Effects of three-dimensional soil heterogeneity and species composition on plant biomass and biomass allocation of grass-mixtures.

ABSTRACT: Soil heterogeneity significantly affects plant dynamics such as plant growth and biomass. Most studies developed soil heterogeneity in two dimensions, i.e. either horizontally or vertically. However, soil heterogeneity in natural ecosystems varies both horizontally and vertically, i.e. in three dimensions. Previous studies on plant biomass and biomass allocation rarely considered the joint effects of soil heterogeneity and species composition. Thus, to investigate such joint effects on plant biomass and biomass allocation, a controlled experiment was conducted, where three levels of soil heterogeneity and seven types of species compositions were applied. Such soil heterogeneity was developed by filling nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor substrates in an alternative pattern in pots with differ

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8255077 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature