Effect of fertilization on root growth in the wet submontane meadow

Abstract

Root net primary productivity (RNPP) was assessed in the wet submontane meadow in the highland region of the Czech Republic. RNPP was studied from 1992 to 1995 with help of the in-growth core technique. The effect of different intensities of fertilization on root growth was covered. In comparison with unfertilized stands, the application of fertilizers (90 kg N/ha) resulted, mostly significantly, in greater root productivity (297 g/m2/year and 2.08 g/m2/day, on average). This represented an increase by 72% and 71%, respectively. Variability in the fraction of RNPP to total net primary productivity was examined. Results indicate that this fraction varied from 0.18 to 0.25 across the compared treatments and decreased with increasing fertilization. Data show how different roles can grasslands play in accumulation of plant matter due to different levels of fertilization.