Root and rhizome systems of perennial grasses grown in Inner Mongolian grassland, China

Abstract

The root and rhizome systems of dominant perennial grasses in Inner Mongolian grassland were clarified. We surveyed the vertical distribution of root and rhizome biomass in the natural stands, and the changes of under‐ground biomass and the branching pattern of rhizomes for transplanted plants in a container experiment. Most roots of Leymus chinensis, Bromus inermis, Elymus dahuricus and Agropyron cristatum were distributed in the soil depth of 0–10 cm. Roots of E. dahuricus and A. cristatum were distributed in a shallower soil layer, but those of L. chinensis and B. inermis were distributed in a deeper soil layer. Biomass of above‐ground parts increased with growth, resulting in a decreasing ratio of under‐ground parts to total biomass. Rhizomes of L. chinensis and B. inermis were distributed in the soil depth of 0–10 cm, but E. dahuricus and A. cristatum did not have rhizomes. L. chinensis had longer rhizomes and new ramets were produced away from their mother plant. B. inermis had many short rhizomes and produced daughter plants near their mother plant.

Germination characteristics of four common perennial grasses of Inner Mongolian grassland, China

“…A. cristatum is a bunch‐forming grass lacking rhizomes, whereas B. inermis is a sod‐forming grass that propagates both via rhizomes and seeds (Ao et al . ). Although they showed similar germination characteristics, the role of propagation via seeds in the whole population cycle differs between these species.…”

“…L. chinensis is a dominant species of the natural grassland of this area, and forms a dense sod through its extensive rhizome system (Ao et al . ). Liu and Han () experimentally showed that a vegetation gap is required for the successful emergence and establishment of L. chinensis seedlings, and they reported that the requirement for a fluctuating temperature for germination is a gap‐detecting mechanism.…”

“…In a previous report (Ao et al . ), we examined the underground architecture of these four species (including L. chinensis ). All of the species are perennials, but they showed characteristic underground architectures: A. cristatum and E. dahuricus lacked rhizomes and formed separate bunches, B. inermis produced many short rhizomes, and L. chinensis produced fewer and longer rhizomes (Ao et al .…”

Assessing Impacts of Crested Wheatgrass AND Native Species Establishment on Soil Characteristics in Reclaimed LAND Using Bayesian Posterior Predictive Distributions

“…Belowground properties in areas dominated by crested wheatgrass have also been examined. Compared with native perennial grasses, crested wheatgrass has been shown to contribute less carbon and nitrogen to the soil in root exudates (Biondini et al, 1988), root biomass can be similar (Broersma et al, 2000) or lower (Smoliak & Dormaar, 1985;Christian & Wilson, 1999), and roots are typically coarser and inhabit shallower depths (Dormaar et al, 1995;Ao et al, 2009). As a result of lower root inputs, soils beneath crested wheatgrass stands may contain lower amounts of organic matter (Dormaar et al, 1995), less mineral and total nitrogen, and less total carbon (Christian & Wilson, 1999) than those beneath native perennial grass stands.…”