Decomposition of blue grama and rough fescue roots in prairie soils

Abstract

The mass of grass roots of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag. ex Steud) and rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.) to a depth of 13 cm is similar but the carbon contents of their respective soils are quite different. The objective of the present study was to determine some of the physical and chemical changes of blue grama and rough fescue root masses during decomposition under both Brown (Mixed Prairie) and Black Chernozemic (Fescue Prairie) soil-forming conditions. Roots of each species in fine-mesh nylon bags were buried in the Ah horizon of both a Brown and a Black Chernozemic soil. Sixteen collections were made between November 1987 and June 1989 to determine diminution, loss of dry matter and gross energy, and changes in the concentration of carbon, nitrogen, methoxyl groups, alkaline-soluble organic acids and phenols, structural and nonstructural carbohydrates, lignin, and monosaccharides. Differences in substrate quality were only partially responsible for the increased decomposition of root mass in the Brown Chernozemic soil-forming environment. Comminution of root mass was significantly greater under the Mixed Prairie than under the Fescue Prairie conditions for both species. The nitrogen content of blue grama roots increased (from 1.17 to 1.56%) while that of rough fescue decreased (from 1.53 to 1.26%) significantly over the duration of the experiments at both sites. Methoxyl group content and energy levels were not useful parameters. Organic acid, phenols, and nonstructural carbohydrate contents decreased with time. Lignin concentration displayed a significant upward trend for both species (from 232 to 280 for blue grama and for 205 to 247 mg/g for rough fescue) in the Black Chernozemic soil only.