Bewirtschaftungseffekte auf Wurzelbiomasse und Kohlenstoff-Rhizodeposition von Mais in zwei Schweizer Langzeitversuchen

Summary

Below ground carbon (BGC) inputs by agricultural plants into the soil are an important variable in soil carbon (C) modelling. The sources for BGC inputs are dead root biomass and C release by living roots (C rhizodeposition). Since management effects on BGC inputs are not profoundly understood, we address the following research questions in this research project: (i) What are the proportions of root biomass and C rhizodeposition of the total BGC input in the topsoil and subsoil under maize cultivation at different sites? (ii) Does long-term fertilization practice affect total root biomass, root distribution, shoot/root ratios, and C rhizodeposition of maize? Results obtained from field experiments in 2013 on two Swiss long-term experimental sites (“DOK” near Basel and “ZOFE” in Zurich) reveal no significant differences between total root biomasses and total C rhizodeposition of maize in different management treatments. While the proportion of topsoil (0-0.25 m) root biomass of the total (0-0.75 m) root biomass increases on the “DOK” site, the below ground/above ground C ratios decrease on both sites with increasing management intensity (trends only).