Belowground Root Competition Alters the Grass Seedling Establishment Response to Light by a Nitrogen Addition and Mowing Experiment in a Temperate Steppe

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.801343
• Publication Date: 2022-07-14T08:53:40Z
• Authors: Mingxing Zhong; Chun Liu; Xiukang Wang; Wei Hu; Ning Qiao; Hongquan Song; Ji Chen; Yuan Miao; Gang Wang; Dong Wang; Zhongling Yang
• Keywords: belowground competition; land use change; 2. Zero hunger; Plant culture; Plant Science; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; 15. Life on land; nitrogen addition; SB1-1110; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; light competition; seedling germination

Predicting species responses to climate change and land use practices requires understanding both the direct effects of environmental factors as well indirect mediated by changes in belowground aboveground competition. Belowground root competition from surrounding vegetation light are two important affecting seedling establishment. However, few studies have jointly examined effect on establishment, especially under long-term nitrogen addition mowing. Here, we how affect establishment within a mowing experiment. Seedlings grasses (Stipa krylovii Cleistogenes squarrosa) were grown with without control, addition, treatments, their growth characteristics monitored. The seedlings achieved higher total biomass, height, mean shoot mass, but lower root/shoot ratio absence than presence Nitrogen significantly decreased survival grasses. Regression analyses revealed that biomass grass was strongly negatively correlated net primary productivity competition, intercept photosynthetic active radiation This experiment demonstrates can alter response