Root systems in monoculture and mixed species systems create very different soil environments that influence resource availability and microbial interactions. Root plasticity allows plants to respond to neighbors by varying traits such as distribution, rooting depth, root biomass, root length density, average diameter, and fine root production. Yield, yield stability, resource-use efficiency, land-use efficiency, and… Continue reading…
Ecosystem-Level Root Production and Mortality in Response to Climate Change
Increasing carbon dioxide produces various root production and root mortality trends in different ecosystems Temperature rises increase root production, with diverse effects on root mortality. Drought can initially increase root production, but as water deficit intensity and duration increase, it reduces root production and increases root mortality. Differences in root quantification methods can make global… Continue reading…
