Objective Earlier afforestation of agricultural land with monocultures has in many areas been characterized by shortened rotations, extensive damage and nutrient losses, which heavily reduces the profitability. Because afforestaion of farm land, sustainable forest ecosystems and reduced losses of nutrients to aquatic ecosystems are central goals for future land use, tools for the establishment of sustainable forests must be developed. Among such tools should be 'rooting maps' and 'root/shoot ratio graphs' used by foresters and afforestation planners doing 'site mapping'. The objectives of this proposal are: 1) a coordinated international 'mapping' of root architecture of several important tree species m Europe; 2) the development of root/shootratio graphs for the same species, and 3) to enhance knowledge about root physiology through experiments related to plant handling and site variation. Comparable quantitative descriptions of these parameters shall be carried out for important tree species over a range of soil types and ageclasses. This has never been done before. Several information gaps have been identified by the formulation of a mechanistic, qualitative model for root development, and the proposal includes experiments to fill these gaps. Advanced theoretical concepts, methods and equipment have already been developed by the different participants, but the exchange of this expertise between participants is not realised. A complete and disciplined cooperation on theory and methods is required to establish internationally comparable results, which are necessary to achieve the goals of the proposal. The results of the proposal will increase the quality of forest decisions in terms of breeding, choice of tree species and stand structure. This will decrease the cost benefitratio of afforestation, enhance wind stability and ecosystem sustainablity. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturenatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologylimnology Programme(s) FP3-AIR - Specific research and technological development and demonstration programme (EEC) in the field of agriculture and agro-industry, including fisheries, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 121 - Silvicultural planning and management Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator DANISH FOREST AND LANDSCAPE RESEARCH EU contribution No data Address SKOVBRYNET 16 2800 LYNGBY Denmark See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Association Forêt-Cellulose (AFOCEL) France EU contribution No data Address 164 boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris See on map Total cost No data COILLTE TEORANTA Ireland EU contribution No data Address SIDMONTON PLACE 27 BRAY See on map Total cost No data FORESTRY COMMISSION RESEARCH AGENCY United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham FARNHAM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITY GOETTINGEN Germany EU contribution No data Address Wilhelmsplatz 1 37073 GOETTINGEN See on map Total cost No data Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) France EU contribution No data Address Centre de Recherche de Nancy Champenoux 54280 Seichamps See on map Total cost No data