Fig. 1

Changes in the allocation of biomass by year, seedling planting density, and taproot pruning status. a Total plant biomass. b Leaf mass fraction (LMF). c Stem mass fraction (SMF). d Root mass fraction (RMF). e Fine root mass fraction (fRMF). One-way ANOVA results were obtained for values within an experimental year, then Tukey’s test was performed: a Total plant mass (second year F = 1.00, p = 0.397; fourth year F = 3.60, p = 0.016; fifth year F = 0.98, p = 0.625); b LMF (second year F = 1.68, p = 0.178; fourth year F = 0.97, p = 0.406; fifth year F = 2.63, p = 0.61); c SMF (second year F = 0.48, p = 0.690; fourth year F = 3.97, p = 0.010; fifth year F = 5.98, p = 0.001); d RMF (second year F = 1.06, p = 0.369; fourth year F = 4.81, p = 0.003; fifth year F = 5.70, p = 0.002); e fRMF (second year F = 1.10, p = 0.351; fourth year F = 6.40, p = 0.001; fifth year F = 1.09, p = 0.361). Values marked with different letters are significantly different at p < 0.05 (Tukey’s test). Treatments were matched as follows: seedling density per container (four or eight) and pruning status (C = control and P = seedlings with pruned taproots). Number of analyzed seedlings; 2012—4C = 24, 4P = 24, 8C = 24, 8P = 16; 2014—4C = 24, 4P = 8, 8C = 32, 8P = 32; 2015—4C = 12, 4P = 8, 8C = 16, 8P = 16