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#root:shoot ratio

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

Ecosystem Ecology & PRODUCTIVITY

What is the root:shoot ratio order (highest to lowest)?

Root-to-shoot allocation increases when plants must invest heavily below ground to obtain limiting water or nutrients and to survive grazing, drought, or cold. Temperate grasslands commonly have the highest ratios in this comparison because perennial grasses maintain dense root systems and substantial below-ground storage while above-ground tissues die back seasonally or are removed by herbivores and fire. Tropical grasslands also allocate strongly to roots under seasonal drought but often maintain more annual shoot growth. Tropical dry forests invest below ground to withstand prolonged dry se

Ref: Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, Begon et al., 5th Ed., Ch. 17

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Ecosystem Ecology

Which biome shows highest root:shoot ratio?

Temperate grasslands commonly allocate a large proportion of plant biomass below ground, giving them a high root-to-shoot ratio. Dense fibrous roots and below-ground storage organs permit survival through drought, cold, fire, and grazing, while rapidly capturing water and mineral nutrients. Forests invest more standing biomass in trunks, branches, and leaves, lowering the ratio despite substantial roots. Tropical grasslands generally face different seasonal and thermal constraints. Energy is lost as metabolic heat at every trophic transfer, while elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus are re

Ref: Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, Begon et al., 5th Ed., Ch. 17-19

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