Overestimation of Crop Root Biomass in Field Experiments Due to Extraneous Organic Matter.

ABSTRACT: Root biomass is one of the most relevant root parameters for studies of plant response to environmental change, soil carbon modeling or estimations of soil carbon sequestration. A major source of error in root biomass quantification of agricultural crops in the field is the presence of extraneous organic matter in soil: dead roots from previous crops, weed roots, incorporated above ground plant residues and organic soil amendments, or remnants of soil fauna. Using the isotopic difference between recent maize root biomass and predominantly C3-derived extraneous organic matter, we determined the proportions of maize root biomass carbon of total carbon in root samples from the Swiss long-term field trial "DOK." We additionally evaluated the effects of agricultural management (bio-organic and

SUBMITTER: Hirte J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5331040 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature