Summary
Fine-root density in a mature cacao plantation in Bahia/Brazil was monitored at weekly intervals from October, 1980 until March, 1981. About 40 g m−2 of fine roots (diameter<1 mm) were found during this period. The relative stability of this value over the six months period contrasted with significant changes in the number of growing root tips per unit of soil volume. These changes were not conditioned by the rainfall pattern although low root tip values were counted at the end of a minor drought period. A significant negative correlation was found between a shoot growth flush in January and the activity of the fine-root systems as measured by the number of new root tips.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Alvim P de T 1977 Ecophysiology of cacao.In Ecophysiology of tropical Crops. Eds. P de T Alvim and T T Kozlowski. Academic Press, New York, pp 279–313.
Alvim P de T 1975 A new dendrometer for monitoring cambium activity and changes in the internal water status of plants. Turrialba 25. 445–447.
Alvim P de T and Alvim R 1978 Relation of climate to growth periodicity in tropical trees.In Tropical Trees as living Systems. Eds. P B Tomlinson and M H Zimmermann. Cambridge University Press, pp 445–464.
Böhm W 1979 Methods of studying root systems. Ecological Studies 33, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Borchert R 1978 Feedback control and age-related changes of shoot growth in seasonal and nonseasonal climates.In Tropical Trees as living Systems. Eds. P B Tomlinson and M H Zimmermann, Cambridge University Press, pp 497–515.
Cadima Zevallos A 1970 Estudo do sistema radicular do cacaueiro em alguns tipos de solos da região cacaueira da Bahia Publicação do Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Itabuna, Bahia, Brasil.
CEPEC Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau 1978 Informe Técnico 1977–1978, Divisão de Climatologia, Itabuna, Bahia, Brasil pp 221–238.
Cox T L, Harris W F, Ausmus B S and Edwards N T 1978 The role of roots in biogeochemical cycles in an eastern deciduous forest. Pedobiologia 18, 264–271.
Cuatrecasas J 1964 Cacao and its allies; a taxonomic revision of the genus Theobroma. Washington, Smithonian Institution.
Ford E D and Deans J D 1977 Growth of Sitka spruce plantation: spatial distribution and seasonal fluctuation of length, weight, and carbohydrate concentration of fine roots. Plant and Soil 47, 463–485.
Greathouse D C, Laetsch W M and Phinney B O 1971 The shoot-growth rhythm of a tropical tree,Theobroma cacao. Am. J. Bot. 58, 281–286.
Himme M van 1959 Etude du systeme radiculaire du cacaoyer. Bull. Agric. Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi 50, 1541–1600.
Klinge H 1973 Root mass estimation in lowland tropical rainforests of Central Amazonia, Brazil. I. Fine root masses of a pale yellow latosol and a giant humus podzol. Trop. Ecol. 14, 29–38.
Kummerow J and Russell M 1980 Seasonal root growth in the arctic tundra. Oecologia 47, 196–199.
Kummerow J, Kummerow A and Alvim P de T 1981 Root biomass in a mature cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plantation. Theobroma 11, 77–86.
Kummerow J, Krause D and Jow W 1978 Seasonal changes of fine root density in the southern Californian chaparral. Oecologia 37, 201–212.
Lyford W H 1975 Rhizography of non-woody roots of trees in the forest floor.In The Development and Function of Roots. Eds. J G Torrey and D T Clarkson, Academic Press, London, pp 179–196.
Persson H 1980 Spatial distribution of fine-root growth, mortality and decomposition in a young Scots pine stand in Central Sweden. Oikos 34, 77–87.
Silva L F da e Melo A A O de 1970 Levantamento detalhado dos solos do Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau. Boletin Técnico No. 1, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Itabuna, Bahia, Brasil, pp 3–86.
Stark N M and Jordan C F 1978 Nutrient retention by the root mat of an Amazonia rain forest. Ecology 59, 434–437.
Stark N and Spratt M 1977 Root biomass and nutrient storage in rainforest oxysols near San Carlos de Rio Negro. Trop. Ecol. 18, 1–9.
Vogel M 1975 Recherche du terminisme du rhythme du croissance du cacoyer. Cafe, Cacao, The 19, 265–290.
Zar J H 1974 Biostatistical Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. pp 151–161.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kummerow, J., Kummerow, M. & Souza da Silva, W. Fine-root growth dynamics in cacao (Theobroma cacao). Plant Soil 65, 193–201 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374650
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374650