Root distribution of Norway spruce in pure stands and in mixtures with European beech : Forest Ecosystem Restoration

2000

S. 241-246

4 Abb., 9 Lit.

Unselbständiges Werk

200072968

The trench profile wall technqiue was used to study vertical coarse root distribution of Norway spruce in monospecific stands and in adjacent mixed stands with European beech. The investigations were carried out in two different regions of Austria with different bedrocks on altogether 160 m¬ of profile walls. For both areas, spruce roots reached the maximum excavation depth of 1 m in the monospecific stands. The roots showed their maximum density in the humus and the top mineral soil layers. The root system of spruce was markedly shallower in the mixed than in the monospecific stands and this fact was even more pronounced in poorly aerated soils on Flysch-sediments than in well aerated podsolic soils. However, beech trees showed an accumulation of their roots in deeper soil layers in mixed stands. Maximum abundance of the beech roots occurred deepter in podsolic soils than in stagnic soils. The stronger limitation of spruce roots to upper soil layers in the mixed stand could cause a higher susceptibility to soil water deficits in mixture with beech.