Summary
As an extension of De Wit's competition theory a theoretical description has been developed of competition between plant populations with different rooting depths. This model shows that in mixtures of plants with different rooting depths the value of the Relative Yield Total can be expected to exceed one. Moreover, it predicts the frequency-dependence of the relative crowding coefficient of the deep rooting population with respect to the shallow rooting population. The relationship between properties of plant species and the environment required to establish a stable equilibrium turns out to be surprisingly simple. The shallow rooting species has to have a larger competitive ability sufficient to compensate for the extra nutrients that are exploited by the deeper rooting plants. The dependence of equilibrium plant frequencies on the properties of plant species and the characteristics of the environment is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergh, J.P. van den: An analysis of yields of grasses in mixed and pure stands. Versl. Landbouwk. Onderz. 174, 1–71 (1968)
Bergh, J.P. van den, Braakhekke, W.: Coexistence of plant species by niche differentiation. In: Structure and functioning of plant populations (A.H.J. Freysen and J.W. Woldendorp, ed.), pp. 125–136. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Comp. 1978
Ernst, W.: Chemical soil factors determining plant growth. In: Structure and functioning of plant populations (A.H.J. Freysen and J.W. Woldendorp, ed.), pp. 155–187. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Comp. 1978
Grubb, P.J.: The maintenance of species-richness in plant communities: the importance of the regeneration niche. Biol. Rev. 52, 107–145 (1977)
Kutschera, L.: Wurzelatlas mitteleuropäischer Ackerunkräuter und Kulturpflanze. Frankurt am Main: DLG Verlag 1960
Linkola, K., Tiirikka, A.: Über Wurzelsysteme und Wurzelausbreitung der Wiesenpflanzen auf verschiedenen Wiesenstandorten. Ann. Bot. Soc. Zool.-Bot. Fenn. Van. 6, 1–207 (1936)
Parrish, J.A.D., Bazzaz, F.A.: Underground niche separation in successional plants. Ecology 57, 1281–1288 (1976)
Russell, R.S.: Plant Root Systems: Their function and interaction with the soil. London: McGraw-Hill Book Comp. 1977
Trenbath, B.R.: Biomass productivity of mixtures. Adv. Agron. 26, 177–210 (1974)
Trenbath, B.R.: Plant Interactions in Mixed Crop Communities. In: Multiple Cropping, pp. 129–167. Madison: Amer. Soc. of Agronomy 1976
Werner, P.A., Platt, W.J.: Ecological relationships of co-occurring goldenrods (Solidago: Compositae). Amer. Natur. 976, 959–971 (1976)
Wit, C.T. de: A Physical Theory on Placement of Fertilizers. Versl. Landbouwk. Onderz. 59, 1–71 (1953)
Wit, C.T. de: On competition. Versl Landbouwk. Onderz. 668, 1–82 (1960)
Wit,C.T. de, Bergh, J.P. van den: Competition between herbage plants. Neth. J. Agr. Sci. 13, 212–221 (1965)
Wit, C.T. de, Tow, G.P., Ennik, G.C.: Competition between legumes and grasses. Versl. Landbouwk. Onderz. 687, 1–30 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berendse, F. Competition between plant populations with different rooting depths. Oecologia 43, 19–26 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346669
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346669