Root distributions in a Grevillea robusta-maize agroforestry system in semi-arid Kenya

Limited knowledge of root distributions in agroforestry systems has resulted in assumptions that various tree species are more suited to agroforestry than others, because they are presumed to have few superficial lateral roots. This assumption was tested for Grevillea robusta when grown with maize (Zea mays) in an agroforestry system in a semi-arid region of Kenya. At a site with a shallow soil, root lengths of both species between the soil surface and bedrock were quantified by soil coring, at intervals over four cropping seasons, in plots containing sole stands and mixtures of the trees and crop; the trees were 4–6 years old and they were severely pruned before the third season. Profiles of soil water content were measured using a neutron probe. Prior to pruning of the trees, recharge of soil water below the deepest maize roots did not occur, resulting in significant (P<0.05) suppression of maize root lengths and downward root growth. Maximum root length densities for both species occurred at the top of the soil profile, reaching 1.1–1.7 cm cm-3 for G. robusta, but only 0.5 cm cm-3 for maize grown with trees. Root populations in mixed plots were dominated by G. robusta at all times, all depths and all distances from trees and maize and, thus, there was no spatial separation of the rooting zones of the trees and crop. Competition between G. robusta and maize for soil water stored near the surface was unavoidable, although pruning reduced its impact; complementary use of water by the trees and crop would only have been possible if alternative sources of water were available.