Soil physical limitations to growth in sub-tropical hardwood plantations

澳大利亚许多地区正在建立大面积的桉树种植园，以取代当地的森林木材生产。在亚热带的东澳大利亚，该行业面临的一个主要障碍是不适当的场地物种匹配。这在很大程度上是因为对该区域的主要土壤类型和对不同物种生长的影响缺乏了解。该项目将比较两个主要阔叶木树种的立地生产力和土壤特性，并研究土壤特性与树根生长之间的基本关系。其结果将是从机械上理解土壤对树木生长的物理限制。

Large areas of eucalypt plantations are being established to replace native forest wood production in many areas of Australia. A major impediment facing the industry in subtropical eastern Australia is inappropriate site species matching. This is largely due to lack of understanding of the major soil types in the region and the effect on growth of different species. This project will compare site productivity and soil characteristics in two major hardwood species and investigate fundamental relationships between soil characteristics and tree root growth. The outcome will be a mechanistic understanding of soil physical limitations to tree growth.