Much of
the competition among garden plants takes place underground. In contrast to
above ground competition which primarily involves a single resource, light, plants
compete for a broad range of soil resources, including water and essential mineral
nutrients in the soil. Below ground competition often reduces plant performance
more than does above ground competition.
The above
photo indicates the primary importance
in below ground competition is the occupation of soil space. The ability to
occupy space depends on several root characters, including relative growth
rate, biomass, fine root density, and total surface area.
Openings
in the below ground root zone activity are likely to be important for plant establishment.
The extent to which root gaps are associated with canopy openings and the role
of root gaps in the dynamics of gap succession have only recently been researched.
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