Quantitative Study of Root Systems in Different Soil Types

Weaver, J. E.; Darland, R. W.

doi:10.1126/science.110.2850.164

Cited by 18 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The total amount of WS grass roots was greater than that of CS grasses at soil depths deeper than 28 cm. The highest proportion (70 to 80%) of roots for most WS perennial grass species has been found to be in the upper 30 cm of soil (Kitchen et al 2009;Kucera and Dahlman 1968;Weaver and Darland 1949). However, the remaining roots that are distributed deeper in the soil may have a greater physiological importance than shallow roots for accessing available moisture, especially during drought.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root Growth of Two Perennial Grass Types and Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) in Temperate Grasslands of North America

Han

Young

2014

Invasive plant sci. manag.

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Root architecture of prairie grasslands, which depends on plant phenology and edaphic conditions, strongly influences susceptibility to invasion by nonindigenous plant species. Field studies were conducted to compare in situ root growth patterns of warm-season (WS) and cool-season (CS) perennial grasses and musk thistle during a 2-yr period that included a drought in the second year. In 2 yr, CS grasses had the highest amount of roots (1,296 m roots m−2 [395 ft roots ft−2]) across shallow (0 to 28 cm [0 to 11 in.]), medium (28 to 56 cm), and deep (56 to 98 cm) depths with 65% occurring in the shallow depths. However, roots of WS grasses were always greater at deeper depths compared to roots of CS grasses. The amount of new roots in CS grasses was statistically different in 2011 (F2,43 = 33.3, P < 0.0001) at all depths for vegetative (April to May), inflorescence (June), and dormant (July to November) stages. In 2012, the amount of new roots in CS and WS grasses was statistically different (F2,60 = 81.7, P < 0.0001 and F2,37 = 8.0, P = 0.0013), respectively, for vegetative (April to May), inflorescence (May to June), and dormant (June to November) stages. For both years, the amount of new roots in the CS grasses showed an interaction between the three growth stages and three soil depths (F2,62 = 33.3, P < 0.0001 [2011]; F4,60 = 18.6, P < 0.0001 [2012]). From germination to senescence, the total amount of musk thistle roots was 298 m roots m−2, which was less than the CS (1,296 m roots m−2) and WS (655 m roots m−2) grasses. The largest proportion of new musk thistle roots (61%) (F2,42 = 40.4, P < 0.0001) occurred during the bolting stage (April to June) of the second year. These results show the difference in root distribution of two grass types and the niches that are created underground by extraneous conditions (e.g., drought) in WS grass stands that may contribute to the establishment of musk thistle, an invasive plant species in many North American regions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root Growth of Two Perennial Grass Types and Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) in Temperate Grasslands of North America

Han

Young

2014

Invasive plant sci. manag.

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“…Conversely, C. drummondii and R. glabra are clonal shrubs that possess functional deep roots (Weaver, ; Weaver & Darland, ) and can shift reliance from shallow to deep water during dry periods (Ratajczak et al, ). As such, C. drummondii likely utilized shallow water during the early, wetter portion of the growing season, which would explain the high daily E C exhibited by this species when VPD was lower (Figure a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging the Flux Gap: Sap Flow Measurements Reveal Species‐Specific Patterns of Water Use in a Tallgrass Prairie

et al. 2020

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Predicting the hydrological consequences following changes in grassland vegetation type (i.e., woody encroachment) requires an understanding of water flux dynamics at high spatiotemporal resolution for predominant species within grassland communities. However, grassland fluxes are typically measured at the leaf or landscape scale, which inhibits our ability to predict how individual species contribute to changing ecosystem fluxes. We used external heat balance sap flow sensors and a hierarchical Bayesian state‐space modeling approach to bridge this “flux gap” and estimate continuous species‐level water flux in common tallgrass prairie species. Specifically, we asked the following: (1) How do diurnal and nocturnal water fluxes differ among woody and herbaceous plants? (2) How sensitive are woody and herbaceous species to environmental drivers of diurnal and nocturnal water flux? We highlight three results: (1) Cornus drummondii, the primary woody encroacher in this grassland, exhibited the greatest canopy‐level water loss; (2) nocturnal transpiration was a large component of the water lost in this ecosystem and was driven primarily by C4 grasses and C. drummondii; and (3) the sensitivity of canopy transpiration to environmental drivers varies among plant functional types and throughout a 24‐hr period. Our data reveal important insights regarding the water use strategies of woody versus herbaceous species in tallgrass prairies and about the potential hydrological consequences of ongoing woody encroachment. We suggest that the high, static flux rates observed in woody species will likely deplete deep water stores over time, potentially creating hydrological deficits in grasslands experiencing woody encroachment and concomitantly increasing the vulnerability of these ecosystems to drought.

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Untersuchungen über organisch gebundenen Kohlenstoff in landwirtschaftlich genutzten Böden 1. Der Einfluß des Wurzelwachstums von Winterweizen auf den Kohlenstoffgehalt der Krume des Ackerbodens

Sauerlandt

Groetzner

1953

Z. Pflanzenernaehr. Dueng. Bodenk.

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Quantitative Study of Root Systems in Different Soil Types

Cited by 18 publications

References 2 publications

Root Growth of Two Perennial Grass Types and Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) in Temperate Grasslands of North America

Root Growth of Two Perennial Grass Types and Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) in Temperate Grasslands of North America

Bridging the Flux Gap: Sap Flow Measurements Reveal Species‐Specific Patterns of Water Use in a Tallgrass Prairie

Untersuchungen über organisch gebundenen Kohlenstoff in landwirtschaftlich genutzten Böden 1. Der Einfluß des Wurzelwachstums von Winterweizen auf den Kohlenstoffgehalt der Krume des Ackerbodens

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