Abstract
The energy equivalent of total net productivity including foliage and roots on unburned prairie in 1962 was 4.351 X 10 6 cal/m 2 , representing 992 g of biomass. The root system provided slightly over 50% of the annual increment. For 1963 the total growth was 1,133 g/m 2 . The average energy for these years was equivalent to 1.21% of the incident radiation received during the growing season for the 400—700 μm portion of the light spectrum. The maximum energy budget including current increment, roots of previous years, and litter was equal to 2.6 turnovers. In years with favorable rainfall, fire approximately doubled the aboveground yield. During drought, productivity increases of fire plots over control plots were curtailed sharply. On a dry matter basis, the total aboveground biomass at the end of the growing season was approximately twice that of the standing crop. During the April—September period for 3 years of observation, the loss in dry weight of the aboveground material ranged from 57% to 65%. For the remiander of the year the decrease was 31—39%. These values indicate a fluctuating but generally balanced annual system of growth and decay. For aboveground biomass, the turnover estimate was 2 years, and for root biomass, 4 years. The decay time of a standing crop or root increment as determined from isolated litter samples and carbon—14—labeled roots in the field indicated that the annual turnover was comprised of a series of increments of different ages, decreasing in caloric content with time on a dry weight basis (uncorrected for ash). On an ash—free basis, litter 4 years old showed some increase in caloric content, suggesting changing composition of the residual fraction. The tallgrass prairie is seen as a relatively efficient ecosystem when compared to the worldwide terrestrial average. The stimulus of fire to dry matter production in the humid prairie indicates a more efficient use of solar energy; however, the long—term effects of sustained burning require observation.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
Unburned prairie produced 4.351 X 10 6 cal/m 2 of net productivity in 1962, representing 992 g biomass.
Verbatim
e0“The energy equivalent of total net productivity including foliage and roots on unburned prairie in 1962 was 4.351 X 10 6 cal/m 2 , representing 992 g of biomass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Roots supplied slightly over half the annual increment.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The root system provided slightly over 50% of the annual increment.”
Claim · model-written summary
Total growth in 1963 was 1,133 g/m 2.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“For 1963 the total growth was 1,133 g/m 2 .”
Claim · model-written summary
Average energy captured over the two years was equivalent to 1.21% of incident growing-season radiation.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The average energy for these years was equivalent to 1.21% of the incident radiation received during the growing season for the 400—700 μm portion of the light spectrum.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum energy budget equalled 2.6 turnovers.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The maximum energy budget including current increment, roots of previous years, and litter was equal to 2.6 turnovers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Fire approximately doubled aboveground yield in years with favorable rainfall.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“In years with favorable rainfall, fire approximately doubled the aboveground yield.”
Claim · model-written summary
Drought sharply curtailed productivity gains from burning relative to controls.
- Treatment
- fire plotse0
- Outcome
- productivity increasese0
- Direction
- curtailed sharplye0
- Qualifier
- droughte0
- Comparator
- control plotse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“During drought, productivity increases of fire plots over control plots were curtailed sharply.”
Claim · model-written summary
End-of-season aboveground biomass was approximately twice the standing crop.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“the total aboveground biomass at the end of the growing season was approximately twice that of the standing crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
Aboveground material lost 57% to 65% dry weight during April to September.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“During the April—September period for 3 years of observation, the loss in dry weight of the aboveground material ranged from 57% to 65%.”
Claim · model-written summary
Aboveground material lost 31—39% dry weight over the remainder of the year.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“For the remiander of the year the decrease was 31—39%.”
Claim · model-written summary
Aboveground biomass turnover was estimated at 2 years.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“For aboveground biomass, the turnover estimate was 2 years”
Claim · model-written summary
Root biomass turnover was estimated at 4 years.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“and for root biomass, 4 years.”
Claim · model-written summary
Caloric content of successive turnover increments decreased with age on a dry-weight basis.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“a series of increments of different ages, decreasing in caloric content with time on a dry weight basis”
Claim · model-written summary
Four-year-old litter showed some increase in caloric content on an ash-free basis.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“On an ash—free basis, litter 4 years old showed some increase in caloric content”