Spatial pattern of root systems of dense jujube plantation with jujube age in the semiarid loess hilly region of China

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00292

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Dense jujube (Ziziphus jujuba ‘Lizao’) plantations with a spacing of 2 m between trees and 3 m between rows have been established in the semiarid hilly region of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Our objective was to study characteristics of vertical and horizontal root distribution with different tree ages.
Methods Four stands formed a chronosequence 1, 4, 8 and 11 years old. We used the trench profile method to study root distribution. We excavated four trenches 6 m long × 1 m deep × 0.8 m wide for each stand age and measured root intersects as fine (< 1 mm), medium-sized (1-3 mm) and coarse (> 3 mm) roots.
Important findings The number of root intersects increased by tree age (especially fine roots) and decreased with soil depth. 1-year-old tree root intersects were concentrated at 0-40 cm depth, and the other three older tree root intersects were mainly at 0-60 cm depth. There was no significant difference with the fine-root intersects along the horizontal distance from the trunk regardless of tree age. Different diameter root intersects showed no significant difference in the same soil layer (0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm) regardless of tree age and horizontal distance from trunk. The efficiency of root distribution under the densely planted pattern was determined to ensure a sustainably high fruit yield. We suggest that jujube roots formed shallow patterns vertically under the water and nutrient management measures, while it formed net patterns when densely planted. Our findings can provide a theoretical basis for efficient root management in this region.

Key words: jujube tree, loess hilly region, root distribution, semiarid region, tree age

MA Li-Hui,WU Pu-Te,WANG You-Ke. Spatial pattern of root systems of dense jujube plantation with jujube age in the semiarid loess hilly region of China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2012, 36(4): 292-301.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2012.00292

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2012/V36/I4/292

Figures/Tables 15

References 27

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树龄 Tree age	容重 Bulk density (g·cm^-3)	田间持水量 Field moisture capacity (%)	饱和含水量 Saturated moisture capacity (%)	速效氮 Available N (mg·kg^-1)	速效磷 Available P (mg·kg^-1)	速效钾 Available K (mg·kg^-1)	有机质 Organic matter (g·kg^-1)	pH值 pH value
1年生 One-year-old	1.28	22.1	38.5	11.69	4.87	119.6	4.33	8.6
4年生 Four-year-old	1.30	23.9	41.2	12.71	4.96	120.5	4.12	8.5
8年生 Eight-year-old	1.30	23.5	39.7	13.24	4.83	117.3	4.89	8.5
11年生 11-year-old	1.29	24.3	39.3	13.73	4.76	116.1	4.72	8.3

树龄 Tree age	容重 Bulk density (g·cm^-3)	田间持水量 Field moisture capacity (%)	饱和含水量 Saturated moisture capacity (%)	速效氮 Available N (mg·kg^-1)	速效磷 Available P (mg·kg^-1)	速效钾 Available K (mg·kg^-1)	有机质 Organic matter (g·kg^-1)	pH值 pH value
1年生 One-year-old	1.28	22.1	38.5	11.69	4.87	119.6	4.33	8.6
4年生 Four-year-old	1.30	23.9	41.2	12.71	4.96	120.5	4.12	8.5
8年生 Eight-year-old	1.30	23.5	39.7	13.24	4.83	117.3	4.89	8.5
11年生 11-year-old	1.29	24.3	39.3	13.73	4.76	116.1	4.72	8.3

树龄 Tree age	冠幅((长+宽)/2) Canopy size ((length + width)/2 ) (m)	平均树高 Average tree height (m)	平均直径 Average diameter (mm)	面积 Area (hm²)
1年生 One-year-old	0.50 ± 0.12^d	0.41 ± 0.11^c	13.4 ± 4.2^d	5
4年生 Four-year-old	1.71 ± 0.08^c	1.82 ± 0.08^b	62.2 ± 5.4^c	6
8年生 Eight-year-old	1.86 ± 0.05^b	2.20 ± 0.07^a	72.3 ± 3.6^b	20
11年生 11-year-old	2. 2 ± 0.07^a	2.30 ± 0.13^a	84.0 ± 6.2^a	25

树龄 Tree age	冠幅((长+宽)/2) Canopy size ((length + width)/2 ) (m)	平均树高 Average tree height (m)	平均直径 Average diameter (mm)	面积 Area (hm²)
1年生 One-year-old	0.50 ± 0.12^d	0.41 ± 0.11^c	13.4 ± 4.2^d	5
4年生 Four-year-old	1.71 ± 0.08^c	1.82 ± 0.08^b	62.2 ± 5.4^c	6
8年生 Eight-year-old	1.86 ± 0.05^b	2.20 ± 0.07^a	72.3 ± 3.6^b	20
11年生 11-year-old	2. 2 ± 0.07^a	2.30 ± 0.13^a	84.0 ± 6.2^a	25

土层 Soil layer (cm)	树龄 Tree age
	1年生 One-year-old		4年生 Four-year-old		8年生 Eight-year-old		11年生 11-year-old
	根量 Root number (number·m^-2)	%	根量 Root number (number·m^-2)	%	根量 Root number (number·m^-2)	%	根量 Root number (number·m^-2)	%
0-20	8.3	85.7	10.0	16.7	16.7	20.4	23.8	22.3
20-40	1.4	14.3	19.2	31.9	27.5	33.7	32.5	30.5
40-60	0	0.0	13.3	22.2	15.0	18.4	24.2	22.7
60-80	0	0.0	10.0	16.7	12.5	15.3	13.3	12.5
80-100	0	0.0	7.5	12.5	10.0	12.2	12.8	12.0
合计 Sum	9.7	100.0	60.0	100.0	81.7	100.0	106.7	100.0