Spacial Patterns of Fine Root Abundance in Mixed Larch-Ash Plantation

InterspecificdiffernceIntr0ducti0nFornutrientandwaterseeking,tinerootsrepresentafuncti0nallyimportantpartofthebiomassoftbresttrees.lnforeststands,wherefinero0tsaredenselvpackedinsurfaces0iI,strongcompetitionfornutrientsandwatermaybeexpectedam0ngrootIetsan…

Spacial patterns of fine root abundance in mixed larch-ash plantation

Horizontal and veftical distributions of fine root abundance (mass per unit ground surface arca) were investi-gated in a densely planted larch - ash -stripe - mixed tbrest on dark broxvn forest soil in northeast China. There was evidencefor some degree of below-ground niche partitioning (or differentiation) betmpen the two species in hoth the horizontal andvertical directions. The ash fine roots largely penetrated into the larch belt (larch Sub-community) in surttrce soil (0-20 cm),indicating a possible inductive effect of larch ecological field on ash roots, while the penetration of larch tine roots into ashbelt (ash sub-community) was much restricted- which reflected a negative influence of ash ccological tield on Iarch roots. Inthe vertical direction of marginal soil the ash tine roots were mainly distributed in topsoil with a vertical gradient similar tothat as in the internal ash sub-community. but the larch fine roots were relatively compelled to deepcr soil layers by the com-petition (or exclusion) of marginal ash trees. All the dit1brences or complemcntarity wcre considered to the result of inter-specitic competition, which was important to the coexistence of the two tbrest species and the sustainability of mixed planta-tion.