Regrowth of Cirsium arvense from intact roots and root fragments at different soil depths

• Main Authors: Thomsen, Mette Goul, Brandsæter, Lars Olav, Fykse, Haldor
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: Julius Kühn-Institut 2014-02-01
• Series: Julius-Kühn-Archiv
• Subjects: biomass; compensation point; number of leaves; root system
• Online Access: http://pub.jki.bund.de/index.php/JKA/article/view/2871/3066

In the present work we measured the shoot rate from intact roots and from root fragments of Cirsium arvense at different digging depths and the number of leaves were used as estimate of minimum regenerative capacity. The experiments were performed on four sites with three or four repetitions of each treatment. On each site plot, the soil was removed down to a given depth within a 1 x 1 m square. All plant parts was excavated from the soil and the soil was either replaced without any root material, or roots of C. arvense was cut into 10 cm long fragments and replaced into the source hole. Shoot number, aboveground biomass and number of leaves were measured. Digging depth and time explained 50% - 60% of the variation in biomass (P<0.001). Replacement of root fragments increased the shoot number in one out of four treatments but did not affect biomass produced compared to production from undisturbed root systems. Number of leaves showed that shoots from all digging depths passed the level of minimum regenerative capacity. We conclude that the intact root system from all depths was able to regenerate within one season and it has a high contribution to the produced biomass compared with root fragments in the upper soil layers.