Abstract
This study was carried out to analyze both the root structure and the fine root phytomass of the vertical and horizontal distribution of Zelkova serrata Makino. which was transplanted in the reclaimed land from the sea in Gwangyang, Jeonnam, South Korea. The base ground was reclaimed land from the sea. $Z_1$ of the planting ground was filled to a $100{\sim}150cm$ thickness with the improved soil instead of the reclaimed soil from the sea, $Z_2$ of the planting ground was covered to a $20{\sim}30cm$ thickness with the improved soil and $Z_3$ of the planting ground was mounded to 120cm thickness with the improved soil on the reclaimed land from the sea. In addition, $Z_4,\;Z_5\;and\;Z_6$ of the planting grounds were at the large-sized mound on the reclaimed land from the sea. $Z_4$ of the planting ground was located at the lowest level, $Z_5$ planting ground was located at the slope and $Z_6$ planting ground was located at the top of the large-sized mound. The large-sized mounds contain 3 layers, the base layer was reclaimed land from the sea and the second layer was mounded to a $200{\sim}300cm$ thickness with the desalinized soil from the sea on the base layers and the finally layers were mounded to a $80{\sim}120cm$ thickness with improved soil on the second layer. The planting grounds $Z_3,\;Z_4,\;Z_5\;and\;Z_6$ developed roots such as tap roots, lateral roots and heart roots. However, in $Z_1\;and\;Z_2$ roots development were inhibited. The fine-root phytomass of the 6 planting ground types was as follows: $113.5g\;DM/m^2$ for $Z_5$, $105.5g\;DM/m^2$ for $Z_4$, $88.3g\;DM/m^2$ for $Z_3$, $81.0g\;DM/m^2$ for $Z_6$, $73.0g\;DM/m^2$ for $Z_2$, $43.3g\;DM/m^2$ for $Z_1$. The vertical distribution of the fine root phytomass decreased from the upper to the deeper soil profiles in the 6 mound types. The fine root phytomass was $43.3{\sim}71.8%$ in a $0{\sim}20cm$ thickness of soil layer and it decreased according to the distance from the nearest trees. The root growth in the improved soil was better than in the reclaimed soil from the sea. However, root growth decreased more in the disturbed soils even though the planting grounds contained the improved soils. The retarded development of roots and the spatial distribution patterns of the fine root phytomass were closely connected to the reclaimed soil from the sea. In the disturbed soil, the soil hardness and alkalic cation($Na^+,\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+}$). were high and the soil water was lacking. We suggest that the construction of planting grounds and the improvement of bad soil are necessary for the proper and effective growth of landscaping plants.