Root Spatial Distribution of Walnut/Cassia Agroforestry System in the Rocky Hilly Area of North China

HE Chun-xia; MENG Ping; ZHANG Jin-song; CHEN Ping; SUN Shou-jia; GAO Jun

Since the root distribution characteristics show spatial pattern of water and nutrition absorption of each plant species, they decide belowground competition degree in agroforestry system. The method of stratified digging was adopted to study the root dry biomass, root length density, fine root length density and root diameter in walnut (Juglans regia L.)/cassia (Triticum aestivum L.) agroforestry pattern with spacing of 3 m×8 m. The results showed that total root length density of monocultured walnut was 7% higher than that of the intercropped walnut; the monocultured walnut had higher fine root length density than the intercropped walnut at each soil layer; while the intercropped and the monocultured walnuts had slight difference in root biomass and root diameter. The root diameter of monocultured cassia was 27.73% greater than that of intercropped cassia, while their difference in root length density and root biomass were minor. Root biomass and root length of intercropped walnut accounted great proportion in the agroforestry system. In which, horizontally, cassia distributed its root mainly at 4.0 m and 2.5 m south to the tree line, while walnut spread its root mainly at a 150 cm distance scope to its trunk. And vertically, intercropped walnut distributed 64.79% of root biomass and 61.17% of root length at 30~80 cm soil profile, while 59.54% of intercropped cassia root distributed at 0~20 cm soil profile in the walnut/cassia intercropping. The above results suggest that intercropped walnut and cassia staggered root distribution position and avoided strong belowground competition. Thus, walnut-cassia agroforestry model has great potential to develop economically and ecologically in the low hilly area of north China.

1. Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Beijing 100091, China

Received Date: 2012-12-21

Abstract: Since the root distribution characteristics show spatial pattern of water and nutrition absorption of each plant species, they decide belowground competition degree in agroforestry system. The method of stratified digging was adopted to study the root dry biomass, root length density, fine root length density and root diameter in walnut (Juglans regia L.)/cassia (Triticum aestivum L.) agroforestry pattern with spacing of 3 m×8 m. The results showed that total root length density of monocultured walnut was 7% higher than that of the intercropped walnut; the monocultured walnut had higher fine root length density than the intercropped walnut at each soil layer; while the intercropped and the monocultured walnuts had slight difference in root biomass and root diameter. The root diameter of monocultured cassia was 27.73% greater than that of intercropped cassia, while their difference in root length density and root biomass were minor. Root biomass and root length of intercropped walnut accounted great proportion in the agroforestry system. In which, horizontally, cassia distributed its root mainly at 4.0 m and 2.5 m south to the tree line, while walnut spread its root mainly at a 150 cm distance scope to its trunk. And vertically, intercropped walnut distributed 64.79% of root biomass and 61.17% of root length at 30~80 cm soil profile, while 59.54% of intercropped cassia root distributed at 0~20 cm soil profile in the walnut/cassia intercropping. The above results suggest that intercropped walnut and cassia staggered root distribution position and avoided strong belowground competition. Thus, walnut-cassia agroforestry model has great potential to develop economically and ecologically in the low hilly area of north China.

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Root Spatial Distribution of Walnut/Cassia Agroforestry System in the Rocky Hilly Area of North China

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