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Seasonal patterns of belowground biomass and productivity in mountain grasslands in the Pyrenees

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Abstract

Given the importance of root dynamics for soil C storage, the aim of this study was to analyze first the seasonal dynamics of belowground productivity and then the short-term effects of grazing exclosure on root dynamics in mountain grasslands. Soil coring and root ingrowth cores were used to assess belowground biomass (BGB) and productivity in grazed and ungrazed (grazing exclosures) plots in two mountain grasslands. Annual belowground production ranged from 472 to 590 g m−2, representing from 14 to 22% of the maximum root biomass measured over the year. Spring was the most productive season, accounting for more than 50% of total annual production, indicating that factors besides temperature may affect seasonal root dynamics. Although belowground production was much higher in the top 5 cm compared to deeper, the relative productivity rate (production-to-BGB ratio) and renewal time was higher at the subsurface (5–15 cm) layer. The contribution of the subsurface layer to total belowground production increased in spring, possibly due to occasional freezing events at the uppermost layer in the early growing season. The stronger seasonality in subsurface relative productivity rates may reflect depth-dependent changes in root characteristics and lifespan. Excluding grazing increased belowground productivity in summer, but its effects on BGB showed great variability between sites.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (MEC) within the framework of the Carbopas (REN2002-04300-C02-02) project and by the European Comission under Carbomont project (EVK1-CT-2001-00125). This research was also supported by the Balangeis project (SUM2006-0030-CO2-02), Agroeco II (CGL2009-13497-CO2-02) and the Graccie project (Consolider Nº 22422) launched by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. The authors thank Josefina Plaixats and Jordi Bartolomé (UAB) for their contributions to the experimental set up and CEAM foundation for providing climate data of Alinyà. We are grateful to the local shepherds of Alinyà and La Vansa i Fórnols for providing the cattle and collaborating in the implementation of the grazing treatments. Fundació Caixa Catalunya provided the experimental site in Alinyà.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC), Ctra. St. Llorenç de Morunys km. 2, 25280, Solsona, Catalonia, Spain

    Jordi Garcia-Pausas, Pere Casals, Sara Vallecillo & Maria-Teresa Sebastià

  2. Department de Productes Naturals, Biologia Vegetal i Edafologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Joan Romanyà

  3. Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària, Universitat de Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

    Maria-Teresa Sebastià

Authors
  1. Jordi Garcia-Pausas
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  2. Pere Casals
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  3. Joan Romanyà
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  4. Sara Vallecillo
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  5. Maria-Teresa Sebastià
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Correspondence to Jordi Garcia-Pausas.

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Responsible Editor: Harry Olde Venterink.

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Garcia-Pausas, J., Casals, P., Romanyà, J. et al. Seasonal patterns of belowground biomass and productivity in mountain grasslands in the Pyrenees. Plant Soil 340, 315–326 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0601-1

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