Abstract
Summary Root biomass of 20 trees of Pinus radiata at Jonkershoek State forest. Cape Province, R.S.A., was measured. Oven-dry weight of 10 of these trees, 27 year old (“young” trees), ranged between 66,9 kg and 231,0 kg. Oven-dry weight of the other 10 trees measured, 36–39 year old (“old” trees) ranged between 149,2 kg and 491,4 kg. Oven-dry weight (kg) of root biomass of the “old” trees (Y) regressed over DBH over-bark (x) in ern, gave Y = 11,934 X – 267,207 with r2 = 0,856, while oven-dry root weight (Y) in kg of the same trees, regressed over diameter (ern) under bark of the stump, 20 cm above the ground, gave: Y = 12,130 X – 267,633 with r2 = 0,931. Thus, it is possible to evaluate root biomass of P. radiata of similar age and site conditions, by an above-ground parameter such as stump diameter or DBH. Root mass was related to basal diameter, to evaluate missing roots. This also provided data for evaluating fine root ( <5 mm diameter) weight. Quantity and percentage of total fine roots of P. radiata, decreased from the “young” stand to the “old” one. Distribution of the fine roots in this study showed that the highest concentrations and weights occurred in two places: in the upper 33 ern of the soil and just under the butt at 100–160 ern depth. Fine root concentration did not differ with distance from tree boles within the stand but that of large roots decreased with increasing distance from the tree bole.
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