So the elements that make up the dead and rotting root become available to the plant again via the new roots? A recycling of the N, etc., like a tree recycles the N in its leaves before dropping them?
Understandably, as any plant increases in mass it develops a more massive root systems. But monocots shed old roots as part of the process?
In both cases, then, root boundedness stresses the plant (Al's point), but in subtly different ways (CP's point).
Fascinating, no?
