Root and Rhizome Distribution as an Indicator of Upper Salt Marsh Wetland Limits

摘要

Four wetland plant species, Deschampsia cespitosa, Distichlis spicata, Grindelia integrifolia, and Salicornia virginica, were tested to determine the effect of soil moisture on the vertical distribution of roots and rhizomes. In an 8-month greenhouse experiment involving plants grown from seeds and rhizomes the occurrence of more than 65% of the root and rhizome mass in the upper 10 cm of soil was indicative of saturated conditions. The percent of total root and rhizome biomass in the upper 10 cm of a 35 cm core may be useful in determining saturated soil conditions.