Beskydy 2013, 6, 33-42

https://doi.org/10.11118/beskyd201306010033

Effect of fertilization on below-ground plant mass of submontane Polygono-Cirsietum meadow

Petr Holub1, Ivan Tůma2, Karel Fiala3

1Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Bělidla 4a, Brno CZ-603 00, Czech Republic
2Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
3Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Lidická 25, CZ-602 00 Brno, Czech Republic

We assessed below-ground net primary productivity (BNPP) in the wet submontane Cirsium meadow occurred in the highland region of the Czech Republic. Effect of four different fertilization levels on BNPP was estimated in 1992. At the beginning of the growing season (April 29), total dry mass of rhizomes, roots and total below-ground plant parts of unfertilized stand reached 177, 1478 and 1657 g.m-2, respectively. Their living parts formed 42 % of their total dry mass. In comparison with unfertilized stands, however, the greatest accumulation of dry mass of rhizomes (504 g.m-2), roots (1503 g.m-2) and total below-ground dry mass (2008 g.m-2) was reached after application of 90 kgN.ha-1. Similarly, the highest BNPP values for living (435 g.m-2.yr-1) and total below-ground dry mass (351 g.m-2.yr-1) were calculated for the stand affected by the same amount of fertilization. These data show how variable role grasslands can play in accumulation and turn over of root biomass due to different levels of fertilization.

References

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