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Root biomass of a mangrove forest in southern Thailand. 1. Estimation by the trench method and the zonal structure of root biomass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Akira Komiyama ,
Kazuhiko Ogino ,
Sanit Aksornkoae  and
Sanga Sabhasri
Akira Komiyama
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu Univeristy, Gifu 501-11, Japan
Kazuhiko Ogino
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Ehime 790, Japan
Sanit Aksornkoae
Affiliation:
Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Sanga Sabhasri
Affiliation:
Ministry of Science, Technology and Energy, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Abstract

In a mangrove forest in southern Thailand, the root biomass was estimated for the Sonneratia zone, the Sonneratia-Bruguiera ecotone, the Bruguiera zone and the Rhizophora zone. A 0.2 m (width) × 15.5 m (length) × 1.0 m (depth) trench was dug between two trees of Rhizophora apiculata and the roots in the trench harvested, rinsed, sorted by diameter and weighed. The dry weight of roots collected from the trench was 135.6 kg, equivalent to a total root biomass of 437.5 t ha−1 including 220.5 t ha−1 of fine roots.

The root density distribution of a single tree was assumed to be predictable exponentially. Two variables of the equation were determined by iteration using the data from a trench excavation and tree distribution study. This equation was applied to 1.3 ha and the root biomass distribution was analysed. The root biomass in each of the above four zones was estimated at 171.8, 84.8, 242.6 and 509.5 t ha−1, respectively. The proportion of fine roots (<2 mm) ranged from 46.4% to 66.4%.

Keywords

mangrove forestroot biomassroot densityThailandtrench method
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , May 1987 , pp. 97 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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