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Root Weights and Carbohydrate Reserves of Big Sagebrush
Author(s) -
Sturges D. L.,
Trlica M. J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1938244
Subject(s) - ridge , competition (biology) , root system , biology , botany , subspecies , plant ecology , agronomy , ecology , environmental science , paleontology
Mature mountain big sagebrush plants near the bottom and midway up a hillside had maximum rooting depths between 183 and 213 cm, °60 cm deeper than roots of Wyoming big sagebrush plants just below the ridge. Maximum lateral root spread was between 122 and 152 cm. Approximately 60% of total root system weight was located in the surface 30 cm of soil. Total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations in root decreased from 6.8% in plants at the bottom site to 3.8% in plants at the ridge site. This response could have resulted from an environmental gradient, by a release from competition, or from subspecies differences. Total carbohydrate reserves of individual plant root systems were °7.7 g.