Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02309.x
Title (Primary) Recurrent soil freeze-thaw cycles enhance grassland productivity
Author Kreyling, J.; Beierkuhnlein, C.; Pritsch, K.; Schloter, M.; Jentsch, A.
Source Titel New Phytologist
Year 2008
Department NSF
Volume 177
Issue 4
Page From 938
Page To 945
Language englisch
Keywords above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP); central Europe; climate change; EVENT-experiment; freeze-thaw cycles; root length; soil enzymatic activity
Abstract Ongoing global warming will increase the frequency of soil freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) in cool-temperate and other high-latitude regions. The spatial relevance of seasonally frozen ground amounts to c. 55% of the total land area of the northern hemisphere. Evidence suggests that FTCs contribute to nutrient dynamics. Knowledge of their effects on plant communities is scarce, although plants may be the decisive factor in controlling ecosystem functions such as nutrient retention.Here, the effects are analysed of five additional FTCs in winter for the above- and below-ground productivity of experimental grassland communities and soil enzymatic activity over the following growing season.Freeze-thaw cycles increased the above-ground productivity but reduced root length over the whole subsequent growing season. In summer, no changes in soil enzymatic activities representing the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles were observed in the FTC-manipulated plots, except for an increased cellobiohydrolase activity.Changes in productivity resulting in an increased shoot-to-root ratio and shifts in timing are capable of altering ecosystem stability and ecosystem services, such as productivity and nutrient retention.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=1143
Kreyling, J., Beierkuhnlein, C., Pritsch, K., Schloter, M., Jentsch, A. (2008):
Recurrent soil freeze-thaw cycles enhance grassland productivity
New Phytol. 177 (4), 938 - 945 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02309.x