Abstract
Aims: Root architecture drives plant ecology and physiology, but current detection methods limit understanding of root placement within soil profiles. We developed a statistical model of root volume along depth gradients and used it to infer carbon storage potential of land-use changes from conventional agriculture to perennial bioenergy grasses. Methods: We estimated root volume of maize-soybean rotation and three perennial grass systems (Miscanthus × giganteus, Panicum virgatum, tallgrass prairie mix) by Bayesian modeling from minirhizotron images, correcting for small images and near-surface underdetection. We monitored seasonal and inter-annual changes in root volume distribution, then validated our estimates against root mass from core samples. Results: The model explained 29% of root volume variation and validated well against core mass. Seventh-year perennials had greater belowground biomass than maize-soybean both in total (11-16×) and throughout the profile (2-17× at every depth < 120 cm). Perennials’ relative depth allocations were stable over time, while total root volume increased through five years. In 2012 a historically hot, dry summer damaged maize while perennials appeared resilient, suggesting their large-deep root systems aid drought resistance. Conclusions: Perennial root systems are large, deep, and persistent. Converting row crops to perennial bioenergy grasses likely sequesters carbon in a large, potentially very stable, soil pool.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 391-404 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Plant and Soil |
| Volume | 419 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Bayesian modeling
- Minirhizotron
- Root allocation
- Root volume
- Stan
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Soil Science
- Plant Science
Cite this
Root volume distribution of maturing perennial grasses revealed by correcting for minirhizotron surface effects. / Black, Christopher K.; Masters, Michael D.; LeBauer, David Shaner; Anderson-Teixeira, Kristina J.; Delucia, Evan H.
In: Plant and Soil, Vol. 419, No. 1-2, 01.10.2017, p. 391-404.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Root volume distribution of maturing perennial grasses revealed by correcting for minirhizotron surface effects
AU - Black, Christopher K.
AU - Masters, Michael D.
AU - LeBauer, David Shaner
AU - Anderson-Teixeira, Kristina J.
AU - Delucia, Evan H
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - Aims: Root architecture drives plant ecology and physiology, but current detection methods limit understanding of root placement within soil profiles. We developed a statistical model of root volume along depth gradients and used it to infer carbon storage potential of land-use changes from conventional agriculture to perennial bioenergy grasses. Methods: We estimated root volume of maize-soybean rotation and three perennial grass systems (Miscanthus × giganteus, Panicum virgatum, tallgrass prairie mix) by Bayesian modeling from minirhizotron images, correcting for small images and near-surface underdetection. We monitored seasonal and inter-annual changes in root volume distribution, then validated our estimates against root mass from core samples. Results: The model explained 29% of root volume variation and validated well against core mass. Seventh-year perennials had greater belowground biomass than maize-soybean both in total (11-16×) and throughout the profile (2-17× at every depth < 120 cm). Perennials’ relative depth allocations were stable over time, while total root volume increased through five years. In 2012 a historically hot, dry summer damaged maize while perennials appeared resilient, suggesting their large-deep root systems aid drought resistance. Conclusions: Perennial root systems are large, deep, and persistent. Converting row crops to perennial bioenergy grasses likely sequesters carbon in a large, potentially very stable, soil pool.
AB - Aims: Root architecture drives plant ecology and physiology, but current detection methods limit understanding of root placement within soil profiles. We developed a statistical model of root volume along depth gradients and used it to infer carbon storage potential of land-use changes from conventional agriculture to perennial bioenergy grasses. Methods: We estimated root volume of maize-soybean rotation and three perennial grass systems (Miscanthus × giganteus, Panicum virgatum, tallgrass prairie mix) by Bayesian modeling from minirhizotron images, correcting for small images and near-surface underdetection. We monitored seasonal and inter-annual changes in root volume distribution, then validated our estimates against root mass from core samples. Results: The model explained 29% of root volume variation and validated well against core mass. Seventh-year perennials had greater belowground biomass than maize-soybean both in total (11-16×) and throughout the profile (2-17× at every depth < 120 cm). Perennials’ relative depth allocations were stable over time, while total root volume increased through five years. In 2012 a historically hot, dry summer damaged maize while perennials appeared resilient, suggesting their large-deep root systems aid drought resistance. Conclusions: Perennial root systems are large, deep, and persistent. Converting row crops to perennial bioenergy grasses likely sequesters carbon in a large, potentially very stable, soil pool.
KW - Bayesian modeling
KW - Minirhizotron
KW - Root allocation
KW - Root volume
KW - Stan
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85026906882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85026906882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11104-017-3333-7
DO - 10.1007/s11104-017-3333-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85026906882
VL - 419
SP - 391
EP - 404
JO - Plant and Soil
JF - Plant and Soil
SN - 0032-079X
IS - 1-2
ER -