Below ground carbon inputs to soil via root biomass and rhizodeposition of field-grown maize and wheat at harvest are independent of net primary productivity

Bolinder, M. A., Kätterer, T., Poeplau, C., Börjesson, G. and Parent, L. E. 2015. Net primary productivity and below-ground crop residue inputs for root crops: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 87–93. Root crops are significant in agro-ecosystems of temperate climates. However, the amounts of crop residues for these crop types are not well documented and they need to be accounted for in the modeling of soil organic carbon dynamics. Our objective was to review field measurements of root biomass left in the soil as crop residues at harvest for potato and sugar beet. We considered estimates for crop residue inputs as root biomass presented in the literature and some unpublished results. Our analysis showed that compared to, for example, cereals, the contribution of below-ground net primary productivity (NPP) to crop residues is at least two to three times lower for root crops. Indeed, the field measurements indicated that root biomass for topsoils only represents on average 25 to 30 g dry matter (DM) m−2 yr−1. Other estimates, albeit variable and region-specific, tended to be higher. We suggest relative plant DM allocation coefficients for agronomic yield (RP), above-ground biomass (RS) and root biomass (RR) components, expressed as a proportion of total NPP. These coefficients, representative for temperate climates (0.739:0.236:0.025 for potato and 0.626:0.357:0.017 for sugar beet), should be useful in the modeling of agro-ecosystems that include root crops.

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Effect of fertilization on below-ground plant mass of submontane Polygono-Cirsietum meadow

Beskydy ◽

10.11118/beskyd201306010033 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 33-42

Author(s):

Petr Holub ◽

Ivan Tůma ◽

Karel Fiala

Keyword(s):

Primary Productivity ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Growing Season ◽

Dry Mass ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Below Ground ◽

Turn Over ◽

Different Levels

We assessed below-ground net primary productivity (BNPP) in the wet submontane Cirsium meadow occurred in the highland region of the Czech Republic. Effect of four different fertilization levels on BNPP was estimated in 1992. At the beginning of the growing season (April 29), total dry mass of rhizomes, roots and total below-ground plant parts of unfertilized stand reached 177, 1478 and 1657 g.m-2, respectively. Their living parts formed 42 % of their total dry mass. In comparison with unfertilized stands, however, the greatest accumulation of dry mass of rhizomes (504 g.m-2), roots (1503 g.m-2) and total below-ground dry mass (2008 g.m-2) was reached after application of 90 kgN.ha-1. Similarly, the highest BNPP values for living (435 g.m-2.yr-1) and total below-ground dry mass (351 g.m-2.yr-1) were calculated for the stand affected by the same amount of fertilization. These data show how variable role grasslands can play in accumulation and turn over of root biomass due to different levels of fertilization.

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Above- and below-ground net primary productivity across ten Amazonian forests on contrasting soils

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-6-2759-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. 2759-2778 ◽

Cited By ~ 156

Author(s):

L. E. O. C. Aragão ◽

Y. Malhi ◽

D. B. Metcalfe ◽

J. E. Silva-Espejo ◽

E. Jiménez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Clay Content ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Major Elements ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Root Production ◽

Below Ground ◽

Amazonian Forests

Abstract. The net primary productivity (NPP) of tropical forests is one of the most important and least quantified components of the global carbon cycle. Most relevant studies have focused particularly on the quantification of the above-ground coarse wood productivity, and little is known about the carbon fluxes involved in other elements of the NPP, the partitioning of total NPP between its above- and below-ground components and the main environmental drivers of these patterns. In this study we quantify the above- and below-ground NPP of ten Amazonian forests to address two questions: (1) How do Amazonian forests allocate productivity among its above- and below-ground components? (2) How do soil and leaf nutrient status and soil texture affect the productivity of Amazonian forests? Using a standardized methodology to measure the major elements of productivity, we show that NPP varies between 9.3±1.3 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 (mean±standard error), at a white sand plot, and 17.0±1.4 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 at a very fertile Terra Preta site, with an overall average of 12.8±0.9 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. The studied forests allocate on average 64±3% and 36±3% of the total NPP to the above- and below-ground components, respectively. The ratio of above-ground and below-ground NPP is almost invariant with total NPP. Litterfall and fine root production both increase with total NPP, while stem production shows no overall trend. Total NPP tends to increase with soil phosphorus and leaf nitrogen status. However, allocation of NPP to below-ground shows no relationship to soil fertility, but appears to decrease with the increase of soil clay content.

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Above- and below-ground net primary productivity across ten Amazonian forests on contrasting soils

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-6-2441-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 2441-2488 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

L. E. O. C. Aragão ◽

Y. Malhi ◽

D. B. Metcalfe ◽

J. E. Silva-Espejo ◽

E. Jiménez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Clay Content ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Major Elements ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Root Production ◽

Below Ground ◽

Amazonian Forests

Abstract. The net primary productivity (NPP) of tropical forests is one of the most important and least quantified components of the global carbon cycle. Most relevant studies have focused particularly on the quantification of the above-ground coarse wood productivity, and little is known about the carbon fluxes involved in other elements of the NPP, the partitioning of total NPP between its above- and below-ground components and the main environmental drivers of these patterns. In this study we quantify the above- and below-ground NPP of ten Amazonian forests to address two questions: (1) How do Amazonian forests allocate productivity among its above- and below-ground components? (2) How do soil and leaf nutrient status and soil texture affect the productivity of Amazonian forests? Using a standardized methodology to measure the major elements of productivity, we show that NPP varies between 9.3±1.3 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 (mean±standard error), at a white sand plot, and 17.0±1.4 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 at a very fertile Terra Preta site, with an overall average of 12.8±0.9 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. The studied forests allocate on average 64±3% and 36±3% of the total NPP to the above- and below-ground components, respectively. The ratio of above-ground and below-ground NPP is almost invariant with total NPP. Litterfall and fine root production both increase with total NPP, while stem production shows no overall trend. Total NPP tends to increase with soil phosphorus and leaf nitrogen status. However, allocation of NPP to below-ground shows no relationship to soil fertility, but appears to decrease with the increase of soil clay content.

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Comprehensive description of the carbon cycle of an ancient temperate broadleaved woodland

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-7-3735-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 3735-3763 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K. Fenn ◽

Y. Malhi ◽

M. Morecroft ◽

C. Lloyd ◽

M. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Carbon Cycle ◽

Eddy Covariance ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Ecosystem Respiration ◽

Stem Respiration ◽

Ecosystem Carbon ◽

Deciduous Woodland ◽

Below Ground ◽

Eddy Covariance Measurements

Abstract. There exist very few comprehensive descriptions of the productivity and carbon cycling of forest ecosystems. Here we present a description of the components of annual Net Primary Productivity (NPP), Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration, and ecosystem respiration (RECO) for a temperate mixed deciduous woodland at Wytham Woods in southern Britain, calculated using "bottom-up" biometric and chamber measurements (leaf and wood production and soil and stem respiration). These are compared with estimates of these parameters from eddy-covariance measurements made at the same site. NPP was estimated as 7.0±0.8 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, and GPP as 20.3+1.0 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, a value which closely matched to eddy covariance-derived GPP value of 21.1 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Annual RECO was calculated as 18.9±1.7 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, close to the eddy covariance value of 19.8 Mg C ha−1 yr−1; the seasonal cycle of biometric and eddy covariance RECO estimates also closely matched. The consistency between eddy covariance and biometric measurements substantially strengthens the confidence we attach to each as alternative indicators of site carbon dynamics, and permits an integrated perspective of the ecosystem carbon cycle. 37% of NPP was allocated below ground, and the ecosystem carbon use efficiency (CUE, = NPP/GPP) calculated to be 0.35±0.05, lower than reported for many temperate broadleaved sites.

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Root Growth Responses of Melilotis indicus (L.) All. to Air Pollution

Ecoprint An International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.3126/eco.v16i0.3470 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

pp. 29-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohammad Saquib

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Power Plant ◽

Root Growth ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Root Length ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Coal Consumption ◽

Middle Stage ◽

Source Of Pollution

The root length, root biomass and net primary productivity of Melilotus indicus were studied at the monthly intervals from a wheat cropland, growing at the four selected sites situated at 0.5, 2, 4 and 20 km leeward from the source of pollution caused by coal burning of a thermal power plant of Kasimpur (U.P, India). Root growth varied with the level of pollution, age of the stand and the coal consumption rate as well as the release of major gases from the power plant. The data indicate that the degree of response increased with decreasing distance from the source of pollution. The root length and root biomass were affected significantly at the 0.5 and 2 km. respectively in the seedling stage, while in the middle and old stages the loss significantly increased up to 4 km in comparison to the reference site situated at 20 km away from the source of pollution. The percent loss in the root growth of M. indicus increased from seedling to middle stage and decline at the old stage. Root length, root biomass and net primary productivity suffered greater in the middle stage, may be due to high coal consumption and greater release of gaseous pollutants from the power plant. The root length and root biomass showed a significant positive relationship with the distance from the source.Key words: Air pollution, root growth, Melilotus indicus, wheat cropland, biomass. DOI: 10.3126/eco.v16i0.3470ECOPRINT 16: 29-34, 2009

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