Vertical distribution of root biomass and soil carbon stocks in forage cropping systems

Background and aims Forage cropping systems may differentially affect the vertical distribution of roots and soil organic C stock (C-OM). In annual crops sequences (ACS) and perennial pastures (PP), we assessed the association between root biomass, C-OM, C in mineral-associated organic matter (C-MAO...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 2018-02, Vol.423 (1/2), p.175-191
Main Authors: Ojeda, Jonathan Jesus, Caviglia, Octavio Pedro, Agnusdei, Mónica Graciela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural practices
Biomass
Biomass energy
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Crop rotation
Cropping sequence
Cropping systems
Crops
Distribution
Ecology
Energy crops
Environmental aspects
Forage
Forage crops
Forage plants
Grasses
Life Sciences
Lolium arundinaceum
Nonlinear analysis
Organic matter
Organic soils
Particulate organic matter
Pasture
Perennial crops
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Regression analysis
Regular Article
Roots
Roots (Botany)
Soil carbon
Soil depth
Soil improvement
Soil Science & Conservation
Soil stabilization
Vertical distribution
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Summary:Background and aims Forage cropping systems may differentially affect the vertical distribution of roots and soil organic C stock (C-OM). In annual crops sequences (ACS) and perennial pastures (PP), we assessed the association between root biomass, C-OM, C in mineral-associated organic matter (C-MAOM), and C in particulate organic matter (C-POM) and its vertical distribution. Methods Root biomass, C-OM, C-MAOM and C-POM were measured in a Petrocalcic Argiudol at five soil depths up to 100 cm during two years in the south-eastern Pampas of Argentina. The field experiment comprised 28 plots including five perennial pastures and two annual crop sequences. Associations between variables were assessed by regression analysis and non-linear models. Results Overall, ACS and PP had similar cumulative root biomass. Both, root biomass and soil C stocks exponentially decreased with soil depth. Soil C stocks associated to root biomass tended to stabilize over a threshold value of root biomass for C-MAOM and C-OM. C-POM tended to stabilize over a threshold value only in treatments that included tall fescue. Conclusions Our results highlights the key role of roots to improve soil C stocks through the design of forage crop rotations that include crops able to increase root inputs to the soil, such as tall fescue.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-017-3502-8