Soil warming duration and magnitude affect dynamics of fine roots and rhizomes and associated C and N pools in subarctic grasslands.

Abstract

Response of subarctic grassland's belowground to soil warming is key for understanding ecosystem's adaptation to future climate. Functionally different belowground plant organs can respond differently to changes in soil temperature (Ts). We aimed to understand the belowground adaptation mechanisms by analyzing the dynamics and chemistry of fine roots and rhizomes in relation to plant community composition and soil chemistry, along with the duration and magnitude of soil warming. We investigated the effects of duration (medium-term warming (MTW; 11 yr) and long-term warming (LTW; >60 yr) and magnitude (0-8.4 °C) of soil warming on the belowground plant biomass (BPB), fine root biomass (FRB) and rhizome biomass (RHB) in geothermally warmed subarctic grasslands. We evaluated the changes in BPB, FRB, and RHB and the corresponding carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools in the context of ambient, Ts < +2 °C and Ts > +2 °C scenarios. BPB decreased exponentially in response to an increase in Ts under MTW, whereas FRB declined under both MTW and LTW. The proportion of rhizomes increased and the C-N ratio in rhizomes decreased under LTW. The C and N pools in BPB in highly warmed plots under MTW were 50% less than in the ambient, whereas under LTW, C and N pools in warmed plots were similar to that in non-warmed plots. Approximately 78% of the variation in FRB, RHB and C and N concentration and pools in fine roots and rhizomes was explained by the duration and magnitude of soil warming, soil chemistry, plant community functional composition, and aboveground biomass. Plant's belowground biomass, chemistry and pools were related to a shift in the grassland's plant community composition- the abundance of ferns increased and BPB decreased towards higher Ts under MTW, while the recovery of belowground C and N pools under LTW was related to higher plant diversity. Our results indicate that plant community-level adaptation of belowground to soil warming occurs over long periods. We provide insight into the potential adaptation phases of subarctic grasslands.