Skip to main content
Log in

Root-shoot relationships ofFraxinus mandchurica

  • Published:
Journal of Forestry Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, root-shoot relationships of seedlings of Manchurican ash (Fraxinus mandchurica) in pots is studied in green house. The results show that roots and shoots have the co-ordination of growth and roots and shoots of ash have the same growth dynamics. There are very close relationships between total root mass and total shoot mass, between fine root mass and leaf mass in this experiments. At the end growing season, ash root-shoot mass ratio and fine root-leaf mass ratio are 1.85 and 2.01 respectively. These ratios are difference during growth season. There are larger roots than shoots on seedling stage. Low nitrogen and phosphorus produce higher root-shoot ratio, and high nutrient concentrations decrease the ratios.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson, D. 1991. Plant root growth: an ecological perspective. British Ecological Society, Special Pub Number 10.

  • Caldwell, M.M. and Virginia, R.A. 1989. Root systems. In Pearcy R W et al, Plant physiological Ecology: field methods and instrumentation. New York: Chapman & Hall Ltd. 367–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericsson, T. 1995. Growth and shoot: root ratio of seedlings in relation to nutrient availability. Plant and Soil 168–169:205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahey, T. J., Hughes, J. W., Pu, M., and Arthur, M.A. 1988. Root decomposition and nutrient flux following whole tree harvest of northern hardwood forest. Forest Science,34:744–768.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahey, T.J. and Hughes, J. W. 1994. Fine root dynamics in a northern hardwood forest ecosystem, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH. Journal of Ecology,82: 533–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fogel, R. 1985. Roots as primary producer in below-ground ecosystems. In Fitter A H et al, Ecological interaction in soil. Nxford:Blackwell Scientific Pub. 23–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Glinski, J., and J Lipec. 1990 Soil physical conditions and plant roots. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Inc, 53–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime, J. P. 1994. The role of plasticity in exploitiong environmental heterogeneity. In Caldwellet al ed, Exploitation of environmental heterogeneity by plants: ecophysiological presses above- and belowground. Academic Press, 1–19.

  • Huston, M. A., and Smith, T. M. 1987. Plant Succession: Life history and competition. Am. Nat, 130:168–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klepper, B. 1991. Root-shoot relationships In Dekker M, Plant Root: The Hidden Half. New York: Academic Press, 125–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuiper, I. G., and Coutts, M. P. 1992. Spatial disposition and extension of the structural root system of Douglas-fir. Forest Ecology and Management, 47:111–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchett, W. L. 1979. Properties and management of forest soils. New York: John-Willey & Sons, 170–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, R. S. 1979. Plant root systems: Their function and interaction with soil. England: McGraw-Hill Book Com Ltd, 9–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Timan, D. 1988. Plant strategies and the structure and dynamics of plant communities. Princeton Univ. Press. Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt, K. A., Grier, C.C., and Vogt, D.J. 1986. Production, turnover and nutritional dynamics of above-and belowground detritus of world forests. Advances in Ecological Research,75:1009–1015

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z. 1999. Study on the root-root interactions betweenFraxinus mandchurica andLarix gmelini, Plant Ecology, in press

  • Wilson, J. B. 1988. Shoot competition and root competition. Journal of Applied Ecology,25:279–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of P. R. China (No.39570586)

(Responsible Editor: Chai Ruihai)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhengquan, W., Yujiang, Z. & Xiufeng, T. Root-shoot relationships ofFraxinus mandchurica . Journal of Forestry Research 10, 7–10 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855470

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855470

Key words

Navigation