Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production
Minirhizotrons were used to study root growth characteristics in recently established fields dominated by perennial C4-grasses that were managed either for cattle grazing or biomass production for bioenergy in Virginia, USA. Measurements over a 13-month period showed that grazing resulted in smaller...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2013-07-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/3/3/508 |
| _version_ | 1818935966592663552 |
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| author | Rattan Lal Benjamin Tracy Joao Flores Catherine Bonin |
| author_facet | Rattan Lal Benjamin Tracy Joao Flores Catherine Bonin |
| author_sort | Rattan Lal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Minirhizotrons were used to study root growth characteristics in recently established fields dominated by perennial C4-grasses that were managed either for cattle grazing or biomass production for bioenergy in Virginia, USA. Measurements over a 13-month period showed that grazing resulted in smaller total root volumes and root diameters. Under biomass management, root volume was 40% higher (49 vs. 35 mm3) and diameters were 20% larger (0.29 vs. 0.24 mm) compared to grazing. While total root length did not differ between grazed and biomass treatments, root distribution was shallower under grazed areas, with 50% of total root length in the top 7 cm of soil, compared to 41% in ungrazed exclosures. These changes (i.e., longer roots and greater root volume in the top 10 cm of soil under grazing but the reverse at 17–28 cm soil depths) were likely caused by a shift in plant species composition as grazing reduced C4 grass biomass and allowed invasion of annual unsown species. The data suggest that management of perennial C4 grasslands for either grazing or biomass production can affect root growth in different ways and this, in turn, may have implications for the subsequent carbon sequestration potential of these grasslands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:28:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d3fe955784d4646837d6efa279b7c47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:28:34Z |
| publishDate | 2013-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d3fe955784d4646837d6efa279b7c472022-12-21T19:51:48ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952013-07-013350852310.3390/agronomy3030508Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass ProductionRattan LalBenjamin TracyJoao FloresCatherine BoninMinirhizotrons were used to study root growth characteristics in recently established fields dominated by perennial C4-grasses that were managed either for cattle grazing or biomass production for bioenergy in Virginia, USA. Measurements over a 13-month period showed that grazing resulted in smaller total root volumes and root diameters. Under biomass management, root volume was 40% higher (49 vs. 35 mm3) and diameters were 20% larger (0.29 vs. 0.24 mm) compared to grazing. While total root length did not differ between grazed and biomass treatments, root distribution was shallower under grazed areas, with 50% of total root length in the top 7 cm of soil, compared to 41% in ungrazed exclosures. These changes (i.e., longer roots and greater root volume in the top 10 cm of soil under grazing but the reverse at 17–28 cm soil depths) were likely caused by a shift in plant species composition as grazing reduced C4 grass biomass and allowed invasion of annual unsown species. The data suggest that management of perennial C4 grasslands for either grazing or biomass production can affect root growth in different ways and this, in turn, may have implications for the subsequent carbon sequestration potential of these grasslands.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/3/3/508prairie plantsminirhizotronrootsgrazingbiofuels |
| spellingShingle | Rattan Lal Benjamin Tracy Joao Flores Catherine Bonin Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production Agronomy prairie plants minirhizotron roots grazing biofuels |
| title | Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production |
| title_full | Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production |
| title_fullStr | Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production |
| title_short | Root Characteristics of Perennial Warm-Season Grasslands Managed for Grazing and Biomass Production |
| title_sort | root characteristics of perennial warm season grasslands managed for grazing and biomass production |
| topic | prairie plants minirhizotron roots grazing biofuels |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/3/3/508 |
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