Abstract
In 1989, two levels each of stand density and fertilisation treatments were factorial established in a 9-year old loblolly pine plantation on a P-deficient Gulf Coastal Plain sit in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, U.S.A. In 1995, a second thinning was conducted on the previously thinned plots and fertiliser was re-applied to the previously fertilised plots. The morphology of new long lateral roots was evaluated at 2-week intervals in five Plexiglas rhizotrons per plot of two replications. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the seasonal initiation of six morphological categories of long lateral roots (≥2.5 cm in length) in response to stand density and fertilisation. Lateral root development exhibited a seasonal pattern with the initiation of branched lateral roots predominantly occurring in spring and summer. The initiation of non-branched lateral roots occurred throughout the year regardless of season. Stand density did not affect lateral root morphological development. However, fertilisation stimulated the initiation of branched lateral roots that were greater than 1 mm in diameter.
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Sword, M.A. (1998). Seasonal development of loblolly pine lateral roots in response to stand density and fertilisation. In: Box, J.E. (eds) Root Demographics and Their Efficiencies in Sustainable Agriculture, Grasslands and Forest Ecosystems. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 82. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5270-9_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5270-9_8
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