Root proliferation in native perennial grasses of arid Patagonia, Argentina
- Torres, Yanina Alejandra
- Busso, Carlos Alberto
- Montenegro, Oscar A.
- Ithurrart, Leticia Soledad
- Giorgetti, Hugo D.
- Rodríguez, Gustavo
- Bentivegna, Diego Javier
- Brevedan, Roberto
- Fernandez, Osvaldo Alberto
- Mujica, María M.
- Baioni, Sandra S.
- Entío, José
- Fioretti, María N.
- Tucat, Guillermo
DOIAbstract
Pappophorum vaginatum is the most abundant C4 perennial grass desirable to livestock in rangelands of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. We hypothesized that (1) defoliation reduce net primary productivity, and root length density and weight in the native species, and (2) root net primary productivity, and root length density and weight, are greater in P. vaginatum than in the other, less desirable, native species (i.e., Aristida spegazzinii, A. subulata and Sporobolus cryptandrus). Plants of all species were either exposed or not to a severe defoliation twice a year during two growing seasons. Root proliferation was measured using the cylinder method. Cylindrical, iron structures, wrapped up using nylon mesh, were buried diagonally from th...
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