Le système radiculaire dans les érablières du Québec. I. Nouvelle méthode d'estimation du volume et de la masse des radicelles

Abstract

A method for rapidly estimating the rootlet volume and mass in sugar maple groves was developed in relation with the rootlet size. Soil samples were obtained with corers and cut in 2-cm thick slices. The number of rootlets of diameter classes <0.3, 0.3–0.5, 0.5–0.8, and 0.8–1.0 mm were determined under microscope (× 150) on the upper surface of slices. Rootlet surface for each class was measured on thin sections of soil, with an optic microscope connected to a digitalizing board. Mean rootlet surface [Formula: see text] showed a small standard deviation within each diameter class. The rootlet surface (S) on a surface of soil St can be estimated as [Formula: see text], where N is the number of rootlets observed in nc fields of observation, each field having a surface So. If two soil slices are located at depths h1 and h2, respectively, and if the rootlet surfaces of those slices are S1 and S2, the rootlet volume V of the first slice corresponds approximately to the volume of a truncated cone, and can be calculated as V = [S1 + S2 + (S1S2)0,5] (h2–h1)/3. The rootlet density (g•cm−3 of root) was also determined for each diameter class. The standard deviation from [Formula: see text], the mean density for each diameter class was small. Thus, the rootlet mass M was determined as [Formula: see text]. Estimated and real rootlet volume and mass values were compared. A difference of about 10% was found between estimated and real values.