effects of water availability on root growth and morphology in an Amazon rainforest

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 311; no. 1-2; pp. 189 - 199
• Main Authors: Metcalfe, Daniel B, Meir, Patrick, Aragão, Luiz Eduardo O. C, da Costa, Antonio C. L, Braga, Alan P, Gonçalves, Paulo H. L, de Athaydes Silva Junior, Joao, de Almeida, Samuel S, Dawson, Lorna A, Malhi, Yadvinder, Williams, Mathew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.10.2008; Springer; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amazon rainforest; Amazonia; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Average linear density; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Drought; Ecology; ecosystems; Effects; Forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Moisture; Moisture content; plant available water; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plants; Rainforests; Regular Article; Root growth; Root length; Root mass growth; Root surface area; Soil moisture; Soil morphology; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil types; Soil water; soil water content; Soils; Specific root length; Studies; Surface area; Surface areas; trees; Tropical rain forests; Vegetation; Water availability; Water uptake; Amazon Basin; Amazonia; Root surface area; Specific root length; Amazon rainforest; Root mass growth; Soil water availability; Root length; Root mass growth; Root length; Root surface area; Soil plant relation

This study examined how root growth and morphology were affected by variation in soil moisture at four Amazon rainforest sites with contrasting vegetation and soil types. Mean annual site root mass, length and surface area growth ranged between 3-7 t ha⁻¹, 2-4 km m⁻² and 8-12 m² m⁻² respectively. Me...