Root Growth of Quercus Crassifolia, Q. Crassipes, and Fraxinus Uhdei in 2 Different Soil Types    (View PDF)

Alicia Chacalo, Gary Watson, Robert Bye, Victor Ordaz, Alejandro Aldama, and Hector Javier Vázquez

Abstract: Seedlings of selected tree species were grown in small benchtop rhizotrons filled with fine- and coarsetextured soils representing 2 different urban edaphic conditions in Mexico City. Bulk density was significantly higher and porosity was significantly lower in the coarse-textured soil. The maximum depth of root penetration visible behind the glass was significantly greater in the fine-textured soil for each of the 3 species after 5 months. Roots of Fraxinus uhdei penetrated deeper than roots of both Quercus crassipes and Q. crassifolia in both soils. Fraxinus uhdei root and shoot dry weight were significantly reduced in coarsetextured soil compared to the fine-textured soil, but both Quercus species were unaffected by soil type. In the finetextured soil, F. uhdei root and shoot dry weight was significantly greater than both Quercus species, but not in the coarse-textured soil. At the end of the study, F. uhdei growing in fine-textured soil were taller than F. uhdei growing in coarse-textured soil and taller than both Quercus species in both soils, though the difference took 6 weeks longer to develop in the coarse-textured soil.

Keywords: Fraxinus uhdei; Quercus crassifolia; Q. crassipes; rhizotron; urban soil; texture.

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2000.004