Competition between different species (interspecific competition) is an important factor to consider when estimating population trends, geographic distributions, and management options of species. Many historically common vascular plant species found in agricultural environments have been negatively affected by changes in community composition and in turn, changes in competition pressures. Even so, the relative importance of plant competition in an ecological context is still unclear. In this study I examine the competitive ability of the meadow plant cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L.) when grown together with common oat (Avena sativa) and common poppy (Papaver rhoeas), during a seven-week long growth chamber experiment. Seeds were sown in pots in four different setups; 1) C. cyanus control, 2) C. cyanus + P. rhoeas, 3) C. cyanus + A.sativa, 4) All three species. Six different growth parameters were measured (aboveground dry-weight, belowground dry-weight, root length, leaf area, number of leaves and above/belowground dry-weight ratio). I found that growth rates of C. cyanus were significantly inhibited according to all six growth parameters when C. cyanus competed solely with A. sativa. Competition from P. rhoeas had an insignificant effect on C. cyanus growth in five out of six growth parameters. Finally, I discuss the possibility that historically common meadow plants have declined in abundance in part because of weak competitive abilities, and that rare vascular plant species are negatively affected by growing in proximity with cereal crops.

O melhor entendimento sobre os aspectos metabólicos, nutricionais e produtivos das gramíneas forrageiras quanto ao uso do nitrogênio é necessário para aumentar a eficiência de uso do nutriente e para a sustentabilidade da produção pecuária. Com isso, objetivou-se analisar alguns cultivares de gramíneas forrageiras utilizados em pastagens no Brasil, quanto a: I) modificações morfológicas e produtivas da parte aérea e das raízes; II) formas de partição do nitrogênio absorvido para melhorar a eficiência de uso do nitrogênio e III) forma de assimilação do nitrogênio absorvido, sendo avaliados pelas variáveis: produção de massa seca, números de folhas e perfilhos, área foliar, concentração e conteúdos de nitrogênio total, nitrato e amônio, eficiência de uso do nitrogênio, atividades das enzimas nitrato redutase e glutamina sintetase e concentração de aminoácidos livres totais na parte aérea e nas raízes dessas gramíneas, quando submetidas a alta e baixa dose de nitrogênio. Na baixa dose de nitrogênio os cultivares Marandu, Xaraés, Piatã, Basilisk e Mombaça mantiveram o número de perfilhos constante e diminuíram o número de folhas e a área foliar, enquanto o cultivar Tanzânia manteve o número de perfilhos e área foliar constantes e reduziu o número de folhas e os cultivares Aruana e Massai aumentaram o número de perfilhos e de folhas e reduziram a área foliar. A baixa dose de nitrogênio resultou em proporções da massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes distintas entre os cultivares quando comparada à alta dose de nitrogênio, favorecendo o crescimento das raízes. Os cultivares estudados modificaram a partição de nitrogênio, nitrato e amônio da parte aérea e raízes, quando em alto e baixo suprimento de nitrogênio. Essas diferenças refletiram na mais alta eficiência de uso do nitrogênio pelos cultivares Mombaça e Tanzânia. A assimilação do nitrato ocorreu principalmente na parte aérea desses capins. Os cultivares Mombaça e Aruana apresentaram elevadas atividades da enzima nitrato redutase nas folhas diagnósticas. A atividade da enzima glutamina sintetase nas folhas diagnósticas foi mais elevada nos cultivares de Panicum. A concentração de amônio nas raízes foi mais alta nos cultivares Piatã e Xaraés, na baixa dose de nitrogênio, e nos capins Aruana e Mombaça, na dose alta de nitrogênio. A concentração de aminoácidos totais nas folhas diagnósticas foi mais elevada nos cultivares de Panicum, quando submetidos à alta dose de nitrogênio, enquanto nas raízes foi maior nos cultivares de Brachiaria, nas duas doses de nitrogênio. / A better understanding of the metabolic, nutritional and production aspects of nitrogen use by grasses are needed to increase nutrient use efficiency and livestock production sustainability. Thus, this study aimed to analyze some forage grasses cultivars used in Brazilian pastures, for: i) morphological and production changes in shoots and roots; II) absorbed nitrogen partition to improve nitrogen use efficiency and III) nitrogen assimilation, evaluated by the variables: dry matter production, number of leaves and tillers, leaf area, concentration and content of total nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activities and free amino acids concentration in shoots and roots of these grasses, when supplied with high and low nitrogen rates. At low nitrogen rate, Marandu, Xaraés, Piatã, Basilisk and Mombaça cultivars kept the number of tillers constant and decreased the number of leaves and leaf area, while Tanzânia cultivar kept the number of tillers and leaf area constant and reduced the number of leaves, and Aruana and Massai cultivars increased the number of tillers and leaves and reduced leaf area. The low nitrogen rate resulted in different shoots to roots proportions among cultivars when compared to the higher nitrogen rate, which favored roots growth. The cultivars changed the partition of nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium between roots and shoots, in both nitrogen rates. These differences reflect the higher nitrogen use efficiency by Mombaça and Tanzânia cultivars. The nitrate assimilation occurred mainly in the shoots of these grasses. Mombaça and Aruana cultivars showed high nitrate reductase activity in diagnostic leaves. The glutamine synthetase activity in diagnostic leaves was higher in Panicum cultivars. Ammonium concentration in the roots was high in Piatã and Xaraés, at low nitrogen rate, and Aruana and Mombaça grasses, at high nitrogen rate. The total amino acids concentration in diagnostic leaves was higher in Panicum cultivars than in Brachiaria cultivars, when high nitrogen rate was supplied, whereas Brachiaria cultivars had this concentration high in the roots, at the two nitrogen rates.

L'obiettivo della ricerca è stato quello di identificare la coltura bioenergetica con il maggior potenziale di sequestro del carbonio (C); sono state considerate tre colture perenni arboree (pioppo, robinia e salice) e tre colture erbacee perenni (canna comune , miscanto e panico ) al sesto anno dal loro impianto e coltivate nello stesso ambiente. In primo luogo sono state misurate le variazioni dei tassi del C organico del suolo (COS) per il primo 1 m, mentre per i primi 30 cm di suolo è stato stimato il grado di stabilita del COS valutando sette frazioni di COS che presentano differenti gradi di stabilizzazione; in secondo luogo, sono stati caratterizzati gli apparati radicali delle sei specie per la stessa profondità di suolo, per valutare dove le specie accumulano la biomassa radicale lungo il profilo di suolo. I risultati confermano che l’impianto di colture bioenergetiche perenni su superfici precedentemente dedite a colture annuali gestite convenzionalmente rappresenta una opzione valida per sequestrare C nel soulo. Tuttavia, è stata osservata una diversa capacità di sequestro di C tra specie arboree ed erbacee: le specie arboree hanno dimostrato aumentre il contenuto di COS nel primo strato di suolo ( 0-10 cm di suolo), ma la loro capacità di allocare biomassa radicale negli strati profondi del suolo è limitata; mentre, la specie erbacee allocano un’alta quantità di biomassa radicale negli strati profondi del suolo, ma solo il panico ed il miscanto hanno aumentato il contenuto di C nel primo strato di suolo. / The objective of the present research was to identify the bioenergy crop with the greatest carbon sequestration potential among three perennial woody crops (poplar, black locust and willow) and three perennial herbaceous crops (giant reed, miscanthus and switchgrass) at the sixth year from plantation and in the same location. First of all the SOC stock variations for the first 1 m soil depth and the quantification of seven soil C fractions related to SOC stabilization level of the first 30 cm of soil were assessed; secondly, a characterization of the root system and the traits which affect the carbon allocation in soil were considered. The results confirm that the establishment of perennial bioenergy crops in previous arable fields can be a suitable option to sequester carbon (C) belowground. However, a different C sequestration capacity was observed between woody and herbaceous crops: woody species showed the greatest SOC sequestration potential in the first soil layer (0-10 cm of soil) but their ability to allocate root biomass in the deeper soil layers was limited; while, the herbaceous species allocated a high amount of root biomass in the deeper soil layers, but only switchgrass and miscanthus sequester C in the first soil layer.

Perennial summer pastures are an excellent forage option for livestock feed, a fact that has boosted milk production in Rio Grande do Sul. However, the lack of animal load control coupled with high grazing intensities have contributed to the degradation of pastures and loss of soil quality. The study was conducted on a farm in northern Rio Grande do Sul, and the forage used was Jiggs (Cynodon dactylon) and management method adopted was the rotational grazing, covering a 268 days production cycle. The treatments consisted of different grazing intensities in a randomized block design with four replications which the following treatments were: T1 = intensity of 0%, T2 = 30%, T3 and T4 = 50% = 70%. The experimental area was disposed within a total area of 1,760 m2, which were distributed pickets 16 (4 treatments x 4 replicates) with dimensions equal to 100 m2 each (10 x 10 m). The production of forage Jiggs had no statistical difference among treatments and the production decreases with the end of the production cycle, however, the highest concentration of leaves was found at the end of the grazing cycle influenced by plant height. There is a reduction with respect to the length and root density with increasing soil depth and the treatment one where grazing intensity was zero, had the lowest average density with respect to other treatments. The air permeability of the soil (Kar) equilibrated to tensions of 6 and 100 kPa did not reach statistical difference between treatments and the depth in the periods pre and post grazing 1. The soil layer of 0-5 and 5-10 cm was that the only influenced by the treatments in Ksat, Kar and 6 and 100 kPa, leading to a reduction in the flow of air and water in the grazing periods post 3 is 5. The grazing intensity significantly alter the soil density and macroporosity and total porosity in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm. The T1 had increasing density mean values with increasing depth, however, the treatment had decreasing average values obtained in the course of depths, where the 0-5 cm layer obtained density 1.49 g cm-3. During the grazing cycle was observed generally that the microporosity remained virtually constant. The forage production showed no statistical difference in relation to grazing intensity, the roots are concentrated in the 0-5 cm layer and cattle trampling influenced root density. In general, the grazing periods influenced Kar, Ksat and bulk density in the surface layers of the soil and the micro, macro and total porosity were mainly influenced by grazing period post 3 and post 5. / As pastagens perenes de verão surgem como uma excelente opção de forrageira para alimentação do gado, fato esse que tem impulsionado a produção de leite no Rio Grande do Sul. Todavia, a falta de controle da carga animal aliada a intensidades de pastejo elevada tem contribuído com a degradação das pastagens e perda da qualidade do solo. O estudo foi desenvolvido numa propriedade rural no norte gaúcho, sendo que a forrageira utilizada foi o Jiggs (Cynodon dactylon) e o método de manejo adotado foi o pastejo rotacionado, contemplando um ciclo de produção de 268 dias. Os tratamentos foram compostos de distintas intensidades de pastejo em blocos ao acaso e contaram com quatro repetições as quais constituíram os seguintes tratamentos: T1= intensidade de 0%, T2= 30%, T3= 50% e T4= 70%. A área experimental estava disposta dentro de uma área total de 1.760 m2, onde foram distribuídos 16 piquetes (4 tratamentos x 4 repetições) com dimensões iguais a 100 m2 cada (10 x 10 m). A produção da forrageira Jiggs não apresentou diferença estatística com relação aos tratamentos, sendo que a produção decresce com o fim do ciclo produtivo, em contrapartida, a maior concentração de folhas foi encontrada no fim do ciclo de pastejo influenciada pela altura das plantas. Ocorreu redução com relação ao comprimento e densidade de raiz com aumento da profundidade sendo que a intensidade de pastejo igual a zero, apresentou a menor densidade média com relação as demais intensidades. A permeabilidade do solo ao ar (Kar) equilibrado à tensões de 6 e 100 kPa não obteve diferença estatística entre as intensidades de pastejo e a profundidade nos períodos de Pré Pastejo e no Pós Pastejo 1. A camada de solo de 0-5 e 5-10 cm foi a única que sofreu influencia dos tratamentos na Ksat e Kar à tesões de 6 e 100 kPa, ocorrendo redução do fluxo de ar e água nos períodos de pastejo Pós 3 e 5. A intensidade de pastejo altera significativamente a densidade de solo bem como a macroporosidade e porosidade total nas camadas de 0-5 e de 5-10 cm. a intensidade de 0% obteve valores médios crescentes de densidade conforme o aumento da profundidade, no entanto, o tratamento 4 obteve valores médios decrescentes no decorrer das profundidades, onde a camada de 0-5 cm apresentou densidade de 1,49 g cm-3. No decorrer do ciclo de pastejo, observou-se de modo geral que a microporosidade manteve-se praticamente constante. Em síntese, a produção de forragem não apresentou diferença estatística com relação às intensidades de pastejo, as raízes se concentram na camada de 0-5 cm e o pisoteio animal influencia na densidade de raiz. De modo geral, os períodos de pastejo influenciaram a Kar, Ksat e densidade do solo nas camadas superficiais do solo e a micro, macro e porosidade total foram influenciadas principalmente pelos períodos de pastejo Pós 3 e 5.

Bioporen werden von Regenwürmern und Pfahlwurzeln geformt und gelten als präferentieller Weg für das Wurzelwachstum in tiefere Bodenbereiche. Jedoch ist bislang unklar, ob dem bioporennahen Unterboden eine besondere Funktion für das Wurzelwachstum, die Nährstoffakquise und den Zugang in den bulk-Boden zukommt. In diesem Bereich fehlt es an einer Quantifizierung von Wurzelwachstum und die Messung von Wurzelaktivität. Mit speziell angefertigtem Beprobungswerkzeug wurde der bioporennahe Unterboden großlumiger, nahezu vertikal verlaufender Bioporen (Durchmesser >5 mm) in kleinteiligen Abständen in 0-2, 2-4 und 4-8 mm auf die Wurzellänge [cm], den Wurzeldurchmesser [mm], die Gesamt-C- und -N-Gehalte [%] (Ct, Nt) sowie den pH-Wert untersucht. Neben der Untersuchung von Bioporen im Feld wurde in Gefäßversuchen der Einfluss des Regenwurms und der Pfahlwurzel auf das Wurzelwachstum separat betrachtet. Für die Untersuchungen wurden Sommergerste, Sommerraps und Ackerbohne eingesetzt zur Abbildung verschiedener Wurzelsysteme. Die Ergebnisse zeigten einen deutlich ausgeprägten lateral abnehmenden Gradienten der Ct- und Nt-Gehalte im Feldversuch. In den Gefäßversuchen gab es keine Unterschiede zwischen den Bioporentypen in den Ct- und Nt-Gehalten. Die Wurzeln wuchsen hauptsächlich im Bioporenlumen und in 0-2 mm, geringer in 2-4 und 4-8 mm des bioporennahen Unterbodens. Der pH-Wert war in der Wurmpore höher als im bulk-Boden. Sommerraps und Ackerbohne zeigten anhand Wurzel-induzierter pH-Wertänderung eine deutliche Stoffwechselaktivität in der Wurzelprägung, während in der Wurmprägung keine signifikante pH-Wertveränderung für die drei Kulturarten sichtbar wurde. Die verminderte laterale Wurzelausdehnung im bioporennahen Unterboden deutet auf ein begrenztes Potenzial der Bioporen als Zugangsweg zum Explorieren des bulk-Bodens hin. Ein erhöhtes Wurzelwachstum in den ersten 2 mm des bioporennahen Unterbodens weist auf eine Verankerung der Wurzeln und eine Nährstoffaufnahme hin. / Biopores are formed by earthworms and taproots and are considered a preferential pathway for root growth into deeper soil layers. However, it is unclear to date whether the biopore sheath has a specific function for root growth, nutrient acquisition and access into the bulk soil. There is a lack of literature on the quantitative measurement of root growth and the measurement of actual root activity in the biopore sheath. Using sampling tools specially made for this type of investigation, the biopore sheath of large-sized, nearly-vertical biopores (diameter >5 mm) were sampled at small-scale intervals in 0-2, 2-4 and 4-8 mm and analyzed for root length [cm], root diameter [mm], total C- and N-contents [%] (Ct, Nt), and pH. In addition to the study of biopores in the field, the influence of earthworm or taproot on root growth was considered separately in pot experiments. Spring barley, spring oilseed rape and faba bean were used for the investigations in order to be able to map different root systems. The results showed a clearly pronounced laterally decreasing gradient of Ct- and Nt-contents in the field experiment. There were no differences between the biopore types in Ct- and Nt-contents in the pot experiments. Roots grew mainly in the biopore and in 0-2 mm, less in 2-4 and 4-8 mm of the biopore sheath. The pH value was higher in the worm type biopore than in the bulk soil. Based on root-induced pH change, spring oilseed rape and faba bean showed significant metabolic activity in root type biopore, while no significant pH change was found in worm type for the three crop species. The laterally decreasing root elongation from biopore surface towards bulk soil is pointing towards a limited potential of biopores as an access path to explore the bulk soil. Increased root growth in the first 2 mm of the biopore sheath indicates root anchorage and nutrient uptake.

The purpose of the master's thesis is to study the morphological adaptation of the root systems of petrophytic family Caryophyllaceae to extreme conditions. The work consisted of two blocks: Laboratory experiment to study the growth of Ni-excluder Silene baschkirorum roots on agar plates with the introduction of Ni, Ca, Mg in different combinations in comparison with the Ni-hyperaccumulator Alyssum obovatum. The structural features of the leaves and the underground sphere of the 6 types of Caryophyllaceae from natural habitats with moisture deficiency. The objects of the study were four perennial main-rooted species: Dianthus versicolor, Gypsophila altissima, Silene baschkirorum, Dianthus acicularis, and two annual species – Spergula arvensis and Arenaria serpyllifolia. The influence of Ni, Ca, Mg in different combinations on the growth of roots of seedlings Alyssum obovatum and Silene baschkirorum was studied in a laboratory experiment on agar plates under standard conditions at a constant temperature and a 16-hour photoperiod in accordance with the Protocol with modifications [Xu et al., 2013]. Morphological parameters of the leaf and underground sphere of Caryophyllaceae were measured by standard morpho-anatomical methods during adaptation to moisture deficiency [Иванова, 2014; Таршис, 2007]. The results of laboratory studies have shown that in all variants of the experiment the root system of Alyssum obovatum was in 1,5–5 times better developed than Silene baschkirorum. The introduction of metals stimulated the growth of the root system in A. obovatum and didn’t affect the growth of S. baschkirorum roots. Analysis of the leaf structure in 6 species of Caryophyllaceae growing in conditions of lack of moisture revealed that xeromesophytes Arenaria serpyllifolia, Dianthus versicolor, Gypsophila altissima have low leaf density both per area and per leaf volume in comparison with mesoxerophytic species Silene baschkirorum, Dianthus acicularis, Spergula arvensis. Analysis of the root system and absorbing roots revealed no differences between studied xeromesophytic and mesoxerophytic Caryophyllaceae species. It’s established that the adaptation of the underground sphere of the studied Caryophyllaceae to the moisture deficit is realized by species-specific ways of restructuring of the root system and absorbing roots. The work consists of 3 chapters, 34 pages, includes 67 sources, 1 table and 7 pictures. The materials of the master's thesis were presented at the all-Russian conference of young scientists «Ecology: facts, hypotheses, models», dedicated to the memory of N. V. Glotov on April 10–13, 2018. In July 2019, it is planned to present the materials of this work in the form of a graphic stand at the international conference IAVS 62nd ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM «Vegetation Science and Biodiversity Research» at the University of Bremen, Germany. / Цель выпускной квалификационной работы магистра заключается в изучении морфологической адаптации корневых систем петрофитных гвоздичных к экстремальным условиям. Работа состояла из двух блоков: Лабораторный эксперимент по изучению роста корней исключителя Ni Silene baschkirorum Janisch. на агаровых пластинах с внесением Ni, Ca, Mg в разных комбинациях в сравнении с гипераккумулятором Ni Alyssum obovatum (C. A. Meyer) Turcz. Описание структурных характеристик листьев и подземной сферы у 6 видов сем. Caryophyllaceae из естественных местообитаний с дефицитом влаги. Объектами исследования послужили четыре многолетних стержнекорневых вида: Dianthus versicolor Fisch. ex Link, Gypsophila altissima L., Silene baschkirorum, Dianthus acicularis Fisch. ex Ledeb., и два однолетних вида – Spergula arvensis L. и Arenaria serpyllifolia L. Влияние Ni, Ca, Mg в разных комбинациях на рост корней проростков Alyssum obovatum и Silene baschkirorum изучали в лабораторном эксперименте на агаровых пластинах в стандартных условиях при постоянной температуре и 16-часовом фотопериоде в соответствии с протоколом с модификациями [Xu et al., 2013]. Морфологические параметры листа и подземной сферы гвоздичных при адаптации к дефициту влаги измеряли с помощью стандартных морфо-анатомических методов [Иванова, 2014; Таршис, 2007]. Результаты лабораторных исследований показали, что во всех вариантах опыта корневая система у Аlyssum obovatum была лучше развита, чем у Silene baschkirorum в 1,55 раз. Внесение металлов стимулировало рост корневой системы у А. obovatum и не влияло на рост корней S. baschkirorum. Анализ структуры листа у 6 видов гвоздичных, произрастающих в условиях недостатка влаги выявил, что ксеромезофиты Arenaria serpyllifolia, Dianthus versicolor, Gypsophila altissima отличаются низкой плотностью листьев как в расчете на площадь, так и на объем листа в сравнении с мезоксерофитными видами Silene baschkirorum, Dianthus acicularis, Spergula arvensis.Анализ корневой системы и поглощающих корней не выявил различий между ксеромезофитными и мезоксерофитными видами изученных гвоздичных (сем. Caryophyllaceae). Установлено, что адаптация подземной сферы изученных гвоздичных к дефициту влаги реализуется видоспецифичными путями перестройки корневой системы и поглощающих корней. Работа состоит из 3 разделов, 34 страниц, включает в себя 67 источников, 1 таблицу и 7 рисунков. Материалы магистерской диссертации были представлены на Всероссийской конференции молодых ученых «Экология: факты, гипотезы, модели», посвященной памяти Н. В. Глотова 1013 апреля 2018 г. В июле 2019 года планируется представить материалы данной работы в форме стенда на международной конференции IAVS 62nd ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM «Vegetation Science and Biodiversity Research» в Бременском университете, Бремен, Германия.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T19:39:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007 - Sergio Trabali Camargo Filho.pdf: 4423367 bytes, checksum: 827592ba3f6a9d37da8d784b6ae6ffe8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-18 / The environmental conditions of light, temperature and water availability, along with grazing, are major factors establishing growth and phenology of forage species. The climatic effects imprint dynamics specific to pasture ecosystems, which are generally referred as "seasonality of the pasture." This study was set in an area of Fragiudult soil, located in Serop?dica municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The experiment began with a cut to make uniform the pasture at the height of 0.05 m, in February 2002. The aim was to determine the influence of climatic and genotypes factors in the expression of features of production, also the partition of carbon and nutrients in the aerial and ground parts of the perennial grasses Cynodon nlemfuensis (stargrass Puerto Rico); Cynodon spp (Tifton-85 grass); Digitaria swazilandensis (swazi grass) and Digitaria decumbens cv. Transvala (Transvala grass). Two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study: i) in the drier periods of the year, the fodder allocate more carbon and nutrients in roots than in the aerial parts of the plants; ii) the species have more or less plasticity to respond to seasonal climatic fluctuations, and periodic defoliation, evidencing differential adaptive capabilities. To check these possibilities, it was used a simple strategy trial, where, from the cut for uniformity, there were evaluated eight periods, between 03/26/02 and 01/14/03, at intervals of 42 days, sampling material of aerial and root fitomass. After processing the samples, the fresh and air dry mass were determined (kg ha-1). In the root system, the accumulation and distribution of dry weight, and the length and surface area of roots to the depth of 1.0 m were determined, by sequential extraction of monoliths (1.0 dm3) from the wall of a soil trench. In sub-samples of dried and grinded aerial parts and roots, the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium (g kg-1) were quantified. The results showed that: regardless of forage species, the root:shoot ratio (based on dry fitomass in standing fluctuated seasonally, with higher values in the dryer months of the year, and smaller in the months of highest rainfall; the species varied in their responses, evidencing the existence of phenotypic plasticity for attributes of production (accumulation of forage and root mass) and adaptive (length and specific root area), with the Tifton-85 grass outstanding by the level of productivity and stability; the magnitude of the differences between the species was controlled by the water availability, and it was amplified in the periods of increased rainfall and reduced in driest periods. The concentration of nutrients, in aerial and root biomass, responses were varied according to the nutrient, but, in general, the more nutrient concentrated in Digitaria that Cynodon, observation which was also valid for the quality of fiber. Already, the Cynodon accumulated more nutrients that Digitaria per unit area. For the relations of concentrations and accumulation of nutrients roots: shoot had little effect on the grasses and a rule, during dried periods was higher than those of rainfall period. Finally, each grass has its own dynamic in relations soil-plant-atmosphere, showing once again the different adaptive responses of these grasses. / As condi??es ambientais de luz, temperatura, disponibilidade h?drica e de nutrientes, junto com o pastejo, s?o os principais moduladores do crescimento e fenologia das esp?cies forrageiras. Os efeitos clim?ticos imprimem din?micas espec?ficas ao ecossistema pastoril, que s?o geralmente referidas como sazonalidade das pastagens . O presente trabalho foi realizado em uma ?rea de solo Planossolo, localizada no munic?pio de Serop?dica, RJ. O prop?sito foi o de determinar a influ?ncia dos fatores clim?ticos e genot?picos na express?o de caracter?sticas produtivas; assim como na parti??o de carbono e nutrientes entre as por??es a?reas e subterr?neas das gram?neas perenes Cynodon nlemfuensis (capim-Estrela Porto Rico); Cynodon spp (capim-Tifton-85); Digitaria swazilandensis (capim-su?zi) e Digitaria decumbens cv. Transvala (capim-Transvala). Foram formuladas duas hip?teses para orientar o trabalho: i) nos per?odos mais secos do ano, os capins alocam mais carbono e nutrientes nas ra?zes do que na parte a?rea; ii) os capins possuem maior ou menor plasticidade para responder ?s oscila??es clim?ticas sazonais e ? desfolha peri?dicas, evidenciando capacidades adaptativas diferenciais. Para verificar essas possibilidades, usou-se uma estrat?gia experimental simples, onde, a partir do corte de uniformiza??o, foram avaliados oito per?odos de crescimento, entre 26/03/02 e 14/01/03, a intervalos de 42 dias, com amostragens de fitomassa de parte a?rea e radicular. Ap?s processamento das amostras, foram determinadas a massa verde e massa seca da parte a?rea (kg ha-1). No sistema radicular, foram determinados o ac?mulo e a distribui??o da massa seca, al?m do comprimento e ?rea superficial das ra?zes at? a profundidade de 1,0 m, pela extra??o seq?encial de mon?litos (1,0 dm3) a partir da parede de uma trincheira de solo. Em sub-amostras secas e mo?das de parte a?rea e ra?zes foram determinados os teores de nitrog?nio, f?sforo, c?lcio e magn?sio (g kg-1). Os resultados obtidos permitiram observar que: independentemente do capim, a rela??o raiz: parte a?rea oscilou sazonalmente, tendo maiores valores nos meses mais secos do ano e menores nos meses de maior pluviosidade; os capins variaram as suas respostas, evidenciando a exist?ncia de plasticidade fenot?pica para atributos produtivos (ac?mulos de forragem e massa radicular) e adaptativos (comprimento espec?fico e ?rea radicular), tendo o capim-Tifton-85 se sobressa?do pelo n?vel de produtividade e estabilidade; a magnitude das diferen?as entre os capins foi controlada pela disponibilidade de ?gua, sendo amplificada nos per?odos de maior pluviosidade e reduzida nos per?odos mais secos. A concentra??o de nutrientes, tanto da fitomassa a?rea como da fitomassa radicular, tiveram respostas variadas de acordo com o nutriente, mas, de um modo geral, as Digitaria concentraram mais nutrientes que os Cynodon, observa??o que tamb?m foi v?lida para a qualidade da fibra. J?, os Cynodon acumularam mais nutrientes que as Digitaria por unidade de ?rea. Para as rela??es das concentra??es e ac?mulos de nutrientes ra?zes: parte a?rea teve poucos efeitos para os capins e, em geral no per?odo seco foram superiores aos dos per?odos chuvosos. Por fim, cada capim estabeleceu sua pr?pria din?mica nas rela??es solo-planta-atmosfera, evidenciando mais uma vez as diferentes respostas adaptativas destas gram?neas forrageiras.

Plant functional traits (plant height, aboveground biomass, R/S ratio, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, specific root length and arbuscular mycorrhizal infection) were measured for several grassland plant species growing under different soil fertility conditions in a greenhouse and a field experiments. Traits` response to nutrient addition and the differences in traits among species and between forbs and grasses were studied. Results from the greenhouse and the field experiment were compared.

Das Wurzelwachstum von Winterweizen wurde erfasst und modelliert, um teilflächenspezifisches Boden- und Düngemanagement zu verbessern. Die Variation von Wurzellängendichten im Feld wurde über zwei Vegetationsperioden hinweg an zwei unterschiedlichen Standorten in Ostdeutschland untersucht. Zur Auswertungserleichterung der hohen Anzahl an Wurzelproben, wurde eine halbautomatische Methode zur Bildanalyse von Wurzeln entwickelt. Der Einfluss von Änderungen bezüglich Bodenwasserstatus und Bodendichte bzw. Durchdringungswiderstand auf das Wurzelwachstum wurde untersucht. Die erhobenen Felddaten dienten gleichzeitig dazu, die Bodenwasser- und Wurzelwachstumsberechnung des Modells CERES-Wheat zu validieren. Das Modell simulierte die unterschiedlichen Bodeneigenschaften sowie die Wurzellängendichten und Bodenwassergehalte nur unzureichend. Der Effekt von Änderungen der Niederschlagsmengen auf die Simulationen von Wurzellängendichten und Bodenwassergehalten wurde anhand einer Unsicherheitsanalyse getestet und war extrem gering. Des Weiteren wurde eine Methode für praktische Zwecke entwickelt, mit der die Generierung von räumlich hoch aufgelösten Bodeninformationen unter Verwendung limitierter Eingangsdaten möglich ist. Die Modellkalkulationen basieren auf der Dempster-Shafer-Theorie. Anhand von multitemporal und multimodal erfassten Bodenleitfähigkeitsdaten, die Eingangsdaten für den Modellansatz sind, wurden Bodentypen und Texturklassen bestimmt. Das Modell generiert eine digitale Bodenkarte, die flächenhafte Informationen über Bodentypen und Bodeneigenschaften enthält. Die Validation der Bodenkarte mit zusätzlich erhobenen Bodeninformationen ergab gute bis sehr gute Ergebnisse. / Winter wheat root growth was measured and modelled to improve site-specific soil and fertilizer management in commercial wheat fields. Field variations in root length densities were analysed at two contrasting sites in East-Germany during two vegetation seasons. A semi-automated root analysing method was developed to facilitate analyses of large numbers of samples. Influences of variations in soil water states, bulk densities and penetration resistances on spatial distributions of roots were quantified. Differences in soil characteristics were large between the two sites and affected root growth considerably. The same field data was used for validating the soil moisture and root growth calculations of the widely applied growth model CERES-Wheat. Simulations of root length densities, soil physical properties and soil water contents were inadequate. The effects of changes of rainfall variabilities on simulated root length densities and soil water contents were tested by uncertainty analysis but were negligible low. A methodology for generating soil information for practical management purposes at a high degree of spatial resolution using limited input information was developed. The corresponding model calculations were carried out based on the Dempster and Shafer theorem. Soil types and texture classes were determined with multimodally and multitemporally captured data of soil electrical conductivities which are required input data of the new model approach. The model generates a digital map with extensive information of spatial variations in soil properties. The validation of the generated soil map with soil data from independent measurements yielded close correlation between measured and calculated values.