Aboveground traits define differences in biomass allocation among 16 prairie species

Abstract

Prairie plants of the U.S. Midwest are used for stormwater management because of their purported belowground biomass, but species‐specific data are lacking by which hundreds of prairie species may be evaluated with respect to potential biomass. We hypothesize that aboveground traits could be used to define differences in biomass accumulation to leaves, stems, and roots among prairie plants. Sixteen species of wet‐mesic prairie vegetation common to urban plantings of the Midwest were grown in monoculture to quantify accumulated biomass after 2 yr. Species were grouped in accordance with aboveground morphology and flowering phenology to test for differences in biomass accrual and crown characteristics. Although the species of forbs were as different from one another in leaf, stem, and root biomass as were all forbs together vs. graminoids, grouping plants by aboveground form and flowering phenology helped discern functional differences. Differences among groupings based on aboveground traits are supported by conceptual frameworks through which plant biomass accrual is linked to crown height, leaf area, and growth strategy. These results suggest aboveground traits could inform the selection and/or substitution of prairie species for different uses within urban plantings.