Biomass allocation strategies and productivity of tropical trees related to successional status

Abstract

The productivity and biomass allocation strategies of two early successional (ES) and two late successional (LS) tropical tree species were compared and related to their successional status. Apart from distinct differences in clean bole length, crown depth, maximum crown width and leaf area index (LAI), the ES species showed higher allocation to the shoot, particularly to the bole, whereas the LS species had higher allocation to the root. The ES species with shallow root system had more root biomass within the upper 20 cm of the soil profile while the LS species with deeper roots had a higher proportion of root biomass distributed below the 20 cm depth. The productivity of the shoot of ES species was significantly higher than that of LS species. However, root productivity for ES species was higher only up to 4 years of age; the differences were not significant between 5 and 7 years. The implication of these results for agroforestry and mixed plantation forestry is emphasized.