Root mass distribution patterns under standardised conditions in species of Chionochloa and Festuca from New Zealand

Species of Festuca maintained at least 40% of the root mass in the upper 10 cm of the column and most of the Chionochloa taxa had less than 40% of root mass in the upper zone. Genotype level variation in root mass less than 10 cm deep was greater in Chionochloa than in Festuca, and least in the edaphic specialist grasses.