Successful agroforestry management depends on the interactions between the mixed species. Belowground interactions between shrubs and native grasses are complicated and poorly understood in China’s agroforestry practice, especially in the silvopasture systems of droughty northern China. | Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Research Article Turk J Agric For (2014) 38: 644-651 © TÜBİTAK doi: Fine root distribution and belowground interactions in an alley silvopasture system in northern China Zongrui LAI, Yuqing ZHANG*, Bin WU, Tianshan ZHA, Shugao QIN, Xin JIA, Jiabin LIU, Wei FENG Yanchi Research Station, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, . China Received: Accepted: Published Online: Printed: Abstract: Successful agroforestry management depends on the interactions between the mixed species. Belowground interactions between shrubs and native grasses are complicated and poorly understood in China’s agroforestry practice, especially in the silvopasture systems of droughty northern China. The distribution of fine roots (70% fine sand (– mm), and mean porosity. Human activities (. overgrazing) and environmental changes (. sandstorms) resulted in the gradual degradation of pastures in the study area. C. microphylla is a leguminous shrub species with developed root systems and strong suitability for xeric site conditions. This species was planted in degraded pastures in rows with variable spacing in order to provide fodder and prevent wind erosion of the soils. In the silvopasture plot, there were 400 C. microphylla clusters, or 14,784 individuals/ha, which were planted in the degraded pasture in 1985. Their average height was m and average ground diameter was ± cm. The degraded pasture plot used in this study was not planted with C. microphylla in 1985 and is adjacent to the silvopasture plot. The herbaceous plant species in the study plot included Pennisetum flaccidum, Leymus secalinus, Setaria viridis, Lespedeza davurica, Astragalus melilotoides, Cynanchum komarovii, Salsola collina, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Mulgedium tataricum, and Neopallasia .
