Fine root density and vertical distribution of Leucaena leucocephala and grasses in silvopastoral systems under two harvest intervals

Diurnal and seasonal variations on soil CO2 fluxes in tropical silvopastoral systems

“…If root growth is increased, there will be an increase in root respiration, and the total CO 2 fluxes from the soil should show an increase proportional to the increase in fine root respiration (Guntiñas, 2012). The above has been reported by Montejo‐Martínez (2020), who determined that the density of fine roots of P. maximum cv. Mombasa, when associated with L. leucocephala, was 0.14 mg of roots cm −3 of soil, compared with C. plestostachyus , which could explain greater dynamics concerning soil CO 2 fluxes.…”

“…The silty texture of the soil in L + P system could have facilitated a greater capacity for water infiltration and fine root activity during this period (Munroe & Isaac, 2014; Villanueva‐López et al ., 2016a, 2016b), which increase root respiration and consequently, increase soil CO 2 fluxes (Liu et al ., 2002; Joffre et al ., 2003; Neumann et al ., 2020). Some studies (Munroe e Isaac, 2014; Mattsson et al ., 2015; Montejo‐Martínez, 2020) showed that the roots are more easily distributed in deeper soil layers during the rainy season as a result of the growth of thicker tree roots. This facilitates the entry organic matter and water to deeper soil layers maintaining greater soil humidity for a longer period and regulate soil temperature, which in turn increased CO 2 fluxes from the soil in this period.…”

“…Reduced soil coverage during dry season in L + P favour water loss from the soil. In addition, C. plectostachyus grows more slowly with a lower production rate of foliar and root biomass compared with P. maximum , which is an improved species with high biomass productivity (including soil roots) (Montejo‐Martínez et al ., 2020). Such a fast growth in L + P was limited to rainy season while biomass growth in L + C was slow but uniform throughout the year.…”

“…This is because of its tolerance to grazing and its high production of quality forage, which contributes to animal production and the sustainability of the livestock systems (Titeux et al, 2016; López‐Santiago et al ., 2019). This legume has a root system with high exploration and foraging capacity, which improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil (Daly et al ., 2009; Montejo‐Martínez et al ., 2020). These characteristics of the root system maintain a good supply of quality organic matter to the soil and promote a greater diversity of soil organisms (Ramirez‐Barajas et al ., 2019).…”

Carbon contents and fine root production in tropical silvopastoral systems

“…FRP in pasturelands is supposed to incorporate more organic carbon to the soil, where most of the aboveground biomass (AGB) is removed by grazing animals. The inclusion of trees on grasslands can accumulate a substantial amount of C in AGB but the contribution to belowground biomass turnover and C storage in different silvopastoral systems (SPS) remain unclear (Montejo‐Martínez et al, 2020; van Noordwijk & van de Geijn, 1996; Yang, Tilman, Furey, & Lehman, 2019). Incorporating perennial vegetation in grazing lands can increase the depth of belowground C sequestration and help maintain the sequestered C in the soils by reducing heterotrophic soil respiration (Baah‐Acheamfour, Carlyle, Bork, & Chang, 2020; Trumbore et al, 2006; Villanueva‐López, Martínez‐Zurimendi, Ramírez‐Avilés, Aryal, & Casanova‐Lugo, 2016).…”