Decomposition of roots and shoots of perennial grasses and annual barley—separately or in two residue mixes

Abstract

Little is known about the decomposition rates of shoot and root residues of perennial grasses. This knowledge is important to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of the grasses. An incubation experiment was carried out in a sandy clay loam with shoot and root residues of three native perennial grasses (Wallaby grass, Stipa sp. and Kangaroo grass) and the annual grass barley either separately or in mixtures of two residues. Respiration rate was measured over 18 days, and microbial C and available N were measured on days 0 and 18. Decomposition was lower for roots than for shoots and lower for residues of perennial grasses than for barley. Cumulative respiration was positively correlated with water-soluble C in the residues but not with residue C/N. In the mixtures, the measured cumulative respiration was higher than the expected value in five of the nine mixes usually where the differences in cumulative respiration between the individual residues were relatively small. Lower than expected cumulative respiration were found in two of the mixtures in which barley shoots (high cumulative respiration) were mixed with residues with low cumulative respiration. There was a negative correlation between the change in microbial biomass C concentration from day 0 to day 18 and cumulative respiration on day 18. In the amended soils, the available N concentration decreased from day 0 to day 18. It is concluded that the low decomposition rate of perennial grasses residues should favour C sequestration, but that mixing residues of similar decomposition rate may accelerate their decomposition.