Articles

Root length and distribution in the mineral soil of a mixed deciduous forest (experimental forest Aelmoeseneie)

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Abstract

Root  length and root mass were studied in two different forest stands: an  oak-beech and an ash stand, both in the 'Aelmoeseneie' experimental forest at Gontrode, Belgium. In the oak-beech    stand, the length of the finest roots < 1 mm) was significantly higher  than the length of the other    diameter classes (1-2 and 2-5 mm) in the upper 60 cm of the mineral soil.  Because of large    variances, this significance could not be found in the ash forest. In this  ash forest type, the length    of the finest roots in the upper mineral soil layer (0-15 cm) was higher  than all the other lengths,    both considering the vertical root length distribution within the ash plot,  and comparing the ash plot    to the oak-beech stand. For the root mass, only the amount of roots with a  diameter between 2    and 5 mm in the upper mineral soil layer of the ash plot was significantly  higher than the others.    SpecifiC root length (m root/g D.M.) is calculated for both the oak-beech  and the ash plot. These    values can be used to convert biomass data into root length data, which  gives a better indication of    the water uptake capacity of the forest stand.

How to Cite:

Vande Walle, L., Willems, S. & Lemeur, R., (1998) “Root length and distribution in the mineral soil of a mixed deciduous forest (experimental forest Aelmoeseneie)”, Silva Gandavensis 63. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sg.v63i0.832