PBB01 Belowground Plot Experiment: Aboveground net primary productivity of tallgrass prairie based on accumulated plant biomass

To address the potential interactive effects of fire, aboveground biomass removal,
and nutrient amendments on above- and belowground responses, a long-term field experiment
was initiated in 1986 as part of the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)
program. The general goals of this experiment are: 1) to document both short- and
long-term responses of plants and soils to fire, aboveground biomass removal (a surrogate
for grazing in these small plots), and nutrient amendments (additions of N and/or P); and
2) to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying tallgrass prairie
responses to fire, aboveground biomass removal and nutrient enrichment. Peak foliage
biomass is measured annually in late fall (September to October) on the 64 belowground
plots. Effects of burning, mowing and N + P additions on aboveground NPP are measured. Two
0.1m2 quadrats harvested per plot). 2003 was the last year the mowing treatment was
implemented.

为探究火烧、地上生物量移除与养分添加对地上及地下生态响应的潜在交互影响，研究者于1986年启动了一项长期野外实验，作为康扎草原长期生态研究（Long-Term Ecological Research, LTER）计划的组成部分。本实验的总体目标包含两项：其一，记录植物与土壤对火烧、地上生物量移除（小型样地中放牧行为的替代处理）以及养分添加（施加氮[N]和/或磷[P]）的短期与长期响应；其二，加深对高草草原在火烧、地上生物量移除及养分富集响应背后作用机制的理解。研究者于每年深秋（9月至10月）对64个地下样地的叶片生物量峰值进行测定；同时测定火烧、刈割以及氮磷联合添加对地上净初级生产力（Net Primary Productivity, NPP）的影响，每个样地设置2个0.1平方米的样方开展取样。2003年是刈割处理实施的最后一年。