%0 Journal Article %A Jun-Jie XUN %A Jun-Ying LI %A Jian-Wen CHEN %A Jian-Wei SHI %A Meng-Ben WANG %T RELATIONSHIPS OF FINE ROOT STANDING LENGTH OF CARAGANA KORSHINSKII SEEDLINGS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS %D 2009 %R 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.04.015 %J Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology %P 764-771 %V 33 %N 4 %X

Aims Fine root growth dynamics is a key aspect of the functions of forest ecosystems. Our objective was to analyze the seasonal growth pattern of fine root standing length of Caragana korshinskii, an important shrub species in the Loess Plateau, China.
Methods We used the minirhizotron technique to investigate fine root growth dynamics of C. korshinskii in a 5-year old plantation in the Loess Plateau area, Northwest Shanxi and, based on data of root length density (RLD, mm·cm-3) from May to September 2007, analyzed relationships of fine root standing length (RLDst, mm·cm-3) with environment factors such as ≥10 ℃ accumulated air temperature, accumulated soil temperature, accumulated precipitation and soil water content.
Important findings The 40-90 cm soil layer was the main area of growth and distribution of fine roots, accounting for 59.7% of the total. From May to early September, RLDst increased gradually, followed by a slight decrease in late September. The seasonal growth pattern of fine roots was closely related to ≥10 ℃ accumulated air temperature, accumulated soil temperature and accumulated precipitation.

%U https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.04.015