... was shown that fine root growth, mortality and decompositionin 4-year -old stands was as high, if not higher, than in 1 0-, 2 9-, or 8 0- to 10 0- year -old stands of an oak-hickory forest.Wheredataonfinerootbiomassfromthe ... Rooting Densityin Old- Growth Forests Old- growth forests are the result of the long-term absence of stand-replacing dis-turbances (see Chap. 2 by Wirth et al., this volume). The old trees may comprise ... temperate forests in relation to soil acidity andfertility, climate, age and species. Prog Bot 64:405 4 38 10 Rooting Patterns of Old Growth Forests 227 Chapter 10Rooting Patterns of Old- Growth Forests: is...