1 / 15

Alpine Root Systems Impact on Soil Stability: Study from NW-Italian Alps

This study quantifies how alpine plant root systems affect soil aggregate stability in the Lys glacier forefield. Root morphology, soil properties, and statistical analysis were used to assess the contribution of pioneer plant species to soil stabilization. Results show a significant relationship between root length density and aggregate stability. The study emphasizes the importance of roots in binding soil particles and enhancing aggregate stability. Acknowledgment is given to T2M, University of Nottingham, and University of Torino for their support. The research highlights the driving factors and future implications of root-soil interactions in alpine ecosystems.

morabito
Download Presentation

Alpine Root Systems Impact on Soil Stability: Study from NW-Italian Alps

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. THE THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE OF WORLD ASSOCIATION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATIONBELGRADE, 22-26 AUGUST 2016 Quantifying the contribution of the root system of alpine vegetation in the soil aggregate stability of moraine Csilla Hudek, Silvia Stanchi, Michele D’Amico, Michele Freppaz University of Torino, Department of Agriculture Forest and Food Sciences, Italy

  2. Introduction The aim of the study isto quantify the effect of the root system of alpine vegetation on the soil aggregate stability of the forefield of the Lys glacier, (NW-Italian Alps). To study how the root system of ten most dominant pioneer alpine plant species from different succession can contribute to soil development and soil stabilization. Epilobium fleischeri

  3. Gressoney Saint Jean

  4. Materials and Methods T. distichopyllum E. fleischeri T. pallescens S. exscapa L. spicata F. halleri M. recurva P. laxa L. alpina S. helvetica

  5. Sampling • Excavated with trowel • Placed into plastic container • Stored in the lab at 3.5 °C • I. Soilanalysis • soil water content (%) • soilpH • availablephosphorus (mg/g) • totalnitrogen (g/kg) • totalorganic carbon (g/kg) • II. Aggregate stability agg = (m20-mstone)/(mtotal-mstone) [g g-1]

  6. III. Root morphology RLD=average root diameter volume of the soil columne Statistics One-way ANOVA Welch test Tukey post hoc test Robust simple linear regression model WinRHIZO • average root diameter • total root length • 2D root achitecture • surface area of roots • volume of roots • % of diameter classes

  7. Results Measured mean soil and root properties *The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level.

  8. Relationship between aggregate stability and root length density

  9. Conclusion Any degree of aggregate stability in the soil can be mainly attributed to the presence of roots and their mechanical binding of soil particles. It also has to be recognized that due to the quick turnover of very fine roots that supply organic residue and supporting microbial communities as well as discharging polyvalent cations,the stability of soil aggregates increases.

  10. Acknowledgement T2M, Marie Curie CofundedFellowship University of Nottingham Craig Sturrok, Larry York University of Torino Michele Lonati Leucanthemopsis alpina

  11. Results

  12. Conclusion Significantly higher value for all studied species (E. fleischeri → forbs→ graminoid and shrub) • Driving factors • root morphology (dense fibrous root system with more biomass) • Root length density (RLD) • Root diameter (very fine, fine roots contribute to higher SAS) • Symbiotic effect on plant-fungus systems • Plant age • Neighbouring plant root competition • Non related factors • measured soil chemical composition (young soil organic matter evolution is limited) • successional stages

  13. Future Rhizosphere processes Mycorrhizal fungi interactions Root development ↔ soil development Trisetum distichophyllum Minuartia recurva

More Related