Impacts Of Root Competition On Growth Of Woody Species In Mixed Agroforestry Systems

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2020

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University of Hawaii at Manoa

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High diversity agroecosystems provide refugia for native pollinators, preserve soil health, and limit agricultural runoff while producing similar yields to conventional agriculture. Replacing conventional monocultures with high diversity agroecosystems can positively impact conservation efforts in the Oceanic region, but underground competitive dynamics in these systems are poorly understood, limiting their adoption. We examined root competition between breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) and māmaki (Pipturus albidus) to determine the impact of underground competition and how prior establishment influences that competition. Plants were grown in 50-gallon pots and outplanted in three sets of establishment treatments: māmaki first, breadfruit first, and both at the same time. We measured growth, nutrient uptake, and spatial root allocation to examine aspects of competition between breadfruit and māmaki. Our results indicate that Breadfruit was negatively impacted by competition while māmaki grew more under competition. Prior establishment enhanced māmaki’s growth response and breadfruit growth was enhanced by simultaneous establishment. Nutrient uptake for breadfruit was inhibited by competition, while māmaki positive growth response can be attributed to its more aggressive nutrient uptake strategy. These results suggest that māmaki resilience in diverse agroecosystems can be improved by early outplanting during orchard establishment while interspecific competitive stress on breadfruit may be alleviated through nutrient management and appropriate spacing. These findings are the first steps toward developing improved orchard establishment protocols for both agroecosystems and novel reforestation efforts using these plants.

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Agronomy

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