Abstract
The spatial distribution of fine roots of two deciduous tree species was investigated in contrasting growing conditions in southern France. Hybrid walnut trees (Juglans regia×nigra cv. NG23) and hybrid poplars (Populus euramericana cv. I214) were both cultivated with or without annual winter intercrops for 10 years on deep alluvial soils. Soil samples for measuring the fine root distribution of both trees and crops were obtained by soil coring down to 3-m depth at several distances and orientations from the tree trunk. The distribution of live fine roots from walnut and poplar trees was patchy and sometimes unexpected. In the tree-only stands, fine root profiles followed the expected pattern, as fine root density decreased with increasing depth and distance from the tree trunk. However, many fine root profiles under intercropped trees were uniform with depth, and some inverse profiles were observed. These distributions may result from a high degree of plasticity of tree root systems to sense and adapt to fluctuating and heterogeneous soil conditions. The distortion of the tree root system was more pronounced for the walnut trees that only partially explored the soil volume: in the tree-only stand, the walnut rooting pattern was very superficial, but in the intercropped stand walnut trees developed a deep and dense fine root network below the crop rooting zone. The larger poplars explored the whole available soil volume, but the intercrop significantly displaced the root density from the topsoil to layers below 1 m depth. Most tree root growth models assume a decreasing fine root density with depth and distance from the tree stem. These models would not predict correctly tree–tree and tree–understorey competition for water and nutrients in 3D heterogeneous soil conditions that prevail under low-density tree stands. To account for the integrated response of tree root systems to such transient gradients in soils, we need a dynamic model that would allow for both genotypic plasticity and transient environmental local soil conditions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P Balandier A Lacointe X Le Roux H Sinoquet P Cruziat S Le Dizès (2000) ArticleTitleSIMWAL: A structural-functional model simulating single walnut tree growth in response to climate and pruning Ann. Sci. 57 571–585 Occurrence Handle10.1051/forest:2000143
J P Baldwin P B Tinker F H C Marriott (1971) ArticleTitleThe measurement of length and distribution of onion roots in the field and the laboratory J. Appl. Ecol. 8 543–554
J Bayala Z Teklehaimanot S J Ouedraogo (2004) ArticleTitleFine root distribution of pruned trees and associated crops in a parkland system in Burkina Faso Agroforest. Syst. 60 13–26 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:AGFO.0000009401.96309.12
A G Bengough A Castrignano L Pages M Noordwijk Particlevan (2000) Sampling strategies, scaling and statistics A L Smit A G Bengough C Engels M Noordwijk Particlevan S Pellerin S C Geijn Particlevan De (Eds) Roots Methods Springer Berlin 147–173
A T P Bennie H M Taylor P G Georgen (1987) ArticleTitleAn assessment of the core-break method for estimating root density of different crops in the field Soil Till. Res. 9 347–353 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0167-1987(87)90059-6
P L Bragg G Govi R Q Cannel (1983) ArticleTitleA comparison of methods including angled and vertical minirhizotrons for studying root growth and distribution in a spring oat crop Plant Soil 73 435–440 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02184322
M M Caldwell J H Richards (1986) Competing root systems: Morphology and models of absorption T J Givnish (Eds) On the Economy of Plant Life and Function Cambridge University Press New York 251–273
J Canadell R B Jackson J R Ehleringer H A Mooney O E Sala E D Schulze (1996) ArticleTitleMaximum rooting depth of vegetation types at the global scale Oecologia 108 IssueID4 583–595 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00329030
M G R Cannel M Noordwijk Particlevan C K Ong (1996) ArticleTitleThe central agroforestry hypothesis: The trees must acquire resources that the crop would not otherwise acquire Agroforest. Syst. 34 27–31 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00129630
L J Clark W R Whalley P B Barraclough (2003) ArticleTitleHow do roots penetrate strong soil? Plant Soil 255 93–104 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1026140122848 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXotV2js7g%3D
M D Coleman R E Dickson J G Isebrands (2000) ArticleTitleContrasting fine root production survival and soil CO2 efflux in pine and poplar plantations Plant Soil 225 129–139 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1026564228951 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXotVGisA%3D%3D
L A Dawson E I Duff C D Campbell D J Hirst (2001) ArticleTitleDepth distribution of cherry (Prunus Avium L.) tree roots as influenced by grass root competition Plant Soil 231 11–19 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010383506446 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjvVSjtL4%3D
H Kroon ParticleDe L Mommer A Nishiwaki (2003) Root competition: Towards a mechanistic understanding H Kroon Particlede E J W Visser (Eds) Root Ecology Ecological Studies 168 Springer Berlin 215–234
P Willigen ParticleDe M Heinen A Mollier M Noordwijk Particlevan (2002) ArticleTitleTwo-dimensional growth of a root system modelled as a diffusion process. I. Analytical solutions Plant Soil 240 225–234 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1015744529454
C Doussan L Pagès A Pierret (2003) ArticleTitleSoil exploration and resource acquisition by plant roots: An architectural and modelling point of view Agronomie 23 419–431 Occurrence Handle10.1051/agro:2003027
M C Drew L R Saker (1980) ArticleTitleAssessment of a rapid method using soil cores for estimating the amount and distribution of crop roots in the field Plant Soil 55 297–305 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02181809
Dupraz C, Fournier C, Balvay Y, Dauzat M, Pesteur S and Simorte V 1999 Influence de quatre années de culture intercalaire de blé et de colza sur la croissance de noyers hybrides en agroforesterie. In Bois et Forêts Des Agriculteurs. pp. 95–114. Cemagref-INRA, Clermont-Ferrand, France
A H Fitter (2002) Characteristics and functions of root systems Y Waisel A Eshel U Kafkafi (Eds) Plant Roots. The Hidden Half Marcel Dekker New York 15–32
A Fitter A Hodge D Robinson (2000) Plant response to patchy soils M J Hutchings E A John A J A Stewart (Eds) The Ecological Consequences of Environmental Heterogeneity British Ecological SocietyBlackwell Ltd Oxford 71–90
P J Gregory (1996) ArticleTitleApproaches to modelling the uptake of water and nutrients in agroforestry systems Agroforest. Syst. 34 51–65 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00129632
M J Hutchings E A John (2003) Distribution of roots in soil, and root foraging activity H Kroon Particlede E J W Visser (Eds) Root Ecology Ecological Studies 168 Springer Berlin 34–60
M J Hutchings E A John (2004) ArticleTitleThe effects of environmental heterogeneity on root growth and root/shoot partitioning. Botanical briefing Ann. Bot-Lond. 94 1–8 Occurrence Handle10.1093/aob/mch111 Occurrence Handle15155375
P Huxley (1999) Tropical Agroforestry Blackwell Science Cambridge 185–201
X Le Roux A Lacointe A Escobar-Gutiérrez S Le Dizès (2001) ArticleTitleCarbon-based models of individual tree growth: A critical appraisal Ann. Sci. 58 469–506 Occurrence Handle10.1051/forest:2001140
S J Livesley P J Gregory R J Buresh (2000) ArticleTitleCompetition in␣tree row agroforestry systems 1. Distribution and dynamics of fine root length and biomass Plant Soil 227 149–161 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1026551616754 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXovVCjsQ%3D%3D
S J Lose T H Hilger D E Leihner J Kroschel (2003) ArticleTitleCassava, maize and tree root development as affected by various agroforestry and cropping system in Bénin, West Africa Agr. Ecosyst. Environ. 100 137–151 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-8809(03)00182-8
L Martinson M Alveteg V Kronn H Sverdrup O Westling P Warfvinge (2005) ArticleTitleA regional perspective on present and future soil chemistry at 16 Swedish forest sites Water Air Soil Poll. 162 89–105 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s11270-005-5995-7 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXks1eksb0%3D
C S Millikin C S Bledsoe (1999) ArticleTitleBiomass and distribution of fine and coarse roots from blue oak (Quercus douglasii) trees in the northern Sierra Nevada foothills of California Plant Soil 214 27–38 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004653932675 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXptlyktQ%3D%3D
Mobbs D C, Lawson G J, Friend A D, Crout N M J, Arah J R M and Hodnett M G 1999 HyPAR Model for Agroforestry Systems. Technical Manual. Model Description For Version 3.0. pp. 44–45. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Penicuik
G Moreno J J Obrador E Cubera C Dupraz (2005) ArticleTitleFine root distribution in Dehesas of Central-Western Spain Plant Soil 277 153–162 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s11104-005-6805-0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXht1GlsL3P
M Moreno-Chacon C H Lusk (2004) ArticleTitleVertical distribution of fine root biomass of emergent Nothofagus dombeyi and its canopy associates in a Chilean temperate rainforest Forest Ecol. Manage. 199 177–181
M Noordwijk Particlevan G Brouwer F Meijboom G Do Rosario M Oliveira A G Bengough (2000) Trench profile techniques and core break methods A L Smit A G Bengough C Engels M Noordwijk Particlevan S Pellerin S C Geijn Particlevan De (Eds) Roots Methods Springer Berlin 212–231
M Noordwijk Particlevan W Driel Particlevan G Brouwer W Schuurmans (1995) ArticleTitleHeavy-metal uptake by crops from polluted river sediments covered by non-polluted topsoil II Cd-uptake by maize in relation to root development Plant Soil 175 105–113 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02413015
M Noordwijk Particlevan G Lawson A Soumaré J J R Groot K Hairiah (1996) Root distribution of trees and crops: Competition and/or complementarity C K Ong P Huxley (Eds) Tree-Crop Interaction CAB International UK 319–364
van Noordwijk M and Lusiana B 2000 WaNuLCAS 2.0. Background on A Model of Water, Nutrient, and Light Capture in Agroforestry Systems. ICRAF, Bogor, Indonesia. pp. 55–57
A F M Olsthoorn J M Klap J H Oude Voshaar (1999) ArticleTitleThe relation between fine root density and proximity of stems in closed Douglas-fir plantations on homogenous sandy soils: Implications for sampling design Plant Soil 211 215–221 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004624707774 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXntlKisLg%3D
L Pagès S Asseng S Pellerin A Diggle (2000) Modelling root system growth and architecture A L Smit A G Bengough C Engels M Noordwijk Particlevan S Pellerin S C Geijn Particlevan De (Eds) Root Methods Springer Berlin 113–146
A Papoulis (1984) Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes EditionNumber2 McGraw-Hill New York 144–145
J Perttunen E Nikinmaa M J Lechowicz R Sievänen C Messier (2001) ArticleTitleApplication of the functional-structural tree model LIGNUM to sugar maple saplings (Acer saccharum Marsh) growing in forest gaps Ann. Bot-Lond. 88 471–481 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.2001.1489
A Porté H H Bartelink (2002) ArticleTitleModelling mixed forest growth: A review of models for forest management Ecol. Model. 150 141–188 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3800(01)00476-8
J Purbopuspito K C J Rees Particlevan (2002) ArticleTitleRoot distribution at various distances from clove trees growing in Indonesia Plant Soil 239 313–320 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1015096119071 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktFWitrs%3D
S Radersma C K Ong (2004) ArticleTitleSpatial distribution of root length density and soil water of linear agroforestry systems in sub-humid Kenya: Implications for agroforestry models Forest Ecol. Manage. 188 77–89 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.foreco.2003.07.021
D Robinson A Hodge A Fitter (2003) Constraints on the form and function of root systems H Kroon Particlede E J W Visser (Eds) Root Ecology Ecological Studies 168 Springer Berlin 1–31
E C Rowe M Noordwijk Particlevan D Suprayogo K Hairiah K E Giller G Cadisch (2001) ArticleTitleRoot distributions partially explain 15N uptake patterns in Gliricidia and Peltophorum hedgerow intercropping systems Plant Soil 235 167–179 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1011961409353 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXotFahur0%3D
G Schroth (1995) ArticleTitleTree root characteristics as criteria for species selection and system design in agroforestry Agroforest. Syst. 30 125–143 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00708917
J S Silva F C Rego (2003) ArticleTitleRoot distribution of a Mediterranean shrubland in Portugal Plant Soil 255 529–540 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1026029031005 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXns1Ojsr4%3D
R P Singh C K Ong N Saharan (1989) ArticleTitleAbove and below ground interactions in alley-cropping in semi-arid India Agroforest. Syst. 9 259–274 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00141088
D M Smith N A Jackson J M Roberts C K Ong (1999) ArticleTitleRoot distributions in a Grevillea robusta-maize agroforestry system in semi-arid Kenya Plant Soil 211 191–205 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004635414462 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXntlKisLo%3D
W W Yocum (1937) ArticleTitleRoot development of young delicious apple trees as affected by soils and by cultural treatments Univ. Nebrasca Agric. Exp. Stat. Res. Bull. 95 1–55
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mulia, R., Dupraz, C. Unusual Fine Root Distributions of Two Deciduous Tree Species in Southern France: What Consequences for Modelling of Tree Root Dynamics?. Plant Soil 281, 71–85 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3770-6
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3770-6