The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water
| dc.contributor.author | February, Edmund C | |
| dc.contributor.author | Higgins, S I | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-06-01T09:38:15Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-06-01T09:38:15Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2016-01-13T10:49:44Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Here we describe the fine root distribution of trees and grasses relative to soil nitrogen and water profiles. The primary objective is to improve our understanding of edaphic processes influencing the relative abundance of trees and grasses in savanna systems. We do this at both a mesic (737 mm MAP) site on sandy-loam soils and at an arid (547 mm MAP) site on clay rich soils in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The proportion of tree and grass fine roots at each soil depth were estimated using the δ13C values of fine roots and the δ13C end members of the fine roots of the dominant trees and grasses at our study sites. Changes in soil nitrogen concentrations with depth were indexed using total soil nitrogen concentrations and soil δ15N values. Soil water content was measured at different depths using capacitance probes. We show that most tree and grass roots are located in the upper layers of the soil and that both tree and grass roots are present at the bottom of the profile. We demonstrate that root density is positively related to the distribution of soil nitrogen and negatively related to soil moisture. We attribute the negative correlation with soil moisture to evaporation from the soil surface and uptake by roots. Our data is a snapshot of a dynamic process, here the picture it provides is potentially misleading. To understand whether roots in this system are primarily foraging for water or for nitrogen future studies need to include a dynamic component. | |
| dc.identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2010.04.001 | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | February, E. C., & Higgins, S. I. (2010). The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water. <i>South African Journal of Botany</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28218 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | February, Edmund C, and S I Higgins "The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water." <i>South African Journal of Botany</i> (2010) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28218 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | February, E. C., & Higgins, S. I. (2010). The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water. South African Journal of Botany, 76(3), 517-523. | |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - AU - February, Edmund C AU - Higgins, S I AB - Here we describe the fine root distribution of trees and grasses relative to soil nitrogen and water profiles. The primary objective is to improve our understanding of edaphic processes influencing the relative abundance of trees and grasses in savanna systems. We do this at both a mesic (737 mm MAP) site on sandy-loam soils and at an arid (547 mm MAP) site on clay rich soils in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The proportion of tree and grass fine roots at each soil depth were estimated using the δ13C values of fine roots and the δ13C end members of the fine roots of the dominant trees and grasses at our study sites. Changes in soil nitrogen concentrations with depth were indexed using total soil nitrogen concentrations and soil δ15N values. Soil water content was measured at different depths using capacitance probes. We show that most tree and grass roots are located in the upper layers of the soil and that both tree and grass roots are present at the bottom of the profile. We demonstrate that root density is positively related to the distribution of soil nitrogen and negatively related to soil moisture. We attribute the negative correlation with soil moisture to evaporation from the soil surface and uptake by roots. Our data is a snapshot of a dynamic process, here the picture it provides is potentially misleading. To understand whether roots in this system are primarily foraging for water or for nitrogen future studies need to include a dynamic component. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - South African Journal of Botany LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water TI - The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28218 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28218 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | February EC, Higgins SI. The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water. South African Journal of Botany. 2010; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28218. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Biological Sciences | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Science | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.source | South African Journal of Botany | |
| dc.source.uri | https://www.journals.elsevier.com/south-african-journal-of-botany | |
| dc.subject.other | Nitrogen | |
| dc.subject.other | Root biomass | |
| dc.subject.other | Savanna | |
| dc.subject.other | Trees and grasses | |
| dc.subject.other | Water | |
| dc.subject.other | δ13C | |
| dc.subject.other | δ15N | |
| dc.title | The distribution of tree and grass roots in savannas in relation to soil nitrogen and water | |
| dc.type | Journal Article | |
| uct.type.filetype | Text | |
| uct.type.filetype | Image |