Effect of Canopy Management on Root Parameters in Agroforestry Tree Species of Temperate Region
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Authors
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P.S. Thakur
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry,
University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Solan 173 230 (HP)
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S. Sehgal
Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry,
University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Solan 173 230 (HP)
Keywords:
Canopy architecture, proximal roots, root orientation, root networkingAbstract
Retention of crown at different heights (stems cut at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m above the ground) significantly affected the number of lateral roots by 3rd year of treatments in Grewia optiva, Celtis australis, Bauhinia variegata and Morus alba. Plants of M. alba, G. optiva and C. australis cut at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m produced significantly higher number of roots than B. variegata. Diameter of proximal and lateral roots was higher in plants cut at higher heights than plants cut at lower heights. Significant intergeneric differences with regard to proximal root angles were observed. Different cutting heights did not affect root angles significantly. In M. alba and G. optiva, 66-84 per cent of the total roots were distributed at 900 quadrant between east and north.
