Root respiration of barley in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem: field and modelling approaches
Issue date
2012Author
Morell Soler, Francisco Joaquín
Whitmore, A. P.
Álvaro-Fuentes, Jorge
Suggested citation
Morell Soler, Francisco Joaquín;
Whitmore, A. P.;
Álvaro-Fuentes, Jorge;
Lampurlanés Castel, Jorge;
Cantero-Martínez, Carlos;
.
(2012)
.
Root respiration of barley in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem: field and modelling approaches.
Plant and Soil, 2012, vol. 351, núm. 1, p. 135-147.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0938-0.
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Show full item recordAbstract
Aims Root respiration is a major contributor to soil
CO2 flux, and its response to management practices
needs to be evaluated. The aim was to determine the
effect of management practices (tillage systems and
nitrogen fertilization levels) on root respiration and to
develop a model able to simulate root respiration and
its components.
Methods The study was carried out during two
contrasting growing seasons (2007–2008 and 2008–
2009). Root respiration, including root tissue respiration
(Rts) and rhizomicrobial respiration of exudates
(Rrz), was estimated as the difference between the soil
CO2 flux of cropped and bare soil (the so-called root
exclusion technique). Additionally a novel sub-model
of Rts, was used to simulate root respiration based on
root growth and specific root respiration rates.
Results Root respiration was reduced under notillage.
The model agreed well with the patterns and
the amounts of the observed values of root respiration,
although prior calibration was needed.
Conclusions Root respiration was reduced by the
long-term adoption of no-tillage, but was increased
by N fertilizer. The root exclusion technique and the
model were useful means to estimate root respiration
on cropland under semiarid Mediterranean conditions.
Additionally the model successfully separated out the
theoretical contributions of Rts and Rrz to root
respiration.
Is part of
Plant and Soil, 2012, vol. 351, núm. 1, p. 135-147European research projects
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