| | |
Summary: Journal of
Arid
Environments
Journal of Arid Environments 61 (2005) 185192
Response of two perennial grasses to root barriers
and fissures
P.N. JurenaĆ, S. Archer1
Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station,
TX 78243-2126, USA
Received 19 January 2004; received in revised form 24 August 2004; accepted 10 September 2004
Available online 23 November 2004
Abstract
Above- and belowground biomass of contrasting grass growth forms (Hilaria belangeri--
shortgrass vs. Bouteloua curtipendula--mid-height grass) was quantified with respect to partial
root barriers (at 35 cm soil depth) with artificial fissures. We hypothesized (a) growth would be
greatest in the absence of a barrier; and (b) the shallow-rooted H. belangeri would be relatively
less affected by barriers with fissures than B. curtipendula. Alternatively (c) B. curtipendula
with its deeper root system would exploit fissures and access the resources below barriers
better than H. belangeri. The parameters used to evaluate these hypotheses for plants grown in
subirrigated 150 cm pots included above- and belowground biomass after 4 months and
|
