Reconciling Root Segregation and Tragedy of the Commons: A Theoretical Foundation for Belowground Carbon Allocation in Vegetation

Plants allocate significant amounts of carbon to their roots, a process crucial for nutrient and water uptake. This study provides a theoretical framework for understanding belowground carbon allocation in vegetation. Our model reconciles seemingly contradictory experimental findings, such as root segregation, where plants avoid overlapping their roots, and the tragedy of the commons, where plants over-proliferate roots in shared soil spaces. By elucidating the mechanisms behind these seemingly disparate phenomena, our research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of plant root ecology and its implications for ecosystem function.