Effect of Soil Properties on Growth of Quercus ilex L. in Humid and Cold Mountains of Morocco

Abstract

The dependence of oak growth on environmental stressors is fairly well documented, but little is known about the impact of soil type on growth plasticity and as predisposing factors to root branching. Here, we aim to investigate how textural and physicochemical properties of soil affect the growth of Quercus Ilex L. We compare the above- and below-ground growth of saplings on three sandy soil(s) of the Middle Atlas. The textural and physicochemical characterization showed that the soils differed mainly in the gravel, average and fine sand, organic matter, and nitrogen proportions. All tested properties of the three sandy soils do not affect the above-ground growth. The statistical analysis showed that the growth synchronization between the main and lateral roots was affected by the soil type. The statistics showed that the microvariation of the soil texture (>5, 0.2–0.4, and 0.063–0.2 mm) and the level of nitrogen and not that of the limestone in the soil control the length and thickness of the main root and the production and distribution of biomass of lateral roots. They also showed that these soil properties affect the sink/source competitions between the roots and the leaves and the compensatory growth of roots.