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The importance of limestone bedrock and dissolution karst features on tree root distribution in northern Yucatán, México

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Abstract

Background and Aims

With limited soil depth in northern Yucatán (<30 cm), roots grow deeper through rock fractures and dissolution karst features (i.e., cavities, including soil-filled ones known as soil pockets). We assessed the importance of limestone bedrock and dissolution karst features on tree root growth.

Methods

Fieldwork was conducted in a limestone quarry where the relative proportions of rock matrix, empty cavities, and soil pockets were calculated by observing recently exposed walls. Physical properties of rocks, topsoil, and soil pockets were analyzed. Root distribution was assessed and roots identified.

Results

Soil pockets represented 9% of the rock matrix. The physical properties of rock layers were different with depth. Available water capacity is higher in soil (0.11 m-3 m-3) than in rock layers (<0.05 m-3 m-3). But potential available water was much higher in subsurface features than top soil.

Conclusions

Dissolution karts features allow roots to grow deep into the bedrock, tapping water stored there. Although the limestone upper layer in northern Yucatan is highly restrictive to root growth, subsurface limestone layers and soil pockets are not restrictive and can hold important amounts of water.

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Acknowledgments

We thank CONACyT-UCMEXUS for the scholarship granted to the first author for doctoral studies at the University of California, Riverside. This work was supported by UCMEXUS through the projects: “Importance of limestone bedrock and subsurface pockets of soil as potential sources of water for dry deciduous tree species in northern Yucatán” and “Water contribution by limestone bedrock and subsurface soil pockets and topsoil effect on the water use efficiency of two tree species in Yucatan, Mexico”; grants from the National Science Foundation (DEB 0615427, EF0410408, and CRR-0120778), and the UCR Center for Conservation Biology. We would like to thank the owners of the quarry, especially Héctor Buenfil Cervera; the workers of the quarry, especially Roger Armando Fernández Paredes, and Augusto Cervera Buenfil for helping with the work logistics; Alfonso Castillo, María José Romero, Raúl Hernandez and Ariel Esparza for helping with the field and laboratory work. Special thanks to Paul Stenberg for his help on the soil and rock analyses. Thanks to Roberto C. Barrientos Medina for his assistance with the statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Manejo y Conservación de Recursos Naturales Tropicales (PROTROPICO), Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CCBA), Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), Km 15.5 carretera Mérida - Xmatkuil, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, C.P. 97315

    Héctor Estrada-Medina & Juan José Jiménez-Osornio

  2. Soil and Water Sciences Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    Robert C. Graham

  3. Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    Michael F. Allen

  4. Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Puebla, Vía Atlixcáyotl 2301, Puebla, Mexico, C.P. 72800

    Said Robles-Casolco

Authors
  1. Héctor Estrada-Medina
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  2. Robert C. Graham
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  3. Michael F. Allen
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  4. Juan José Jiménez-Osornio
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  5. Said Robles-Casolco
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Correspondence to Héctor Estrada-Medina.

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Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

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Estrada-Medina, H., Graham, R.C., Allen, M.F. et al. The importance of limestone bedrock and dissolution karst features on tree root distribution in northern Yucatán, México. Plant Soil 362, 37–50 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1175-x

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