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Root biomass in timothy and red clover leys estimated by soil coring and mesh bags

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

E. Steen
E. Steen
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Environmental Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7072, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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Summary

Root biomass of timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.), at low and high N fertilization rates, and of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were estimated with soil cores and in mesh bags in a field trial on a sandy loam in central Sweden. First and second full-harvest year leys were sampled three times each year from May to October. Mesh bags were inserted in the soil in autumn shortly after sowing (longterm bags); in spring and autumn of the first year and in spring of the second year (medium-term bags); and every third month during both years (short-term bags). Mesh bags of each type were sampled when the soil cores were taken.

Root biomass in the long-term bags was generally about the same as that in the soil cores, but taproot biomass in the clover crop was underestimated in the bags. In the grass plots, differences between soil cores and mesh bags were probably caused by ingrowth of weed roots in bags and by larger root biomass in plant rows than between rows. If soil cores and long-term mesh bags are sampled in exactly the same way identical estimates of biomass should be obtained.

Root biomass in short-term and medium-term bags was about the same as that in the soil cores and long-term bags on many of the sampling occasions. Thus a stable level of biomass was reached in a rather short time, i.e. after 3 months or less. Then root production, root mortality and root decomposition occurred simultaneously at a fairly constant level.

The bags did not contain residues from earlier crops, which reduced the amount of separation work necessary. The absence of crop residues in the bags did not seem to affect root biomass.

The mesh bag method is a useful alternative to soil core sampling for studying root biomass and root dynamics in perennial and annual crops. However, the bags must be inserted into the soil just after sowing and they must be placed in, as well as between, plant rows.

Type
Review
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 113 , Issue 2 , October 1989 , pp. 241 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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