Effects of pressure on the root systems of Norway spruce plants (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)
Gebauer, R.(Mendelova Zemedelska a Lesnicka Univ., Brno (Czech Republic). Lesnicka a Drevarska Fakulta)E-mail:[email protected] | Martinkova, M.
We focused our experiments on Norway spruce seedlings grown in containers with glass walls under the permanent load of 5.1 kPa during the whole growing season. The applied pressure affected the roots both directly and indirectly due to the occurrence of hypoxia. Growth dynamics and capability to occupy available soil changed. For example, the total root area of experimental plants decreased to 52% but the root area index (RAI) was higher by 33% than in control seedlings. It indicates that the pressure applied to the soil surface caused the development of only small root systems but more compacted into smaller volumes of soil. Mean longitudinal growth of stressed roots decreased by about 50%. Growth of experimental roots was delayed, which is a typical general response to stress. However, a tendency to create dense and small root systems is in contradiction with the typical strategy of tree root systems.
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