Technical Note: A Rapid Method to Estimate Root Production in Grasslands, Shrublands, and Forests

Net primary production (NPP) is a critical ecosystem property that researchers and land managers attempt to quantify across ecosystems globally. Although the belowground NPP (BNPP) component of total NPP often contributes 50% or more to total NPP, it is infrequently measured due to the amount of lab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rangeland ecology & management 2021-05, Vol.76 (1), p.74-77
Main Author: Byrne, Kerry M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belowground net primary production
Belowground net primary production (BNPP)
Biomass
BNPP
Ecosystem management
fine root production (FRP)
Forests
Grasslands
Labor
Laboratories
Land management
Methods
Net Primary Productivity
Primary production
Rangelands
root biomass
root ingrowth core
Shrublands
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Summary:Net primary production (NPP) is a critical ecosystem property that researchers and land managers attempt to quantify across ecosystems globally. Although the belowground NPP (BNPP) component of total NPP often contributes 50% or more to total NPP, it is infrequently measured due to the amount of labor involved. Here, I present a rapid method to estimate BNPP or fine root production in rangelands using sequential or root ingrowth cores and modifications to existing root-washing methods. The details provided should allow anyone to estimate BNPP in rangelands worldwide with minimal investment in materials and labor.
ISSN:1550-7424
1551-5028
DOI:10.1016/j.rama.2021.02.004