The effect of mineral fertilization on belowground plant biomass of grassland ecosystems

Abstract

TOMAŠKIN JÁN, JANČOVIČ JÁN, VOZÁR ĽUBOŠ, TOMAŠKINOVÁ JUDITA: The eff ect of mineral fertilization on belowground plant biomass of grassland ecosystems. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 5, pp. 1431-1440 Aim of the work was to determine the eff ect of diff erent doses of mineral fertilization on belowground and aboveground plant biomass production of three diff erent types of grasslands, to state R:S ratio (root:shoot) and turnover period of belowground plant biomass of grasslands. In the contribution, we assess production of underground biomass, tillering zone and aboveground biomass on three types of grasslands -permanent grassland (PG), over-sown grassland (OSG) and temporary grassland (TG) in sub-mountain area of central Slovakia. There were applied four levels of mineral nutrition in each grassland (non-fertilized variant, var. 30 kg.ha −1 P and 60 kg.ha −1 K. var. 90 kg.ha −1 N + P 30 K 60 , var. 180 kg.ha −1 N + P 30 K 60 ). The root biomass has the most signifi cant share in the total biomass of grasslands (49.9-54.2 %), followed by tillering zone (33.3-36.0 %) and with the lowest share of aboveground biomass (11.9-16.8 %). A dominant share of root biomass and tillering zone ensure signifi cant extraproductive functions of grasslands that contribute to the stability of agriculture landscape. We recorded the lowest amounts of root mass on TG (7.31 t.ha ). The specifi c nitrogen stimulating infl uence on root biomass production has been proven. Production of tillering zone was lower on OSG and TG (5.11 or 5.42 t.ha −1 ), signifi cantly higher on PG (5.72 t.ha −1 ). We observed a signifi cantly higher production of tillering zone with variants which were fertilized with nitrogen than on non-fertilized and PK fertilized. The lowest harvests of aboveground biomass were noticed on TG (5.80 t.ha −1 ), signifi cantly higher on PG and OSG (6.35 or 6.54 t.ha −1 ). Mineral nutrition had a signifi cant impact on production of aboveground biomass. R:S ratio of the assessed grasslands achieved the values from 4.02 to 5.16. Higher values on PG (5.16) are indicating its higher resistance to drought. Turnover time of root biomass was the longest on PG 3.5-5.0 years, on OSG and TG 2.5-3.5 years. Based on achieved results, we recommend using the fodder plants cultivation system on PG or OSG. Permanent grasslands are proved as ecologically more stable and more resistant to drought than temporary grasslands; they can together with optimal mineral nutrition provide adequate production of root biomass (8.5 t.ha −1 ) and a harvest of aboveground biomass (6.3 t.ha −1 ). aboveground biomass, grass sod, grassland, plant biomass, root, R:S ratio, tillering zone, turnover time of root biomass Grass ecosystems are providing besides a productive function also signifi cant extraproductive functions (erosion control, retention, biofi ltration, environmental). Grass sod (root biomass and tillering zone) provides these functions and makes a dominant 80-85 % share in total product...

The Effect of Fertilization and Grazing Applications on Root Length and Root Biomass of Some Rangeland Grasses

“…Heggenstaller et al (2009) emphasized that nitrogen fertilization has a positive effect on yieldand root biomass of grasses. In addition, some studies have reported that fertilization increases root biomass (Tewari and Joshi, 1985;Rajaniemi et al, 2003;Tomaškin et al, 2013); nevertheless, low dose fertilization increases root biomass and high doses cause a decrease (Holub et al, 2013). The data of the current study differed from other researchers (Pucheta et al, 2004;Glab and Kacorzyk, 2011;Ladwig et al, 2012;Balogianni et al, 2014), due to different environmental conditions and management applications (Nippert et al, 2012;Yan et al, 2013), different amounts of fertilizer (Holub et al, 2013) and different grazing intensity and ungrazing applications (McNaughton et al, 1998).…”

Effect of nitrogen on the distribution of biomass and element composition of the root system of miscanthus × giganteus

“…In our experiment in pots, we established that the increasing amounts of applied N had an effect on the distribution of formed biomass of the root system. The specific N-stimulating influence on root biomass production in grasslands (Tomaškin et al, 2013) is apparently not expressed in miscanthus. We have found, with the increase in the quantities of applied N, that the percentage of the mass of roots and small roots after harvest, in the second season of miscanthus growing, increases, to the detriment of the rhizome mass (Table 1).…”

Above and Below Ground Biomass and Carbon Stock in Permanent Grasslands of Slovakia

“…In general, the BGB was greater by a factor of 3.15. In many grasslands, BGB plant biomass is greater than AGB biomass, in some cases even by a factor of five or more (Tomaškin et al 2013) and this is even typically greater in grasslands with high water and nutrient limitations like in our monitored grasslands (Blair et al 2014). The total DMY (Table 3) shows no significant differences between the five sites.…”