Belowground productivity of roots and rhizomes in a giant cordgrass marsh |
| |
Authors: | Courtney T. Hackney Armando A. de la Cruz |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 28403-3297, Wilmington, North Carolina
|
| |
Abstract: | Belowground production of roots and rhizomes in the top 20 cm of soil was 2.2 kg m?2 yr?1 based on a maximum minus minimum estimation procedure in a giant cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth) marsh in Mississippi. Approximately 1.9 kg m?2 (86%) of this production occurred in late spring-summer and 0.3 kg m?2 in late fall. This estimate ignores any production below 20 cm depth and is thus an underestimate. Production values increased to 4.0 kg m?2 yr?1 using Smalley’s technique and accounting for decomposition. Aboveground tissues (leaves and stems) were depleted in nitrogen in July which corresponded to peaks in both above- and belowground biomass. The low root/shoot ratio (2.6) on this marsh does not suggest that growth is nutrient limited. Indeed, total productivity (above- and belowground) for this marsh was high (between 4.4 and 6.2 kg m?2 yr?1). |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |