BioMatNet Item: AIR2-CT92-1269 - Aspects of Sustainability by afforestation of Agricultural Set-Aside Areas: Development of Roots and Root/Shoot-Ratios

AIR2-CT92-1269
Aspects of Sustainability by afforestation of Agricultural Set-Aside Areas: Development of Roots and Root/Shoot-Ratios

Contacts

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AIR Cluster IX - Forestry : Forestry : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Contract No	AIR2-CT92-1269
	Total Cost	1 817 000
	EC Contribution	1 080 000
	Start Date	01/01/1994
	Duration	48 months

OBJECTIVE:

Earlier afforestation of agricultural land with monocultures has in many areas been characterized by shortened rotations, extensive damage and nutrient losses, which heavily reduces the profitability. Because afforestaion of farm land, sustainable forest ecosystems and reduced losses of nutrients to aquatic ecosystems are central goals for future land use, tools for the establishment of sustainable forests must be developed. Among such tools should be 'rooting maps' and 'root/shoot ratio graphs' used by foresters and afforestation planners doing 'site mapping'.

The objectives of this proposal are:

a coordinated international 'mapping' of root architecture of several important tree species m Europe;
the development of root/shootratio graphs for the same species, and
to enhance knowledge about root physiology through experiments related to plant handling and site variation.

Comparable quantitative descriptions of these parameters shall be carried out for important tree species over a range of soil types and ageclasses. This has never been done before. Several information gaps have been identified by the formulation of a mechanistic, qualitative model for root development, and the proposal includes experiments to fill these gaps. Advanced theoretical concepts, methods and equipment have already been developed by the different participants, but the exchange of this expertise between participants is not realised.

A complete and disciplined cooperation on theory and methods is required to establish internationally comparable results, which are necessary to achieve the goals of the proposal. The results of the proposal will increase the quality of forest decisions in terms of breeding, choice of tree species and stand structure. This will decrease the cost benefitratio of afforestation, enhance wind stability and ecosystem sustainablity.

Contacts

Coordinator

Dr Christian NOERGAARD NIELSEN / Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute / DENMARK

Participant