Erfassung und Quantifizierung der Strukturen von Wurzelsystemverbänden heterogener Pflanzengesellschaften mittels Bild- und Fraktalanalyse

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in information on the influence of the rooted soil zone on soil processes in larger area units of the landscape. These data are needed to achieve higher accuracy in model calculations. In the recent study the root system associations of plant communities were examined both as the smallest functional units and as whole systems as well. The experimental area was a field wood of 3200 m² size grown with plant communities of different biotope types. The rooting properties of the root system associations were examined on the basis of a complex analysis (picture- and fractal analysis). The results show a large diversity in rooting depth (main root zone and maximum rooting depth), in root proportions per soil layer and in the root complexity/ structure of root distribution pictures. There is an unexpectedly high difference between main root zone and maximum rooting depth. Evident differences (partly significant) were recognized in belowground structure complexity of plant communities even on the scale of biotope.