<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p><italic>Falcataria moluccana</italic> (Miq.) Barnaby &amp; Grimes is an important species for forest plantation programmes in Malaysia and is widely used in the wood industry. However, its root interactions have not been widely investigated due to the limited methodologies and information about the root distribution of trees and crops in forest plantation and agroforestry systems. This study was conducted to determine the rhizotron-scale root interactions of <italic>F. moluccana</italic> at different tillage and nitrogen concentrations under four different treatments: control, tillage, fertiliser, and tillage with fertiliser. The rhizotron-scale experiment was conducted at a greenhouse where <italic>F. moluccan</italic>a (Batai) seedlings were transplanted in transparent rhizotron tubes (onemetre-high transparent polycarbonate solid sheet) using topsoil and river sand to simulate natural growing conditions. Root Intensity (RI), Root Length Density (RLD), Specific Root Length (SRL), dried shoot bio-mass and root biomass were recorded. Root biomass and SRL were notably higher (25–50 cm depth) at 6 WAT (Weeks After Transplanting), and the shoot biomass (tillage + fertiliser) was significantly higher at 14 WAT. However, plants treated with different tillage and nitrogen concentrations showed no significant impact on the RI and RLD. Fertiliser treatment only, and tillage with fertiliser treatment, showed greater root distribution at the rhizotron scale. These findings contribute to forest plantation and natural forest rehabilitation efforts by helping optimise the soil resources within ecosystems for sustainable forest management.</p>
</abstract>

Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barnaby & Grimes is an important species for forest plantation programmes in Malaysia and is widely used in the wood industry. However, its root interactions have not been widely investigated due to the limited methodologies and information about the root distribution of trees and crops in forest plantation and agroforestry systems. This study was conducted to determine the rhizotron-scale root interactions of F. moluccana at different tillage and nitrogen concentrations under four different treatments: control, tillage, fertiliser, and tillage with fertiliser. The rhizotron-scale experiment was conducted at a greenhouse where F. moluccana (Batai) seedlings were transplanted in transparent rhizotron tubes (onemetre-high transparent polycarbonate solid sheet) using topsoil and river sand to simulate natural growing conditions. Root Intensity (RI), Root Length Density (RLD), Specific Root Length (SRL), dried shoot bio-mass and root biomass were recorded. Root biomass and SRL were notably higher (25–50 cm depth) at 6 WAT (Weeks After Transplanting), and the shoot biomass (tillage + fertiliser) was significantly higher at 14 WAT. However, plants treated with different tillage and nitrogen concentrations showed no significant impact on the RI and RLD. Fertiliser treatment only, and tillage with fertiliser treatment, showed greater root distribution at the rhizotron scale. These findings contribute to forest plantation and natural forest rehabilitation efforts by helping optimise the soil resources within ecosystems for sustainable forest management.

<italic>Falcataria moluccana</italic> (Miq.) root distribution seedlings in response to nitrogen concentrations and tillage

Laboratory of Forest Pathology and Tree Health, Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment

Folia Oecologica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

 (Miq.) root distribution seedlings in response to nitrogen concentrations and tillage

Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barnaby & Grimes is an important species for forest plantation programmes in Malaysia and is widely used in the wood industry....

Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) root distribution seedlings in response to nitrogen concentrations and tillage

Data publikacji: 26 sty 2024

Zakres stron: 47 - 55

Otrzymano: 05 lip 2023

Przyjęty: 15 lis 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0005

Słowa kluczowe
fast growing, root competition, root, distribution perennial

© 2024 Asfarinawati D Ambas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) root distribution seedlings in response to nitrogen concentrations and tillage

Data publikacji: 26 sty 2024

Zakres stron: 47 - 55

Otrzymano: 05 lip 2023

Przyjęty: 15 lis 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2024-0005

Słowa kluczowefast growing, root competition, root, distribution perennial

© 2024 Asfarinawati D Ambas et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
fast growing, root competition, root, distribution perennial