Distribution of Nitrogen in Root Materials of Blue Grama

Abstract

Root materials of blue grama were compartmentalized into three categories-live, senescent, and detrital. Their mean N contents were 0.89, 1.90, and 2.56%, respectively. For each root category there were significant differences both with soil depth and time of sampling. Soil N differed significantly with depth but not across dates of sampling. The standing crop of root N was found to occur largely in senescent and detrital materials. Compartmentalization of the plant N belowground as well as that aboveground should promote more successful simulation of root growth dynamics and nutrient flows.