Spatial and temporal distribution of the root system and root nutrient content of an established Miscanthus crop

Neukirchen, D.; Himken, M.; Lammel, Joachim; Czypionka-Krause, U.; Olfs, H.‐W.

doi:10.1016/s1161-0301(99)00031-3

Cited by 130 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Trenches were 70 cm deep and lined with a double layer of thick polyethylene to exclude future root propagation; inspection for lateral root growth into the trenched plots revealed little evidence of Miscanthus roots but there was likely some that remained undetected. Although some studies report Miscanthus to be very deep rooting [47], the extent of this propagation is heavily influenced by the soil type [48]. Indeed, Monti and Zatta [49] noted that in a 5-year old plantation, almost 90 % of all roots were in the top 35 cm and less than 0.5 % of root dry weight was below 75 cm.…”

Section: Experimental Design and Environmental Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Inputs from Miscanthus Displace Older Soil Organic Carbon Without Inducing Priming

et al. 2016

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The carbon (C) dynamics of a bioenergy system are key to correctly defining its viability as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuel energy sources. Recent studies have quantified the greenhouse gas mitigation potential of these bioenergy crops, often concluding that C sequestration in soils plays a primary role in offsetting emissions through energy generation. Miscanthus is a particularly promising bioenergy crop and research has shown that soil C stocks can increase by more than 2 t C ha −1 yr −1 . In this study, we use a stable isotope ( 13 C) technique to trace the inputs and outputs from soils below a commercial Miscanthus plantation in Lincolnshire, UK, over the first 7 years of growth after conversion from a conventional arable crop. Results suggest that an unchanging total topsoil (0-30 cm) C stock is caused by Miscanthus additions displacing older soil organic matter. Further, using a comparison between bare soil plots (no new Miscanthus inputs) and undisturbed Miscanthus controls, soil respiration was seen to be unaffected through priming by fresh inputs or rhizosphere. The temperature sensitivity of old soil C was also seen to be very similar with and without the presence of live root biomass. Total soil respiration from control plots was dominated by Miscanthus-derived emissions with autotrophic respiration alone accounting for ∼50 % of CO 2 . Although total soil C stocks did not change significantly over time, the Miscanthus-derived soil C accumulated at a rate of 860 kg C ha −1 yr −1 over the top 30 cm. Ultimately, the results from this study indicate that soil C stocks below Miscanthus plantations do not necessarily increase during the first 7 years.

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Section: Experimental Design and Environmental Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Inputs from Miscanthus Displace Older Soil Organic Carbon Without Inducing Priming

et al. 2016

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“…The roots do need to turn over, however, to be incorporated into SOC, operationally defined as the < 2 mm soil size fraction, in order to contribute to sequestration. Perennial bioenergy crops allocate nutrients and C below ground to the root system during senescence in readiness for the following growing season [1,12], and some crops extend their root systems deep into the subsoil, especially Miscanthus [8,13,14]. In their comprehensive review, Agostini et al [15] found that root C stocks as an input were greater for willow (1.0 Mg ha −1 year −1 ) than Miscanthus (0.5 Mg ha −1 year −1 ), but that the latter had a greater mean residence time (1.3 years) than the former (1.8 years), based on the finer nature of willow roots and their fast turnover.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species and Genotype Effects of Bioenergy Crops on Root Production, Carbon and Nitrogen in Temperate Agricultural Soil

et al. 2018

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Bioenergy crops have a secondary benefit if they increase soil organic C (SOC) stocks through capture and allocation belowground. The effects of four genotypes of short-rotation coppice willow (Salix spp., 'Terra Nova' and 'Tora') and Miscanthus (M. × giganteus ('Giganteus') and M. sinensis ('Sinensis')) on roots, SOC and total nitrogen (TN) were quantified to test whether below-ground biomass controls SOC and TN dynamics. Soil cores were collected under ('plant') and between plants ('gap') in a field experiment on a temperate agricultural silty clay loam after 4 and 6 years' management. Root density was greater under Miscanthus for plant (up to 15.5 kg m −3 ) compared with gap (up to 2.7 kg m −3 ), whereas willow had lower densities (up to 3.7 kg m −3 ). Over 2 years, SOC increased below 0.2 m depth from 7.1 to 8.5 kg m −3 and was greatest under Sinensis at 0-0.1 m depth (24.8 kg m −3 ). Miscanthus-derived SOC, based on stable isotope analysis, was greater under plant (11.6 kg m −3 ) than gap (3.1 kg m −3 ) for Sinensis. Estimated SOC stock change rates over the 2-year period to 1-m depth were 6.4 for Terra Nova, 7.4 for Tora, 3.1 for Giganteus and 8.8 Mg ha −1 year −1 for Sinensis. Rates of change of TN were much less. That SOC matched root mass down the profile, particularly under Miscanthus, indicated that perennial root systems are an important contributor. Willow and Miscanthus offer both biomass production and C sequestration when planted in arable soil.

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“…tally determined characteristics (Neukirchen et al, 1999). Because of site conditions, developmental stage and genotype, root systems show wide variations both between and within species, which lead to variations in the efficiency of water and nutrient uptake (Kirkham et al, 1998;Neukirchen et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of site conditions, developmental stage and genotype, root systems show wide variations both between and within species, which lead to variations in the efficiency of water and nutrient uptake (Kirkham et al, 1998;Neukirchen et al, 1999). Crop specific information about root dynamics and root system size will greatly assist the estimation of the water and nutrient uptake and eco-adaptation in different plant species (Synman, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and spatial root biomass and water use efficiency of four forage legumes in semiarid northwest China

Xu¹,

Lun²,

Li³

et al. 2007

Afr. J. Biotechnol.

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Shoot biomass continued to increase from April to November for all the four legumes. In November, the root biomass for milkvetch and alfalfa accounted for about 2.93 and 2.30% of the total biomass (root plus shoot) respectively, while in sainfoin and L. davurica it accounted for 6.00 and 4.44% respectively. There were significant differences between the four legumes in WUE, and the order was same as shoot biomass, ranked as milkvetch>alfalfa>sainfoin>L. davurica. The seasonal and yearly high shoot biomass and low proportion of root biomass resulting to low root : shoot ratio may explain the significantly higher WUE of milkvetch and alfalfa in comparison to sainfoin and L. davurica.

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Spatial and temporal distribution of the root system and root nutrient content of an established Miscanthus crop

Cited by 130 publications

References 17 publications

Carbon Inputs from Miscanthus Displace Older Soil Organic Carbon Without Inducing Priming

Carbon Inputs from Miscanthus Displace Older Soil Organic Carbon Without Inducing Priming

Species and Genotype Effects of Bioenergy Crops on Root Production, Carbon and Nitrogen in Temperate Agricultural Soil

Seasonal and spatial root biomass and water use efficiency of four forage legumes in semiarid northwest China

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