Effect of Manipulated Rainfall on Root Production and Plant Belowground Dry Mass of Different Grassland Ecosystems

Fiala, Karel; Tůma, Ivan; Holub, Petr

doi:10.1007/s10021-009-9264-2

Cited by 42 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In order to assess yearly root increments (root production), the in-growth core technique (Milchunas, 2012) was used in all sites (see Fiala, 1998Fiala, , 2000Fiala, , 2001Fiala et al, 2009Fiala et al, , 2012Holub et al, 2013a, b;Tomaškin, Tomaškinová, 2012). The same method used in all sites enables us to compare reliably summarised data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, both the positive and negative relationships of BNPP (or RNPP) to climatic variables have been found (see Introduction). Experimentally obtained data (Fiala et al, 2009(Fiala et al, , 2012 showed that there was positive effect of precipitation on root growth in various grasslands during 5 years. Similarly, water availability was the most limiting factor for f RNPP in tall prairie (Xu et al, 2012).…”

Section: Relationships Of F Rnpp and Climatic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Proportion of Root Production in Several Temperate Grasslands of Central Europe

Fiala¹,

Tůma²,

Holub³

2014

Ekologia

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fiala K., Tůma I., Holub P.: Proportion of root production in several temperate grasslands of Central Europe. Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 33, No. 3, p. 232-241, 2014. Variability in f RNPP , defined as the fraction of root net primary productivity (RNPP) to total net primary productivity (TNPP) [above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) + RNPP] were examined through synthesis of 40 samples from available field biomass data assessed by in-growth core and obtained at 13 grassland sites situated in different altitudes in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Results indicate that f RNPP varied from 0.05 to 0.59 across the compared sites. Submontane wet meadows had larger f RNPP and dry lowland grasslands had smaller f RNPP. However, extreme conditions of mountain sites were reflected in a decrease of f RNPP . Thus the relationship between values of f RNPP at different sites and altitudes was indicated by quadratic regression with the highest f RNPP coefficients in middle altitudes, where there were sufficient amounts of precipitation together with not so extremely cold temperatures. Results also indicate a high variability in f RNPP at a regional scale and along increasing altitude. These data show how important and different roles grasslands can play in accumulation and turnover of root biomass.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relationships Of F Rnpp and Climatic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Proportion of Root Production in Several Temperate Grasslands of Central Europe

Fiala¹,

Tůma²,

Holub³

2014

Ekologia

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similar rainout shelters are being used in many studies from the Patagonian Steppe, the Arctic Tundra, the short grass steppe, the Mediterranean and Californian grasslands to the southwestern rangelands of the US (Heisler-White et al 2008, Adler et al 2009, Fiala et al 2009, Levine et al 2010, Rao and Allen 2010, Matías et al 2011, Talmon et al 2011. The shelter design consists of a metal structure that supports V-shaped clear acrylic bands ('shingles').…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water controls on nitrogen transformations and stocks in an arid ecosystem

Reichmann¹,

Sala²,

Peters³

2013

Ecosphere

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Following water, nitrogen (N) is the most frequent limiting factor to aboveground net primary production in arid ecosystems. Increased water availability can stimulate both plant nitrogen uptake and microbial nitrogen mineralization, but may also stimulate losses from the ecosystem. Here, we assess the effect of water availability on nitrogen stocks and transformations in an arid ecosystem. We conducted a field experiment with five levels of precipitation input (À80%, À50%, ambient, þ50%, þ80%) and two levels of N fertilization (ambient or 10 gÁm À2 Áyr À1 NH 4 NO 3 ) in a desert grassland of the Chihuahuan Desert. We measured in situ net N mineralization, plant N uptake, foliar N, N leaching under grass-rooting zone, and soil N availability during two years. Our results showed that increased water availability did not affect net N mineralization, but there was higher plant N uptake than with drought. Soil inorganic N pools were 2-4 times lower with increased water availability compared to drought conditions. N leaching below grass-rooting zone was higher in dry than wet conditions because of higher available N. Increased water availability differentially affected N species significantly reducing the NO 3 :NH 4 ratio. The accumulation of inorganic N during drought was the result of a decoupling between microbial and plant activity, and suggests that the cycling of N is more open in dry years than in wet years.

show abstract

“…Global climate change may affect ecosystem functioning by increasing temperature and changing precipitation amounts and patterns (Fiala et al. ), and climate is the major factor influencing carbon fluxes in grasslands (Paruelo et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Above‐ and below‐ground biomass and carbon dynamics inBrazilianCerrado wet grasslands

Fidelis

Lyra

Pivello

2012

J Vegetation Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Questions Grasslands are usually neglected as potential carbon stocks, partially due to the lack of studies on biomass and carbon dynamics in tropical grasslands. What is the importance of Brazilian tropical wet grasslands as carbon sinks? Does fire frequency and season affect biomass and carbon allocation in Brazilian wet grasslands? Location Wet grasslands, tropical savanna, Jalapão, Tocantins, northern Brazil. Methods We determined biomass above‐ and below‐ground, estimated carbon stocks in biennially burned plots (B2) and plots excluded from fire for 4 yr (B4). Moreover, we determined biomass in both rainy and dry seasons. Samples were 0.25 m × 0.25 m × 0.2 m (eight samples per treatment, applying a nested design, total of 48 samples). The biomass was classified in above‐ground graminoids, forbs and dead matter, and below‐ground roots and other below‐ground organs. We used ANOVA to compare variables between treatments and seasons. Results More than 40% of the total biomass and carbon stocks were located below‐ground, mostly in roots. A high proportion of dead biomass (B4) was found in the above‐ground material, probably due to low decomposition rates and consequent accumulation over the years. Although these grasslands do not experience water stress, we found significant evidence of resource re‐allocation from below‐ground organs to the above‐ground biomass in the rainy season. Conclusions We found more dead biomass in the rainy season, probably due to low decomposition rates, which can increase fire risk in these grasslands during the following dry season. These tropical wet grasslands stored high amounts of carbon (621 to 716 g C.m−2), mostly in the roots. Thus, policymakers should consider tropical grasslands as potential carbon stocks, since they are one of the most threatened and unprotected ecosystems in Brazil.

show abstract

Effect of Manipulated Rainfall on Root Production and Plant Belowground Dry Mass of Different Grassland Ecosystems

Cited by 42 publications

References 31 publications

Proportion of Root Production in Several Temperate Grasslands of Central Europe

Proportion of Root Production in Several Temperate Grasslands of Central Europe

Water controls on nitrogen transformations and stocks in an arid ecosystem

Above‐ and below‐ground biomass and carbon dynamics inBrazilianCerrado wet grasslands

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About