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Grassland root demography responses to multiple climate change drivers depend on root morphology

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Abstract

Aims

We examine how root system demography and morphology are affected by air warming and multiple, simultaneous climate change drivers.

Methods

Using minirhizotrons, we studied root growth, morphology, median longevity, risk of mortality and standing root pool in the upper soil horizon of a temperate grassland ecosystem for 3 years. Grassland monoliths were subjected to four climate treatments in a replicated additive design: control (C); elevated temperature (T); combined T and summer precipitation reduction (TD); combined TD and elevated atmospheric CO2 (TDCO2).

Results

Air warming (C vs T) and the combined climate change treatment (C vs TDCO2) had a positive effect on root growth rate and standing root pool. However, root responses to climate treatment varied depending on diameter size class. For fine roots (≤ 0.1 mm), new root length and mortality increased under warming but decreased in response to elevated CO2 (TD vs TDCO2); for coarse roots (> 0.2 mm), length and mortality increased under both elevated CO2 and combined climate change drivers.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the standing roots pool in our grassland system may increase under future climatic conditions. Contrasted behaviour of fine and coarse roots may correspond to differential root activity of these extreme diameter classes in future climate.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Patrick Pichon, Nicolas Deltroy, Amélie Cantarel for their help with data collection and site management during the study period. Katja Klumpp is acknowledged for improving a previous version of the paper. This study received financial support via a doctoral fellowship from the Region Auvergne and the INRA (EFPA Department) awarded to RP, a CNRS postdoctoral fellowship awarded to JMGB, an IFB-GICC project grant, an ANR [French national research agency] project grant, and the EC FP6 ‘NitroEurope-IP’ project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, UR874, Grassland Ecosystem Research Team, 5 chemin de Beaulieu, 63100, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    R. Pilon, C. Picon-Cochard, J. M. G. Bloor, S. Revaillot, R. Falcimagne & J.-F. Soussana

  2. INRA, UR341, Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France

    E. Kuhn

  3. Irstea, Research Unit on Forest Ecosystems (EFNO), 45290, Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France

    P. Balandier

  4. INRA, UMR547 PIAF, 234 avenue du Brézet, 63100, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    P. Balandier

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  1. R. Pilon
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  2. C. Picon-Cochard
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  3. J. M. G. Bloor
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  4. S. Revaillot
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  5. E. Kuhn
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  6. R. Falcimagne
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  7. P. Balandier
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  8. J.-F. Soussana
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Correspondence to C. Picon-Cochard.

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Pilon, R., Picon-Cochard, C., Bloor, J.M.G. et al. Grassland root demography responses to multiple climate change drivers depend on root morphology. Plant Soil 364, 395–408 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1371-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1371-8

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