The Roots of Plantation Cottonwood: Their Characteristics and Properties

The root biomass and its distribution and the growth rate of roots of pulpwood-size cottonwood (Popolus deltoides) in plantations were estimated by excavation and sampling. About 27 percent of the total biomass was in root tissue. Equations for predicting stump-taproot dry weight from d.b.h. and top dry weight were derived. Lateral roots in two plantations increased in length until dieback, and regrowth produced a lateral root of semistable average length to a little more than half the distance between trees. Additional keywords: Populus deltoides, root competition, root biomass.