Thursday, 1 September 2016

Plant growth competition.



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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