Sm. Landhausser et al., RHIZOME GROWTH OF CALAMAGROSTIS-CANADENSIS IN RESPONSE TO SOIL NUTRIENTS AND BULK-DENSITY, Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 76(3), 1996, pp. 545-550
In a series of experiments, we investigated rhizome spread and the gro
wth of C. canadensis, as governed by changes in soil bulk density and
nutrient availability. The ability of rhizomes originating from vigoro
us Calamagrostis canadensis plants to penetrate mineral soil with diff
erent bulk densities and their response to various nutrient conditions
were assessed in a split container experiment. Decreasing biomass and
length of rhizomes with increasing soil bulk density showed that clon
al expansion of C. canadensis onto areas of exposed mineral soil from
adjacent swards was limited mainly by soil bulk density. No nutrient e
ffect on rhizome growth was detectable; the rhizomes were probably wel
l supplied with nutrients by translocation from the mother plant. Resu
lts of a second split container experiment indicated that rhizome grow
th was better in organic than in mineral soils. In a third experiment,
entire C. canadensis plants were grown in mineral soil at different l
evels of soil bulk density and nutrient condition. Here,rhizome biomas
s and expansion were limited mainly by nutrient availability; however,
once the nutritional needs of the plants were met, increasing bulk de
nsity reduced the amount of rhizome spread. These results could be use
ful in reforestation, e.g. selecting those methods of site preparation
which reduce the growth and competitive ability of C. canadensis rela
tive to tree seedlings.