a plant use in maintenance? This, is minus any growth (trunk; root; vining/reaching new area). Sorry, but I can't find a simple stat as to how much of a plants life is dedicated to general maintenance. Granted, there may be more expended after a limb or branch loss, but an RMR "resting metabolic rate", as in humans, for plants. A plant in good health and condition, all things being equal, in a vacuum per se, expends what in energy in it's day to day metabolism minus it's growth efforts? Or, anyone know where I can find such a stat? I've tried to Google, but I get everything from power plants to limb repair solution ratios. A solid approximation from a well educated/experienced person can do if not too debatable. Thanks, :) L
hi, I am afraid that you are not going to find a simple figure as different plants have different growth/survival/reproductive strategies. To take extremes, a long-lived tree and a short lived annual are going to allocate different amounts of energy into maintenance structures. To get better results on a google search try plant (or tree) growth energy (or resource) allocation A useful book (very technical) is "Plant Physiological Ecology" Lambers, Hans et al 2008 - you can read some of it online through Google Books. The pie chart on p 133 might be what you are looking for ...or how about the diagram at the bottom of page 139 on Pinus contorta. Good Luck ! Brian
I think the information you are looking for is probably to be found in scientific journals, which often won't let you view any content without paying for a subscription. Did you try google scholar/books? You might be able to find some information you can view without having to pay...