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Biomass and nutrient dynamics of dominant plant species from heathlands

  • Chapter
Heathlands

Part of the book series: Geobotany ((GEOB,volume 20))

Abstract

Primary production, litter production, nutrient uptake and nutrient loss are important characteristics of the functioning of any ecosystem. They determine the stocks and the flows of carbon and nutrients in the plant compartment of the ecosystem. These processes are rather well documented for the aboveground part of many plant communities: in grasslands (Sims & Singh 1978; Berendse 1983; Bobbink et al. 1989), arctic tundras (Johnson & Tieszen 1976; Chapin et al. 1986), forests (Pastor et al. 1984; Stachurski & Zimka 1975; Boerner 1984; Kost & Boerner 1985), wetlands (Small 1972a,b; Verhoeven & Arts 1987; Bernard et al. 1988; Wallén et al. 1988) and heathlands (Chapman 1967; Gimingham 1972; Chapman et al. 1975a,b; Berendse et al. 1987a,b; Wallén 1987). However, due to methodological difficulties reliable data on belowground productivity and nutrient turnover are scarce. This is a serious problem in most ecosystem studies as root production very often exceeds shoot production (Caldwell & Camp 1974; Coleman et al. 1976; Lauenroth & Whitman 1977; Sims & Singh 1978; Persson 1978), thus determining to a large extent the input (quantitatively and qualitatively) of organic matter and nutrients into the soil. So, in order to understand the functioning of a heath-land ecosystem, data on belowground processes should be included.

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  1. R. Aerts
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R. Aerts G. W. Heil

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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Aerts, R. (1993). Biomass and nutrient dynamics of dominant plant species from heathlands. In: Aerts, R., Heil, G.W. (eds) Heathlands. Geobotany, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8230-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8230-8_3

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