Root turnover is important in the functioning of plants and agro-ecosystems for a number of reasons:
Belowground allocation of C (energy) may be around one-third of the C (energy) in the plant as a whole
C (energy) provided by roots is a major source of C for the food web of soil biota
As roots are lost to ‘rhizovory’ (consumption) plants needs to invest continuously in roots to maintain root length density
Through various channels belowground plant C allocation contributes to soil organic matter (Corg)
Publication year
2004
Authors
Hairiah, D.K.; Rahayu, S.; Williams, E.S.; Van, Noordwijk.M.; Khasanah, N.M.
Keywords
Agroecosystems, Agroforestry, Gliricidia sepium, Imperata cylindrica, Peltophorum dasyrrachis, Research, Roots
