Belowground structure and production in a Mediterranean sand dune shrub community

Belowground structure and annual production in an open Mediterranean scrub were studied on a sandy substrate which had not been harvested or exposed to fire during the last 30-40 years. Estimated belowground biomass (1328 ± 93.4 g m⁻²) and production (548 ± 246.9 g m⁻² yr⁻¹) were lower than in other...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 1998-04, Vol.201 (2), p.209-216
Main Authors: Martinez, E. (Sevilla Univ. (Spain). Dept. of Ecology), Merino, O, Martin, A, Martin, D.G, Merino, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural soils
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
ARBUSTE
ARBUSTOS
Biological and medical sciences
BIOMASA
BIOMASS
BIOMASSE
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
DUNE SOILS
FOSFORO
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
GROWTH
MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Nitrogen
Nutrients
PHOSPHORE
PHOSPHORUS
Plant roots
Plants
Primary production
PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVIDAD PRIMARIA
PRODUCTIVITE PRIMAIRE
RACINE
RAICES
REGION MEDITERRANEA
REGION MEDITERRANEENNE
Root biomass
ROOT SYSTEMS
ROOTS
SANDY SOILS
SHRUBS
SISTEMA RADICULAR
Soil ecology
Soil nutrients
Soil water
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
Soils
SOL DE DUNE
SOL SABLEUX
SUELO ARENOSO
SUELO DE DUNAS
SYSTEME RACINAIRE
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Summary:Belowground structure and annual production in an open Mediterranean scrub were studied on a sandy substrate which had not been harvested or exposed to fire during the last 30-40 years. Estimated belowground biomass (1328 ± 93.4 g m⁻²) and production (548 ± 246.9 g m⁻² yr⁻¹) were lower than in other Mediterranean scrubs. However, the energy investment in belowground structures was high (root biomass/shoot biomass = 2.7; annual belowground production/annual aboveground production = 7.1), which is associated with a high density of fine roots in the top soil (the average distance between the fine roots = 0.76 cm). A very simple model based on nutrient diffusion was considered to analyse the resource constrains of the community. The results underline the importance of nutrients (and more specifically phosphorus) rather than water, as possible determinants of the structure and dynamics of the root system, as well as for the primary production of the community during the vegetative period.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1023/A:1004389329411