Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of clump spacing on nutrient distribution and root activity of Dendrocalamus strictus in the humid region of Kerala, peninsular India

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

Abstract

The humid agroclimatic conditions of Kerala, India permit the cultivation of an array of bamboo species of which Dendrocalamus strictus Roxb. (Nees.) is an important one on account of its high growth rate and multiple uses. Stand density, a potential tool in controlling the productivity of woody ecosystems, its effect on growth and root distribution patterns may provide a better understanding of productivity optimization especially when bamboo-based intercropping options are considered. Growth attributes of 7-year-old bamboo (D. strictus) stands managed at variable spacing (4 × 4 m, 6 × 6 m, 8 × 8 m, 10 × 10 m, 12 × 12 m) were studied. Functional root activity among bamboo clumps were also studied using a radio tracer soil injection method in which the radio isotope 32P was applied to soil at varying depths and lateral distances from the clump. Results indicate that spacing exerts a profound influence on growth of bamboo. Widely spaced bamboo exhibited higher clump diameters and crown widths while clump heights were better under closer spacing. Clump height was 30% lower and DBH 52% higher at the widest spacing (12 × 12 m) compared to the closest spacing (4 × 4 m). With increasing soil depth and lateral distance, root activity decreased significantly. Root activity near the clump base was highest (809 counts per minute, cpm; 50 cm depth and 50 cm lateral distance) at 4 × 4 m. Tracer study further showed wider distribution of root activity with increase in clump spacing. It may be concluded that the intensive foraging zone of bamboo is within a 50-cm radius around the clump irrespective of spacing. N, P and K content in the upper 20 cm was 2197, 21, and 203 kg/ha respectively for the closely spaced bamboo (4 × 4 m) which were significantly higher than corresponding nutrient content at wider spacings. About 50% of N, P and K were present within the 0–20 cm soil layer, which decreased drastically beyond the 20 cm depth. The results suggest that stand management practices through planting density regulation can modify the resource acquisition patterns of D. strictus which in turn can change growth and productivity considerably. Such information on root activities, spatial and temporal strategies of resource sharing will be helpful in deciding the effective nutrition zone for D. strictus. Further, the study throws light on the spatial distribution of non-competitive zones for productivity optimization yields, especially when intercropping practices are considered.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atger C, Edelin C (1994) Strategies of below ground occupation by the root systems of trees. Revolut Ecol 49:343–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D (1997) Bioassays of the influence of Eucalyptus saligna and Albizia falcataria on soil nutrient supply and limitation. For Ecol Manag 91(2–3):229–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohm W (1979) Methods of studying root systems. J Agric Syst 6(3):247–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell MM, Richards JH (1986) Competing root systems: morphology and models of absorption. In: Givnish T (ed) On the economy of plant form and function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 251–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Goyal S, Nandal DP, Kapoor KK (1998) Soil organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical agroforestry system. Biol Fertil Soils 27:168–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christanty L, Kimmins JP, Mailly D (1997) ‘‘Without bamboo, the land dies’’: a conceptual model of the biogeochemical role of bamboo in an Indonesian agroforestry system. For Ecol Manag 91:83–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coker EG (1959) Root development of apple trees in grass and clean cultivation. J Hortic Sci 34:111–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhyani SK, Narain P, Singh KP (1990) Studies on root distribution of five multipurpose tree species in Doon valley, India. Agrofor Syst 12:149–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickens ED, Barnett JP, Hubbard WG, Jokela EJ (2004) Slash pine: still growing and growing!. In: Proceedings of the slash pine symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-76. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest service, Southern Research Station, Asheville, p 148

  • Divakara BN, Kumar BM, Balachandran PV, Kamalam NV (2001) Bamboo hedgerow systems in Kerala, India: root distribution and competition with trees for phosphorus. Agrofor Syst 51:189–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George SJ, Kumar BM, Wahid PA, Kamalam NV (1996) Root competition for phosphorus between the tree and herbaceous components of silvopastoral systems in Kerala. Plant Soil 179(2):189–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • George S, Suresh PR, Wahid PA, Nair RB, Punnoose KI (2009) Active root distribution pattern of Hevea brasiliensis determined by radioassay of latex serum. Agrofor Syst 76(2):275–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giardina CP, Ryan MG (2002) Total belowground carbon allocation in a fast growing eucalyptus plantation estimated using a carbon balance approach. Ecosystem 5:487–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris F (2007) The effect of competition on stand, tree, and wood growth and structure in subtropical Eucalyptus grandis plantations. Ph.D thesis submitted to Southern Cross University, pp 108–109

  • IAEA (Indian Atomic Energy Agency) (1975) Rooting activity patterns of some tree crops. Technical Report Series No.170, Vienna, p 14

  • Isaac ME, Anglaaere LC (2013) An in situ approach to detect tree root ecology: linking ground-penetrating radar imaging to isotope-derived water acquisition zones. Ecol Evol 3(5):1330–1339

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson ML (1958) Soil chemical analysis. Asia Publishing House, New Delhi, p 498

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamaludheen V, Kumar BM, Wahid PA, Kamalam NV (1997) Root distribution pattern of the wild jack tree (Artocarpus hirsutus Lamk.) as studied by 32P soil injection method. Agrofor Syst 35:329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsson K, Fidjeland L, Maghembe A, Hogbert P (1988) The vertical distribution of fine roots of five tree species and maize, Morogoro, Tanzania. Agrofor Syst 6:63–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kittur BH, Sudhakara K, Mohan Kumar B, Kunhamu TK, Sureshkumar P (2015) Bamboo based agroforestry systems in Kerala, India: performance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in the subcanopy of differentially spaced seven year-old bamboo stand. Agrofor Syst 90(2):237–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolesnikov VA (1971) The root system of fruit plants. Mir Publishers, Moscow, p 269

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar BM (2008) Litter dynamics in plantation and agroforestry systems of the tropics- a review of observations and methods. In: Batish DR, Kohli RK, Jose S, Singh HP (eds) Ecological basis of agroforestry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 181–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunhamu TK, Kumar BM, Viswanath S, Sureshkumar P (2010) Root activity of young Acacia mangium Willd trees: influence of stand density and pruning as studied by 32P soil injection technique. Agrofor Syst 78:27–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann J, Muraoka T, Zech W (2001) Root activity patterns in an Amazonian agroforest with fruit trees determined by 32P, 33P and 15N applications. Agrofor Syst 52:185–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mao P, Han G, Wang G, Yu J, Shao H (2014) Effects of age and stand density of mother trees on early Pinus thunbergii seedling establishment in the Coastal Zone, China. Sci World J 2014:9–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenk H (2006) Root competition: beyond resource depletion. J Ecol 94:725–739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth G (1999) A review of belowground interactions in agroforestry, focusing on mechanisms and management options. Agrofor Syst 43:5–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth G, Zech W (1995) Root length dynamics in agroforestry with Gliricidia sepium as compared to sole cropping in the semi-deciduous rainforest zone of West Africa. Plant Soil 170:297–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith J (2010) Agroforestry: reconciling production with protection of the environment. Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm, Newbury, p 24

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur S, Kumar BM, Kunhamu TK (2015) Coarse root biomass, carbon, and nutrient stock dynamics of different stem and crown classes of silver oak (Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex. R. Br.) plantation in Central Kerala, India. Agrofor Syst 89:869–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas J, Kumar BM, Wahid PA, Kamalam NV, Fisher R (1998) Root competition for phosphorus between ginger and Ailanthus triphysa in Kerala, India. Agrofor Syst 41(3):293–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson H, Traore A, Teklenaimanot Z (1998) An investigation of the root distribution of Parkia biglobosa in Burkina Faso, West Africa, using a logarithmic spiral trench. For Ecol Manage 107:173–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi SK, Singh KP (1996) Fine root dynamics in a dry tropical bamboo savanna in India. In: Rangelands in a sustainable biosphere. Proceedings of the fifth international rangeland congress, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, July 23–28. Volume 1 Contributed presentations. Society for range management, Denver, Colorado. pp 572–573

  • Vanclay JK, Lamb D, Erskine PD, Cameron DM (2013) Spatially-explicit competition in a mixed planting of Araucaria cunninghamii and Flindersia brayleyana. Ann For Sci 70:611–619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahid PA (2001) Radioisotope studies of root activity and root-level interactions in tree-based production systems: a review. Appl Radiat Isot 54(5):75–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahid PA, Kamalam NV, Sankar SJ (1988) A device for soil injection of 32P solution in root activity studies of tree crops. J Plant Crops 16:62–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahid PA, Kamalam NV, Ashokan PK, Vidyadharan KK (1989) Root activity pattern of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) in laterite soil. J Plant Crops 17(2):85–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren KL, Ashton MS (2014) Change in soil and forest floor carbon after shelterwood harvests in a New England Oak-Hardwood Forest, USA. Int J Improv Res 2014:9–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe FS, Olsen SR (1965) Test of an ascorbic acid method for determining phosphorus in water and NaHCO3 extracts from soil. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 29:677–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White DG, Childers NF (1945) Bamboo for controlling soil erosion. J Am Soc Agron 34(10):839–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work forms part of the PhD dissertation project of the first author. The bamboo spacing trial was established using an AP Cess fund research grant from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi to B. Mohan Kumar (2004–2007). The authors thank Dr. Asha K Raj and Dr. AV Santhosh Kumar for the help in soil collection and analyzing the data. The authors also thank Dr. Manjunatha M. and Smt. Usha Unnithan for their help during growth measurements of bamboo. The financial assistance provided to the first author by the Kerala Agricultural University for undertaking this research project is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala, 680 656, India

    B. H. Kittur, K. Sudhakara, B. Mohan Kumar & T. K. Kunhamu

  2. School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, District Nalanda, Bihar, 803 116, India

    B. Mohan Kumar

  3. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Radio-tracer Laboratory, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala, 680 656, India

    P. Sureshkumar

Authors
  1. B. H. Kittur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Sudhakara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Mohan Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. K. Kunhamu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Sureshkumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. H. Kittur.

Additional information

Project funding: This work was financially supported by the Kerala Agricultural University.

The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Chai Ruihai

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kittur, B.H., Sudhakara, K., Kumar, B.M. et al. Effects of clump spacing on nutrient distribution and root activity of Dendrocalamus strictus in the humid region of Kerala, peninsular India. J. For. Res. 28, 1135–1146 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0391-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0391-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation