Grazing increases below-ground biomass and net primary production in a temperate grassland

Abstract

Background and aims Grazing can affect the stock and flow of C between above and below-ground vegetation layers. Components of below-ground stratum are one of the less studied. The goals of this research were: 1) to characterize and estimate the vertical distribution of below-ground biomass in grazed and ungrazed areas during a growing season, and 2) to evaluate grazing effects on below-ground net primary production (BNPP).