A comparative study of root characteristics of three gramineous herbage species in the Northwest Sichuan Plateau

doi:10.11686/cyxb2020415

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to restore degraded alpine grassland in the Northwest Sichuan to sustainability， it is essential to have an understanding of the structure and function of the underground ecosystem and knowledge of the root characteristics of three cultivated herbage species. This study investigated the root characteristics and soil environment of cultivated herbage of Festuca rubra， Elymus nutans and Elymus sibiricus， using minirhizotron in situ monitoring technology and laboratory experiments. The results showed that： 1） There were obvious seasonal rhythms in the root growth of the three cultivated herbage species. The growth peak was from May to July， the peak of root standing crop was from July to August， and the death peak was from August to September. 2） The root standing crop of the three cultivated herbage species decreased significantly with soil depth （P<0.05）. E. sibiricus had significantly higher root standing crop than F. rubra and E. nutans （P<0.05）； the root production and mortality of F. rubra were the highest， and it’s root net growth rate was the lowest. 3） The root turnover of F. rubra was significantly higher than that of E. sibiricus and E. nutans， and turnover of F. rubra increased significantly with soil depth （P<0.05）. 4） Structural equation modeling revealed that herbage species and soil depth not only directly affected root characteristics， but also had indirect effects on root tips and root dynamic characteristics by changing soil stoichiometric ratios and soil physicochemical properties， thus affecting root turnover. In conclusion， there were significant differences in root growth and resource acquisition among the three cultivated herbage species. The strategy of shortening root longevity and accelerating root turnover was used by F. rubra to ensure nutrient absorption efficiency， while E. sibiricus and E. nutans used the strategy of increasing root production and prolonging root longevity to slow down root turnover， and thereby reduced carbon consumption of the root system while simultaneously increasing carbon sink function so as to adapt to the alpine environment.

Key words: artificial grassland, grassland restoration, root characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, minirhizotron

Si-li LIU, Chang-ting WANG, Chang-bing ZHANG, Lei HU, Li-tao TANG, Pan PAN. A comparative study of root characteristics of three gramineous herbage species in the Northwest Sichuan Plateau[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(3): 41-53.

Figures/Tables 8

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土层深度Soil depth (cm)	牧草种类 Herbage species	根尖数Root tips	根系现存量Root standing crop	根系生产量Root production	根系死亡量Root mortality	根系净生长速率RLD_NGR	根系周转率Root turnover rate	根系寿命Root longevity	综合评判 Synthetic evaluation	排名Ranking
0~10	紫羊茅 F. rubra	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.96	0.00	1.00	0.00	0.28	3
	垂穂披碱草 E. nutans	0.61	0.64	0.82	0.00	1.00	0.32	1.00	0.63	2
	老芒麦 E. sibiricus	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	0.74	0.00	0.84	0.80	1
10~20	紫羊茅 F. rubra	0.01	0.00	1.00	1.00	0.00	1.00	0.00	0.43	2
	垂穂披碱草 E. nutans	0.00	0.06	0.14	0.08	1.00	0.34	0.55	0.31	3
	老芒麦 E. sibiricus	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.00	0.81	0.00	1.00	0.54	1

土层深度Soil depth (cm)	牧草种类 Herbage species	根尖数Root tips	根系现存量Root standing crop	根系生产量Root production	根系死亡量Root mortality	根系净生长速率RLD_NGR	根系周转率Root turnover rate	根系寿命Root longevity	综合评判 Synthetic evaluation	排名Ranking
0~10	紫羊茅 F. rubra	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.96	0.00	1.00	0.00	0.28	3
	垂穂披碱草 E. nutans	0.61	0.64	0.82	0.00	1.00	0.32	1.00	0.63	2
	老芒麦 E. sibiricus	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	0.74	0.00	0.84	0.80	1
10~20	紫羊茅 F. rubra	0.01	0.00	1.00	1.00	0.00	1.00	0.00	0.43	2
	垂穂披碱草 E. nutans	0.00	0.06	0.14	0.08	1.00	0.34	0.55	0.31	3
	老芒麦 E. sibiricus	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.00	0.81	0.00	1.00	0.54	1

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