Abstract

A biodiversity experiment was performed in Umeå, Sweden, from 1996 to 2003. Twelve species of grasses, legumes and non-legume herbs were grown in monoculture or in different combinations. Although the duration of the experiment is too short to let soil processes equilibrate, it is still much longer than most other biodiversity experiments conducted so far. Aboveground plant biomass production was higher in more diverse communities. Average root biomass was also higher but this was mostly due to very small root biomass in pure legume plots. Soil carbon content was higher in more diverse plots but also in some of the non-legume monocultures. Soil respiration was not affected by plant diversity, but many of the plots dominated by non-legume herbs had enhanced respiration. Soil inorganic nitrogen content was enhanced by the presence of legumes. In October 2000 ammonium concentrations were higher in communities with legumes regardless of plant diversity. In October 2002 ammonium concentrations and ammonification rates were higher in more diverse communities. Nitrate concentrations in the topsoil were strongly enhanced in pure legume communities and also positively correlated to legume biomass. Nitrate leaching, however, was only high after winter damages of the legume swards. All soils, also those with very low nitrate concentrations, showed significant potential nitrification activity. Potential nitrification activity was enhanced in pure legume plots, but not as much as the nitrate concentrations

Published in

ISBN: 91-576-6860-4
Publisher: Department of Forest Soils, SLU, Box 7001, 750 07 Uppsala

Conference

Focus on Soils Symposium

SLU Authors

• Palmborg, Cecilia

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Huss-Danell, Kerstin

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Carlsson, Georg

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/6474