Kommentar zum Diskussionsbeitrag zur Ermittlung der effektiven Durchwurzelungstiefe für geschichtete Profile von T. Tenholtern und S. Seiffert

Tenholtern and Seiffert (this issue) improved the calculation of the effective rooting depth of laminated soils after Mueller (1197). The new procedure remains however a heigh weighting of subsoil, opposing extensive results of plant cultivation. The calculation after Schrey (1996) follows better the results from plant cultivation and should therefore be used if – with the exception of the textural composition – all factors of influence of rooting depth are sufficiently uniform. Instead of calculated root depths the following generalized values proved to be acceptable in water supply and distribution as well as in plant cultivation: 4 dm for grassland (meadow and pasture) 10 dm for arable land (without special cultures) 15 dm for forests and woodland. Viewing individual cultures the usable capacity should be calculated as sum curve in steps of one dm over the depth of profile and combined as static value to time‐dependent root growth and weather‐dependent water requirement of the culture.