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Loblolly Pine Rooting Varies with Microrelief on Wet Sites
Author(s) -
Lorio Peter L.,
Howe Virgil K.,
Martin Carolyn N.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1935426
Subject(s) - loblolly pine , bark (sound) , root system , biology , environmental science , dry weight , soil horizon , ecology , botany , agronomy , horticulture , soil water , pinus <genus>
Loblolly pine root systems on flat or slightly concave sites had significantly less surface area and dry weight in fine roots (<5 mm) in the top 15 cm of soil than comparable neighbors on low mounds. Surface area of mycorrhizal tips was usually lower on the intermound areas over a 2—year sampling period. Root mapping in soil pits and root washing revealed differences between mound and intermound areas in terms of root numbers, distribution, and condition that indicated the eventual development of deficient root systems and intermittent severe moisture stress on flat sites. These conditions probably contribute to premature tree decline and tree susceptibility to bark beetle attack on such areas.