1 Aims
The aim of this project is to assess the viability of using soil respiration measurements to locate the outer extent of tree roots. There is currently no non-invasive method for doing this. It also aims to add to the understanding of soil respiration and its relationship with tree roots. A further aim is to assess the tree protection zone defined in AS4970 (Protection of trees on development sites) and determine its adequacy.
2 Background and knowledge gaps
There has been a considerable amount of research conducted into soil respiration over two centuries, and numerous studies have attempted to isolate its components – which include respiration by roots and organisms in the rhizosphere (Luo & Zhou, 2006). Read the rest of this entry »