Abstract
Background: Standing root biomass stocks are larger in the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth and Dewey) than annual spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, previous studies have not separated root growth from root decomposition, which presents a significant gap in our understanding of how roots can contribute to soil organic carbon (C) accrual or other soil properties through time. Methods: We used paired sequential coring and root ingrowth cores to measure standing root stock, new root production, root decomposition, and decomposed root C and N from 0 to 15 cm soil depth of 1-year-old IWG (IWG-1), 2-year-old IWG (IWG-2), and annual spring wheat. Results: Standing root stock was 3.2–6.5 and 6.3–9.9 times higher in IWG-1 and IWG-2 than wheat. Total root production was 1.7 times greater in IWG-1 than IWG-2. Conversely, root decomposition almost doubled from 1.39 to 2.43 kg m−3 between IWG-1 and IWG-2. Conclusions: In IWG, decreased root production and increased root decomposition with stand age suggest a change in growth strategy that could reduce the contribution of root-derived C to stabilized soil C pools as IWG stands age.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 57-68 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Grassland Research |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Authors. Grassland Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Chinese Grassland Society and Lanzhou University.
Keywords
- Kernza
- intermediate wheatgrass
- perennial grain
- root decomposition
- root growth
- root ingrowth cores
- root–soil interactions