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Specific root area: A soil characteristic

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Abstract

The root systems of all plants adapt to soil conditions. One of the ways Norway spruce adapts is a regulation of absorbing root surface area, which can be viewed as an ecomorphological index of soil conditions. Minimal specific root surface area of absorbing roots of Norway spruce (28–29 m2kg−1) responds to optimal soil conditions. This was achieved at a soil bulk density of about 1.2 gcm−3.

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Lõhmus, K., Oja, T. & Lasn, R. Specific root area: A soil characteristic. Plant Soil 119, 245–249 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370415

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