Tree and grass rooting patterns in an African humid savanna

摘要: . Spatial and temporal soil partitioning between roots of the two savanna plant components, i.e. trees grasses, were investigated in a West African humid savanna. Vertical root phytomass distribution was described for grass roots, large (> 2 mm) fine (< tree open sites beneath canopies. These profiles established monthly over one year vegetation growth. Natural 13C abundance measurement used to determine woody/herbaceous ratio samples. Tree distributions widely overlapped both mostly located top 20 cm soil. Grass decreased with depth whereas woody peaked at about 10 depth. No time detected. structural results do not support hypothesis resource grasses are thus consistent functional previously reported.