Root biomass in cereals, catch crops and weeds can be reliably estimated without considering aboveground biomass

Hu, Teng; Sørensen, Peter; Wahlström, Ellen Margrethe; Chirinda, Ngonidzashe; Sharif, Behzad; Li, Xiaoxi; Olesen, Jørgen E.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2017.09.024

Cited by 58 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Here we used experimental data of root biomass and rhizodeposition for the same species of maize and winter wheat, but under different management practices, and combined them with a long‐term crop experiment. The single‐season data reported by Hirte et al (, b) in ZOFE suggest that the root biomass and rhizodeposition for maize and winter wheat could be decoupled from the harvest yield, confirming the findings of Hu et al (). The root biomass estimates obtained for maize with the S:R ratio approach were markedly different from the values measured by Hirte et al () (Table ) (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Taghizadeh‐Toosi et al () used the long‐term Broadbalk field experiment at Rothamsted, UK, to compare different methods for estimating root C input, and concluded that the traditional allometric functions based on the crop harvest yield could lead to large overestimates. Hu et al () carried out a meta‐analysis of published aboveground and root biomass data and reported that fixed root biomass for different management and crop classes from Denmark was a better approximation than the allometric relations. Here we used experimental data of root biomass and rhizodeposition for the same species of maize and winter wheat, but under different management practices, and combined them with a long‐term crop experiment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kolgomorov-Smirnov d statistics for parameter sensitivity analysis under the four objectives described in this study (total C 'Ctot,' total C and microbial biomass 'Ctot+Biom,' total C and soil basal respiration 'Ctot+Rsoil,' total C and results from a Zimmermann fractionation 'Ctot+Zim') using the C input estimate approach 'C Bolinder .' Parameters are: decomposable plant material kinetic constant (KDPM), resistant plant material kinetic constant (KRPM), microbial biomass kinetic constant (KBIO), humified organic matter kinetic constant (KHUM), inert organic matter pool (IOM), control-treatment transpiration coefficients for control, mineral fertilizer and farmyard-manure treatments (TRASP_NON, TRASP_NPK, TRASP_FYM), farmyard manure composition coefficients (DPM_RATIO and HUM_factor) large overestimates Hu et al (2018). carried out a metaanalysis of published aboveground and root biomass data and reported that fixed root biomass for different management and crop classes from Denmark was a better approximation than the allometric relations.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Multi‐objective calibration of RothC using measured carbon stocks and auxiliary data of a long‐term experiment in Switzerland

Cagnarini

Renella

Mayer

et al. 2019

European J Soil Science

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Interactions between model parameters and low spatiotemporal resolution of available data mean that conventional soil organic carbon (SOC) models are often affected by equifinality, with consequent uncertainty in SOC forecasts. Estimation of belowground C inputs is another major source of uncertainty in SOC modelling. Models are usually calibrated on SOC stocks and fluxes from long‐term experiments (LTEs), whereas other point data are not used for constraining the model parameters. We used data from an agricultural long‐term (>65 years) fertilization experiment to test a multi‐objective parameter estimation approach on the RothC model, combining SOC data from different fertilization treatments with microbial biomass, basal respiration and Zimmermann's fractions data. We also compared two methods to estimate the belowground C inputs: a conventional scaling of belowground biomass from crop harvest yield and an alternative approach based on constant belowground C for cereals measured experimentally in the field. The resulting posterior parameter distributions still suffered from some equifinality; the most stable C pool kinetic constants and composition of exogenous organic matter were the most sensitive parameters. The use of fixed belowground C inputs for cereals improved the model performance, reducing the importance of treatment‐specific parameters and processes. The introduction of microbial biomass and basal respiration data was effective for increasing determination of the calibration, but also suggested a change in the model structure: the microbial biomass pool, which is proportional to the C inputs in the traditional models, could be represented by different microbial physiology functions. Highlights Multi‐objective calibration with SOC and microbial or soil fractionation data can reduce model uncertainty. We compared different methods to estimate belowground C inputs on a long‐term trial in Switzerland. Fixed belowground C inputs measured in the field gave the best model performance. Microbial data can improve model calibration, but a change in model structure is suggested.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi‐objective calibration of RothC using measured carbon stocks and auxiliary data of a long‐term experiment in Switzerland

Cagnarini

Renella

Mayer

et al. 2019

European J Soil Science

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“…However, Hu et al . () found no relationship between shoot and root biomass of cereals when comparing organic and conventional systems. This lack of difference in root biomass and root C between cropping systems of different intensities was also found in our study (Table ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…inorganic fertilizer, organic manure, pesticides, tillage intensity) can affect root biomass (Van Noordwijk et al ., ; Swinnen et al ., ). Yet, there is growing evidence showing inconsistent management effects on root C inputs (Chirinda et al ., ; Lazicki et al ., ; Hu et al ., ). The addition of above‐ and belowground crop residues to soils increase their particulate organic matter (POM) content (Fronning et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Contributions from carbon and nitrogen in roots to closing the yield gap between conventional and organic cropping systems

Córdoba

Chirinda

et al. 2018

Soil Use and Management

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This study investigates the effect of different crop rotation systems on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in root biomass as well as on soil organic carbon (SOC). Soils under spring barley and spring barley/pea mixture were sampled both in organic and conventional crop rotations. The amounts of root biomass and SOC in fine (250–253 μm), medium (425–250 μm) and coarse (>425 μm) soil particulate organic matter (POM) were determined. Grain dry matter (DM) and the amount of N in harvested grain were also quantified. Organic systems with varying use of manure and catch crops had lower spring barley grain DM yield compared to those in conventional systems, whereas barley/pea showed no differences. The largest benefits were observed for grain N yields and grain DM yields for spring barley, where grain N yield was positively correlated with root N. The inclusion of catch crops in organic rotations resulted in higher root N and SOC (g C/m2) in fine POM in soils under barley/pea. Our results suggest that manure application and inclusion of catch crops improve crop N supply and reduce the yield gap between conventional and organic rotations. The observed positive correlation between root N and grain N imply that management practices aimed at increasing grain N could also increase root N and thus enhance N supply for subsequent crops.

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Smart integration of food and bioenergy production delivers on multiple ecosystem services

Koppelmäki

Lamminen

Helenius

et al. 2021

Food and Energy Security

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Agriculture is expected to feed an increasing global population while at the same time meeting demands for renewable energy and the supply of ecosystem services such as provision of nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. However, the current structure of the agricultural system works against meeting these expectations. The spatial separation of crop and livestock farms has created negative environmental consequences, and bioenergy production has created a trade‐off between food and energy production. In this paper, we explore the opportunities for ecological intensification at a regional scale made possible by combining food and energy production. We built three scenarios representing farming systems including biogas production using grass biomass and manure. These scenarios included the following: (a) The current system with energy production (CSE) from non‐edible agricultural biomasses (CSE). (b) Agroecological symbiosis (AES) identical to CSE except with 20% of the arable cropping area converted to clover‐grasses for use in biogas production. (c) Agroecological symbiosis with livestock (AES‐LST) where the available grass biomass (20% as in the AES) is fed to livestock and manure then used as a feedstock in biogas production. In each scenario, nutrients were circulated back to crops in the form of digestate. The supply of soil functions (primary production for food and energy, provision of nutrient cycling, and climate mitigation) and impacts on water quality through nutrient losses in these three scenarios were then compared to the current system. Integrating biogas production into food production resulted in an increased supply of nutrient recycling, reduced nutrient losses, and increased carbon inputs to the soils indicating enhanced climate mitigation. Food production was either not affected (CSE), increased (AES‐LST), or decreased (AES), and biogas was produced in substantial quantities in each scenario. Our study demonstrated potential synergies in integrating food and energy production without compromising other ecosystem services in each scenario.

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Root biomass in cereals, catch crops and weeds can be reliably estimated without considering aboveground biomass

Cited by 58 publications

References 41 publications

Multi‐objective calibration of RothC using measured carbon stocks and auxiliary data of a long‐term experiment in Switzerland

Multi‐objective calibration of RothC using measured carbon stocks and auxiliary data of a long‐term experiment in Switzerland

Contributions from carbon and nitrogen in roots to closing the yield gap between conventional and organic cropping systems

Smart integration of food and bioenergy production delivers on multiple ecosystem services

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