Soil 9 - Dr. Borden Guest Lec Flashcards
What are 2 methodological challenges in studying soil?
- heterogeneity of soil environments
- time/labour limitations
What are 2 innovations in soil studying?
- specific technology (ground penetrating radar)
- Ecological framework (functional-trait based approach)
What does ground penetrating radar reveal about trees?
different species have different depth distributions of root mass
What trees work best in agricultural settings?
those with deep roots (ex black walnut)
- more stable structure
- less competition with crops for space/nutrients
What are fine roots?
roots less than 2cm long
What is the significance of fine roots?
they are the ones that take up nutrients/water (18O isotopes)
What trait can you use to fit plants into functional categories for soil study?
root diameter
root length
root tip abundance
root tissue density
- standardized between species, utility at multiple scales
What functional ‘effect’ might fine roots indicate?
many fine roots = faster N uptake than a plant with only some coarse roots
- more respiration from roots
What question can be asked in cocoa agroforestry?
does agroforestry matter across a climate gradient?
A: in loamy/suboptimal soil, agroforestry has a bigger impact
How does CO2 flow from soil to the atmosphere?
- heterotrophic respiration + autotrophic respiration
how do you find the root rhizosphere respiration?
compare respiration between planted and bare soils
