Grasslands store large stocks of soil organic carbon(SOC) in the subsoil, but our knowledge of belowground processes becomes less robust with depth. Vertically explicit SOC models typically assume that the depth distr...Grasslands store large stocks of soil organic carbon(SOC) in the subsoil, but our knowledge of belowground processes becomes less robust with depth. Vertically explicit SOC models typically assume that the depth distribution of belowground production follows the depth distribution of belowground biomass, but this assumption has not been tested. In addition to the effects of soil temperature and moisture on decomposition, some vertically explicit SOC models implement an intrinsic decrease in belowground decomposition with depth, yet this effect has rarely been observed empirically. We simultaneously measured the depth distributions of belowground biomass, production, and litter decomposition to assess whether belowground biomass depth distributions were suitable predictors of belowground production and whether belowground decomposition decreased with soil profile depth. We found that live and total(live +dead) belowground biomass was distributed relatively more shallowly than total belowground production, and thus total belowground biomass was a biased predictor of the vertical distribution of belowground production. The depth distribution of live roots < 2 mm in diameter was found to be the best predictor of total belowground production depth distribution. Using an intact decay core method,we found that belowground litter decomposition decreased by 49% from 0–10 to 30–40 cm depth, and model-simulated effects of soil temperature and moisture accounted for only 9% of the observed decrease with depth. Vertically explicit SOC models can be improved with more accurate empirical belowground production depth distribution estimates, but depth-specific decomposition rates currently implemented in SOC models are necessary to explain observed decreases in belowground litter decay with depth.展开更多
基金funded through a grant from the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Environmental and Economic Research and Development Program awarded to the second author M.E.Dornbush,K.Fermanich,J.Stoll,and P.Baumgart through the Environmental Management and Business Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay,USAfunded through the Barbra Hauxhurst Cofrin Graduate Research Fellowship in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay,USA
文摘Grasslands store large stocks of soil organic carbon(SOC) in the subsoil, but our knowledge of belowground processes becomes less robust with depth. Vertically explicit SOC models typically assume that the depth distribution of belowground production follows the depth distribution of belowground biomass, but this assumption has not been tested. In addition to the effects of soil temperature and moisture on decomposition, some vertically explicit SOC models implement an intrinsic decrease in belowground decomposition with depth, yet this effect has rarely been observed empirically. We simultaneously measured the depth distributions of belowground biomass, production, and litter decomposition to assess whether belowground biomass depth distributions were suitable predictors of belowground production and whether belowground decomposition decreased with soil profile depth. We found that live and total(live +dead) belowground biomass was distributed relatively more shallowly than total belowground production, and thus total belowground biomass was a biased predictor of the vertical distribution of belowground production. The depth distribution of live roots < 2 mm in diameter was found to be the best predictor of total belowground production depth distribution. Using an intact decay core method,we found that belowground litter decomposition decreased by 49% from 0–10 to 30–40 cm depth, and model-simulated effects of soil temperature and moisture accounted for only 9% of the observed decrease with depth. Vertically explicit SOC models can be improved with more accurate empirical belowground production depth distribution estimates, but depth-specific decomposition rates currently implemented in SOC models are necessary to explain observed decreases in belowground litter decay with depth.
