Root functional traits and trade-offs in one-year-old plants of 25 species from the arid valley of Minjiang River

Abstract

The functional traits and distribution patterns of roots affect the amount of soil resources used by the plant. These functional traits can mirror plant ecological resource utilization strategies for capturing soil water and nutrients. Changes in root functional traits can affect important plant processes, including water鄄 and nutrient鄄use efficiencies and the ability to compete for belowground resources. In this study, root functional traits and correlations among them were investigated in one鄄year鄄old plants of 25 species from the arid valley of Minjiang River. The specific objectives were to compare plants of the same age growing in the same conditions to assess the trade鄄offs among root functions based on correlations among different functional traits, and to define plant functional types and their adaptation strategies. Seeds of vascular plant

Effects of Root–Root Interactions on the Physiological Characteristics of Haloxylon ammodendron Seedlings

“…The results of this study showed that the biomass of plants with separated root systems was significantly greater than that of plants without separated root systems, and the biomass increased with the degree of separation, indicating strong competition among H. ammodendron salsa individuals, which is consistent with the results of Cahill et al (2010) [ 31 ]. The plants under nylon mesh separation had significantly longer roots and larger root surface areas than did those in the nonseparated and completely separated groups, suggesting that plants under this treatment had more fine roots and a greater root surface area [ 32 ], which indicates a greater area for nutrient and water exchange between the roots and soil, promoting the absorption of nutrients and water and enhancing resource availability and competitive ability [ 33 ]. A comparison of the aboveground and belowground traits of plants under different treatments revealed that the effects of root secretions mediated by underground interactions and direct root contact on plant biomass and root characteristics varied.…”