiency. In both species, changes in needle morphology with increasing irradiance were similar in trees growing on both soil types, indicating that plasticity of needle morphology was unaffected by soil type. In both species, shoot mass and shoot silhouette area were lower and needle mass per unit shoot mass was higher in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on forest soil. Trees of both species had more needles per unit shoot length, lower shoot silhouette to projected needle area ratios and lower shoot silhouette areas per unit shoot mass (SAM) on volcanic ash than on forest soil, indicating lower shoot-level light-interception efficiency. For P. glehnii, the response of shoot morphology to increasing irradiance was similar on both soil types, with the exception of SAM, which showed lower plasticity in trees growing on volcanic ash. In contrast, shoot-level morphological plasticity of P. jezoensis was reduced in trees growing on volcanic ash. Light-saturated maximum photosynthetic rate (P(max)) of P. glehnii was unaffected by soil type, whereas mass-based P(max) of P. jezoensis was lower in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on forest soil. In P. jezoensis trees growing on forest soil, area-based P(max) increased with increasing irradiance, but this response was not observed in trees growing on volcanic ash. As a result, area-based P(max) at the top of the canopy was 39 to 54% lower in trees growing on volcanic ash than in trees growing on forest soil. Our results indicate that constraints on morphological acclimation to high irradiances may contribute to reduced height growth of P. jezoensis on volcanic ash.     

Connection of growth and wood density with wood anatomy in downy birch grown in two different soil types

Soil affects the anatomy of downy birch wood (Betula pubescens), which raises the question whether the growth of this species differs between mineral and peat soils. The aim of this study was to compare growth, density and structure of xylem of B. pubescens between trees grown in different soils. Both growth and density differed between trees grown in different soils. All measured anatomical characteristics, except double thickness of fibre walls, percentage vessel area and ray number, showed differences between the soil types: the cell dimensions were larger and numbers smaller in trees grown in mineral soil. In peat, high growth rates decreased the wall:lumen ratio of fibres in maturing wood, while no such correlation was observed in trees grown in mineral soil at any studied cambial age. In addition, axial parenchyma may have a different role in trees grown in different soils, as the rapid growth decreased and increased axial parenchyma in mineral and peat soil, respectively. The characteristics affecting wood strength were more similar between trees grown in different soils than those affecting water conductance. The observed differences between trees grown in different soils emphasise rapid growth particularly at young ages and shorter reasonable rotation period in mineral soil.     

Responses of Picea, Pinus and Pseudotsuga roots to heterogeneous nutrient distribution in soil

The spatial distribution of plant-available mineral nutrients in forest soils is often highly heterogeneous. To test the hypothesis that local nutrient enrichment of soil leads to increased root proliferation in the nutrient-rich soil zone, we studied the effects of nutrient enrichment on the growth and nutrient concentrations of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) roots. Three-year-old seedlings were grown for 9 months in split-root containers filled with nutrient-poor forest mineral soil, with one side supplemented with additional mineral nutrients. Root dry weight and root length in Scots pine and Norway spruce were increased in the nutrient-supplemented soil compared with the nonsupplemented side, whereas root growth in Douglas-fir was unaffected by nutrient enrichment. Of the three species examined, Norway spruce exhibited the highest root and shoot growth and the highest nutrient demand. Specific root length (m g(-1)) and the number of root tips per unit root length were not affected by local nutrient addition in any of the species. Despite increased root growth in Norway spruce and Scots pine in nutrient-supplemented soil, their root systems contained similar nutrient concentrations on both sides of the split-root container. Thus, coniferous trees may respond to local nutrient supply by increased root proliferation, but the response varies depending on the species, and may only occur when trees are nutrient deficient. As a response to local nutrient enrichment, increases in root dry matter or root length may be better indicators of pre-existing nutrient deficiencies in conifers than increases in root nutrient concentrations.     

格氏栲林窗内外土壤理化性质分析

格氏栲（Castanopsis kawakamii）树种的幼苗为适应生长环境的变化,在长期演化过程中在生物量和养分分配等方面渐渐地形成了一些适应生存环境竞争的特征。为了使格氏栲天然林保持群落物种的多样性和促进格氏栲天然林种群的更新与繁殖,对格氏栲林窗内外土壤理化性质进行了试验研究,结果表明：在表层土壤中,林窗的土壤容重高于林内;在下层土壤中,林窗的容重低于林内。在同土壤层次,林窗与林内相比,土壤毛管孔隙度和总孔隙度的数值林窗都要高,而土壤非毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度同毛管孔隙度比值、土壤通气度则低。说明在土壤保水性方面,林窗要好于林内;在通气性与透水性方面,林内要好于林窗。     

Initial recovery of compacted soil—planting and technical treatments decrease CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentrations in soil and promote root growth

Key message

The combination of technical treatments and planting of alder trees in a compacted forest soil improves the circulation of air and water through the pore system. This leads to decreases in CO ₂ concentrations and increases in root growth in the soil. Both are indicative of an initial recovery of soil structure.

Context

The compaction of forest soils, caused by forest machinery, has as a principal consequence: the destruction of soil structure and thus the reduction of the soil aeration status. Thus, the gas exchange between soil and atmosphere is reduced and the depth propagation of roots is limited, resulting in the shortage of water and nutrient supplies for trees.

Aims

This research aimed at detecting the first stages of recovery of soil structure in a compacted forest soil, which was treated with a combination of techniques (i.e., planting tree species, mulching, addition of lime), which could presumably accelerate the regeneration of soil structure.

Methods

The variation of CO₂ concentrations and the dynamics of root growth were repeatedly measured. Linear mixed models were developed in order to test the effects of the treatments and the planting of trees on soil aeration, as well as to identify the influence of the different environmental effects on CO₂ concentration in soil.

Results

The planting of root-active trees showed significant effects on decreases in CO₂ concentrations. However, during the short-term observation, some negative effects occurred especially for the mulched sites. Nevertheless, all applied technical treatments promoted an improved soil aeration and a higher root growth compared to untreated sites which points to an initial enhanced recovery of soil structure. Pronounced seasonal and interannual variations of soil respiration were highly influenced by soil temperature and soil water content variations.

Conclusion

An initial regeneration of soil structure is indicated by distinct changes of the soil aeration status. This regeneration is partially enhanced by the applied treatments. The quantitative potential of the regeneration techniques needs a longer observation period for mid- and long-term soil recoveries.

     

The interaction between organic layer and forest growth and forest development on former heathland

Heathland soils are characterized by high acidity and poor nutrient contents. Nutrient availability could then be an important factor in forest growth and development on these soils. The hypothesis to be verified was 1. The enduring change in vegetation composition and production is of great influence especially on the development of the organic layer and on the nutrient distribution between this compartment and the mineral soil, and 2. As a result, forest nutrition and water supply will change during forest growth with consequences for forest development itself. In NW Germany heathland forest development are dominated by heathlands as the initial stage of the succession, naturally established pioneering pine dominated woodlands, and oak and beech dominated forests as the terminal stages. In a comparative study, within these stages of forest succession the nutrient and water supply in the organic layer were investigated with regards to the nutrient and water supply in the mineral soil and to the morphology of the organic layer itself. The successional development was associated with an increased productivity and a marked enrichment of organic material and nutrients in the organic layer, whereas the nutrient storage in the mineral soil was unchanged. The nutrient storage in the organic layer in the forested sites amounted to up to 80% of the plant-available nutrients within the organic layer–mineral soil system. The water supply increased too due to higher water storage and increasing root penetration within the organic layer. However, the increase in water supply was less marked than the nutrient enrichment. Especially the beech-dominated broad-leaved forests depend on higher nutrient and water supply of the organic layer. They have better growth conditions in the late stages of succession, due to an intense humus accumulation by the pioneering birch–pine woodlands. Consequently, the development of the organic layer facilitates the change of coniferous woodlands to forests and woodlands dominated by broad-leaved trees. Using pine as first planted tree is recommended to support this development.     

Forest soils and carbon sequestration

Soils in equilibrium with a natural forest ecosystem have high carbon (C) density. The ratio of soil:vegetation C density increases with latitude. Land use change, particularly conversion to agricultural ecosystems, depletes the soil C stock. Thus, degraded agricultural soils have lower soil organic carbon (SOC) stock than their potential capacity. Consequently, afforestation of agricultural soils and management of forest plantations can enhance SOC stock through C sequestration. The rate of SOC sequestration, and the magnitude and quality of soil C stock depend on the complex interaction between climate, soils, tree species and management, and chemical composition of the litter as determined by the dominant tree species. Increasing production of forest biomass per se may not necessarily increase the SOC stocks. Fire, natural or managed, is an important perturbation that can affect soil C stock for a long period after the event. The soil C stock can be greatly enhanced by a careful site preparation, adequate soil drainage, growing species with a high NPP, applying N and micronutrients (Fe) as fertilizers or biosolids, and conserving soil and water resources. Climate change may also stimulate forest growth by enhancing availability of mineral N and through the CO₂ fertilization effect, which may partly compensate release of soil C in response to warming. There are significant advances in measurement of soil C stock and fluxes, and scaling of C stock from pedon/plot scale to regional and national scales. Soil C sequestration in boreal and temperate forests may be an important strategy to ameliorate changes in atmospheric chemistry.     

Timber tree regeneration along abandoned logging roads in a tropical Bolivian forest

Sustainable management of selectively logged tropical forests requires that felled trees are replaced through increased recruitment and growth. This study compares road track and roadside regeneration with regeneration in unlogged and selectively logged humid tropical forest in north-eastern Bolivia. Some species benefited from increased light intensities on abandoned logging roads. Others benefited from low densities of competing vegetation on roads with compacted soils. This was the case for the small-seeded species Ficus boliviana C.C. Berg and Terminalia oblonga (Ruiz & Pav.) Steud. Some species, e.g. Hura crepitans L., displayed patchy regeneration coinciding with the presence of adult trees. Our results suggest that current management practices could be improved by intensifying logging in some areas to improve regeneration of light demanding species. Sufficient seed input in logged areas should be ensured by interspersing large patches of unlogged forest with logged areas. This may also assist regeneration of species that perform poorly in disturbed areas.     

Soil compaction effects on water status of ponderosa pine assessed through 13C/12C composition

Soil compaction is a side effect of forest reestablishment practices resulting from use of heavy equipment and site preparation. Soil compaction often alters soil properties resulting in changes in plant-available water. The use of pressure chamber methods to assess plant water stress has two drawbacks: (1) the measurements are not integrative; and (2) the method is difficult to apply extensively to establish seasonal soil water status. We evaluated leaf carbon isotopic composition (delta13C) as a means of assessing effects of soil compaction on water status and growth of young ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) stands across a range of soil textures. Leaf delta13C in cellulose and whole foliar tissue were highly correlated. Leaf delta13C in both whole tissue and cellulose (holocellulose) was up to 1.0 per thousand lower in trees growing in non-compacted (NC) loam or clay soils than in compacted (SC) loam or clay soils. Soil compaction had the opposite effect on leaf delta13C in trees growing on sandy loam soil, indicating that compaction increased water availability in this soil type. Tree growth response to compaction also varied with soil texture, with no effect, a negative effect and a positive effect as a result of compaction of loam, clay and sandy loam soils, respectively. There was a significant correlation between 13C signature and tree growth along the range of soil textures. Leaf delta13C trends were correlated with midday stem water potentials. We conclude that leaf delta13C can be used to measure retrospective water status and to assess the impact of site preparation on tree growth. The advantage of the leaf delta13C approach is that it provides an integrative assessment of past water status in different aged leaves.     

公路绿化中大树移植与养护技术

结合安宁市的自然条件与昆安公路绿化的实际,探讨大树移植技术措施,包括起挖大树前断根、修剪,起挖、包装、运输,栽植技术等.保持树体水分代谢平衡是移植大树养护管理的关键,采取包干、喷水、遮荫等办法保持移植大树地上部分湿润,移栽后做好控水、生长素处理,保护新芽,保持土壤通气性,促发新根.     

Growth,stem quality and nutritional status of Betula pendula and Betula pubescens in pure stands and mixtures

The growth, technical quality and nutritional status of pure and mixed silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) plantations were studied 21 and 22 years after planting on afforested organic soil arable land and on upland forest soil. In mixtures, 50% of both birch species was planted. Silver birch trees grew better, but had higher mortality than downy birch trees on both sites. Mortality of both species was highest, and the difference in their growth smallest, on organic soil. In pure stands on organic soil, downy birch dominant height, diameter and mean volume were 96%, 92% and 82% of those of silver birch and on mineral soil 87%, 84% and 60%, correspondingly. On mineral soil, silver birch had a higher mean annual increment (MAI) (5.8 m³ ha^?1a^?1) than downy birch (3.9 m³ ha^?1a^?1), but on organic soil the MAI of both species was similar (3.3–3.4 m³ ha^?1 a^?1). Planting birches in mixture did not affect the growth of the trees on organic soil. On mineral soil, the mean diameter and mean volume of silver birch trees were higher in mixed than in pure plantations. The technical stem quality of both tree species was low. On mineral soils, pure silver birch is more productive than mixture, but on peat soil the higher growth of silver birch could contribute to increased productivity and downy birch would ensure sufficient survival for future timber production.     

半干旱黄土丘陵沟壑区人工林对土壤水分的适宜性分析

于2007～2010年生长季节,对侧柏、山杏、油松、柠条和山毛桃等林地土壤水分进行连续监测,并查阅相同树种和立地条件下的林分根系分布资料,以土壤水分对林木耗水满足程度作为评价指标,对半干旱黄土丘陵沟壑区小流域微地形条件下人工林对土壤水分的适宜性进行研究.结果显示:不同林分根系的垂直分布和土壤水分垂直变异相关性显著,水分...     

广东省桉树人工林生态问题评价

桉树是广东省人工造林的主要树种这一，并带来了十分显著的经济效益和社会效益。大面积桉树人工林存在着地力迅速消耗、水土流失、破坏林地水分平衡等问题，这主要是由于不适当的人为经营活动和一些外界因素所造成的。椐研究，桉树对水分和养分利用率是比较高的，由于生长量大，桉树对水分和养分的消耗量也较大，但桉树本身并不会产生不可逆转的生态危害。     

Root distribution of Eucalyptus grandis and Corymbia maculata in degraded saline soils of south-eastern Australia

Planting trees, in farm forestry enterprises, to control rising watertables is an increasing practice for both economic and environmental benefits. One central biophysical issue which determines the effectiveness of trees to control groundwater is the ability of trees to grow roots through degraded soils and take up groundwater. We investigated the effect of soil properties, especially the presence of shallow watertables and site preparation practice, on the vertical and horizontal distributions of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden and Corymbia maculata (Hook.) K.D. Hill and L.A.S. Johnson roots. In order to improve the reliability of root data, we measured root growth and distribution by three different methods – (i) number of roots intercepting the vertical plane of the soil profile, (ii) root length density in soil cores taken at different depths but in the horizontal plane of the profile, and (iii) root length density in soil cores in the vertical plane at different radial positions from trees and compared the results. Two experimental sites were established in flood-irrigated, farm forestry plantations on contrasting soils in the Murray Riverina region of south-eastern Australia. At one site (Norwood Park), we studied a 58-month-old stand of E. grandis growing in clay loam overlaying medium clay, saline, sodic and alkaline subsoil with a saline (11.5 dS m⁻¹) watertable at 2.8 m depth. Here, there were few roots growing above the watertable. The Karawatha site had adjacent stands of 46-month old E. grandis and C. maculata growing in a sandy, neutral and non-saline soil with a shallow (3.1 m deep) non-saline (2.8 dS m⁻¹) watertable. Here roots proliferated above the watertable in both species but to a much greater extent under C. maculata than under E. grandis. Root distributions in the surface soil were similar at all sites but differences in root growth in the capillary zones paralleled differences in groundwater uptake by trees. We conclude (i) that appropriate matching of species with site characteristics, especially soil and groundwater properties, will enhance tree growth and groundwater uptake and (ii) that extensive planting of C. maculata over non-saline watertables maximises the chances of achieving the multiple objectives of regional groundwater control, fast growth rates and reduced irrigation demand.