Defoliation and below-ground herbivory in the grass Muhlenbergiaquadridentata : Effects on plant performance and on the root-feeder Phyllophaga sp. (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae)

In this study we evaluated (1) the combined effects of simulated defoliation and below-ground herbivory (BGH) on the biomass and nitrogen content of tillers and roots of the bunchgrass Muhlenbergia quadridentata and (2) the effect of defoliation on the survival of third-instar root-feeder larvae of Phyllophaga sp. The experiment was performed in a pine forest area at an altitude of 3200 m above sea level. The grass and the root-feeder species were native and dominant in the understory and in the macroarthropod root-feeder communities, respectively. Plants were established in pots in the field and were subjected to the following treatments in a factorial design: simulated defoliation (three levels) and BGH (with or without root-feeder larvae) with ten replicates per treatment. Plants were defoliated three times at 2-month intervals. The interaction between defoliation and root herbivory was significant for all components of plant biomass. In every case, light defoliation with BGH decreased live above-ground, root and total plant biomass, and the number of live tillers by more than 50% with respect to the same defoliation level without root-feeders. Plants apparently did not compensate for the carbon drain by root-feeders when a high proportion of older leaves were not removed by defoliation. Plants under heavy defoliation were not affected by the presence of root-feeders and showed a greater live/dead above-ground biomass ratio than lightly defoliated and control plants. Defoliation and BGH did not change tiller and root N concentrations but root herbivores did decrease live-tiller N content in lightly defoliated plants. Root-feeders but not defoliation decreased the root/shoot ratio by 40% and the live/dead above-ground biomass ratio by 45% through increased tiller mortality. Survivorship and final biomass of Phyllophaga sp. larvae were not affected by defoliation treatments during the 6-month study period. Received: 17 May 1996 / Accepted: 1 November 1996     

Management of below-ground biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typha angustifolia</Emphasis> by harvesting shoots above the water surface on different summer days

A dynamic model of regrowth in Typha angustifolia after cutting shoots above the water surface was formulated by characterizing the phenology and mobilization of resources from below-ground to above-ground organs after the cutting. The model parameters were determined by two cutting experiments to investigate the different strategies with flowering and non-flowering shoots after cutting in 2001 and by four cutting experiments to elucidate the regrowth characteristics after cutting on different days from June to September in 2002. A difference was evident both for flowering and non-flowering shoots and for each cutting day. From June to August, non-flowering shoots regrew immediately after cutting, but flowering shoots did not. The shoot regrowth height, number of leaves and shoot biomass were higher with the earlier cutting. The model was validated using the below-ground biomass observed in December 2002 and below-ground dynamics observed in 2003. In the low-flowering shoot zone of the stands, in which the percentage of flowering shoots was small (around 10%), the decrease in below-ground biomass became larger from June (20%) to August (60%). Cutting the high-flowering shoot zone (flowering shoots: 78%) in July 2001, just 1 week after peduncle formation, decreased the below-ground biomass by about 50%. In the low-flowering shoot zone, cutting just before senescence is better for decreasing below-ground biomass with a smaller rate of flowering shoots. The difference of below-ground biomass reduction in non-flowering shoots is mainly due to the decrease in downward translocation (DWT) of above-ground material to below-ground organs during senescence, because of the decrease in regrowth biomass. As for flowering shoots, the decrease in the photosynthate transportation from above-ground to below-ground organs and that of DWT are closely related because they cannot grow again within the season.     

增温对川西北亚高山高寒草甸植物群落碳、氮含量的影响

采用开顶式生长室（OTC）模拟增温实验,研究了川西北亚高山草甸植物群落碳、氮含量对温度升高的响应。由于OTC的增温作用,在整个生长季内,地温（15 cm）、地表温度和气温(30 cm)的平均值在OTC内比对照样地分别高0.28、0.46和1.4℃,OTC内土壤相对含水量也明显减少,低于对照样地5.49%。受增温及土壤含水量减少的影响,一年后,植物群落的生物量积累和碳、氮含量发生了明显的改变。除10月份OTC内地上鲜体生物量略高于对照样地外,OTC内地上鲜体生物量和根系生物量与对照样地相比,都出现了不同程度的减少;OTC内植物群落地上活体的碳浓度在整个生长季高于对照样地,而氮浓度低于对照样地;OTC内植物群落地下活根的碳浓度在整个生长季高于对照样地,并且在8月份统计检验显著,而氮浓度却低于对照样地;OTC内植物碳库在整个生长季较对照样地有不同程度的增加,增幅范围为0.90%～5.65%,而OTC内植物氮库较对照样地有不同程度的减少,减幅范围0.40%～1.28%。     

Comparison of early development of three grasses: Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera and Poa pratensis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To improve the management of grass communities, early plant development was compared in three species with contrasting growth forms, a caespitose (Lolium perenne), a rhizomatous (Poa pratensis) and a caespitose-stoloniferous species (Agrostis stolonifera). METHODS: Isolated seedlings were grown in a glasshouse without trophic constraints for 37 d (761 degrees Cd). The appearance of leaves and their location on tillers were recorded. Leaf appearance rate (LAR) on the tillers and site-filling were calculated. Tillering was modelled based on the assumption that tiller number increases with the number of leaves produced on the seedling main stem. Above- and below-ground parts were harvested to compare biomass. KEY RESULTS: Lolium perenne and A. stolonifera expressed similar bunch-type developments. However, root biomass was approx. 30 % lower in A. stolonifera than in L. perenne. Poa pratensis was rhizomatous. Nevertheless, the ratio of above-ground : below-ground biomass of P. pratensis was similar to that of L. perenne. LAR was approximately equal to 0.30 leaf d(-1) in L. perenne, and on the main stem and first primary tillers of A. stolonifera. LAR on the other tillers of A. stolonifera was 30 % higher than on L. perenne. For P. pratensis, LAR was 30 % lower than on L. perenne, but the interval between the appearance of two successive shoots from rhizomes was 30 % higher than the interval between two successive leaf stages on the main stem. Above-ground parts of P. pratensis first grew slower than in the other species to the benefit of the rhizomes, whose development enhanced tiller production. CONCLUSIONS: Lolium perenne had the fastest tiller production at the earliest stages of seedling development. Agrostis stolonifera and P. pratensis compensated almost completely for the delay due to higher LAR on tillers or ramets compared with L. perenne. This study provides a basis for modelling plant development.     

黄河源园区高寒草地碳储量估算及其影响因素

高寒草地碳储量及其影响因素研究是认识青藏高原草地生态系统乃至陆地生态系统碳循环和气候变化的关键之一。利用2021年8月上旬地面调查数据与同期高分6号遥感数据建立回归关系,在反演研究区植被地上、地下生物量碳密度和0—40cm土壤层有机碳密度基础上,估算了黄河源园区高寒草地有机碳储量,并通过路径分析探讨了土壤理化性质对碳密度的影响驱动机制。结果表明：(1)2021年黄河源园区地上生物量、地下生物量、0—40cm土壤层碳密度分别为37.65g/m²、1305.28g/m²、4769.11g/m²;总碳储量为100.44Tg(1Tg=10¹²g),植被层和土壤层碳储量分别分为22.06Tg、78.38Tg,占总碳密度的21.96%、78.04%。(2)黄河源园区高寒草甸和高寒草原两种草地类型地上生物量碳密度分别为41.27g/m²、30.76g/m²;地下生物量碳密度分别为1661.41g/m²、618.74g/m²;0...     

梓树苗木地下和地上竞争的效应研究

采用生物量计算的竞争指数和通径分析的方法,研究了3种密度的梓树苗木地下竞争和地上竞争的关系及对总竞争的影响。结果显示,梓树苗木地下生物量、地上生物量和总生物量与密度密切相关,随着密度的增加,其根、茎、叶的生物量减少,根冠比均小于1。在同一密度条件下,地上竞争指数明显大于地下竞争指数,地上竞争对总竞争的直接作用范围(0.449 3～0.973 1)明显大于地下竞争对总竞争的直接作用(0.275 6～0.773 2)。研究表明,梓树幼苗地上茎、叶的竞争在梓树苗木总的竞争中占有重要地位。     

长白山落叶松林下笃斯越桔群落生物量的空间分布

以长白山区落叶松林下笃斯越桔群落为研究对象,调查其群落的地上、地下各部分的生物量及其空间分布规律。结果表明:地上部枝条生物量主要分布在50cm高度以下,基径3～5mm粗枝的生物量在地上部分各级别中所占比重最大。笃斯越桔地下部生物量较大,占总生物量的75.2%～92.6%;地下部生物量主要集中在死苔藓层内,占总根量的66.3%～85.0%,而其中<1mm细根所占比重最大,为该层总根量的42.6%～82.7%。在泥炭层内笃斯越桔根系占总根量的12.3～29.7%,比重较小。笃斯越桔的根系生物量占所有植物根系生物量的8.8%～60.7%,笃斯越桔以细根为主。本研究结果为笃斯越桔资源的合理开发与保护利用以及生态系统碳汇功能评估等提供了基础。     

The effect of mortality on estimates of net above-ground production by spartina alterniflora

Monthly changes in the live and dead biomass of harvested Spartina alterniflora Lois. were compared with the growth and mortality of individual tillers on permanent plots to determine the extent to which estimates of net above-ground primary production (NAPP) based on harvest methods missed the turnover of plant tissues. Enumeration of live tillers in the harvested samples revealed a 60% reduction in the number of live tillers between May and September. This loss of live biomass never appeared as a positive change in dead biomass during the growing season. Measurements of individual tillers showed that dying tillers had less mass than surviving tillers, and hence that the turnover of tiller biomass was less than the turnover of tiller numbers (15% of NAPP as opposed to 60%). Estimates to the turnover of biomass as a result of leaf mortality were also obtained from measurements of individual tillers. The mortality of tillers and of leaves added about 20 and 12%, respectively, to NAPP calculated from the summation of positive changes in live biomass. Other commonly used estimates of NAPP based on harvest data were 12 to 27% lower than the more direct estimate provided here based on documented mortality.     

The impact of land degradation on the C pools in alpine grasslands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Aims

To determine the effect of grassland degradation on the soil carbon pool in alpine grassland.

Methods

In this study, we calculated the carbon pool in the above-and below-ground biomass, the soil microbial biomass carbon pool, the total organic carbon pool and the soil total carbon.

Results

Grassland degradation has resulted in decreases in biomass and carbon content and has changed the ratio of roots to shoots. However, there was less influence of degradation on dead root biomass. There was most likely a lag effect of changes in dead root biomass following grassland degradation. In the alpine grassland ecosystem, the carbon pool in soil accounts for more than 92 % of the total carbon both in vegetation and soil. The carbon in alpine grassland is stored primarily in the form of total organic carbon below-ground. As organic carbon decreases, the ratio of the microbial biomass carbon pool to the total organic carbon pool increases and then declines with increasing degradation level. Along the grassland degradation gradient, the total vegetation biomass (above-and below-ground) and the soil carbon pool (microbial biomass C, total organic C and total C) all decreased.     

Carbon balance of a tropical savanna of northern Australia

Through estimations of above- and below-ground standing biomass, annual biomass increment, fine root production and turnover, litterfall, canopy respiration and total soil CO₂ efflux, a carbon balance on seasonal and yearly time-scales is developed for a Eucalypt open-forest savanna in northern Australia. This carbon balance is compared to estimates of carbon fluxes derived from eddy covariance measurements conducted at the same site. The total carbon (C) stock of the savanna was 204±53 ton C ha^–1, with approximately 84% below-ground and 16% above-ground. Soil organic carbon content (0–1 m) was 151±33 ton C ha^–1, accounting for about 74% of the total carbon content in the ecosystem. Vegetation biomass was 53±20 ton C ha^–1, 39% of which was found in the root component and 61% in above-ground components (trees, shrubs, grasses). Annual gross primary production was 20.8 ton C ha^–1, of which 27% occurred in above-ground components and 73% below-ground components. Net primary production was 11 ton C ha^–1 year^–1, of which 8.0 ton C ha^–1 (73%) was contributed by below-ground net primary production and 3.0 ton C ha^–1 (27%) by above-ground net primary production. Annual soil carbon efflux was 14.3 ton C ha^–1 year^–1. Approximately three-quarters of the carbon flux (above-ground, below-ground and total ecosystem) occur during the 5–6 months of the wet season. This savanna site is a carbon sink during the wet season, but becomes a weak source during the dry season. Annual net ecosystem production was 3.8 ton C ha^–1 year^–1.     

水曲柳苗木地下竞争与地上竞争的定量研究

对3种密度进行栽培试验,利用通径分析的方法,研究了水曲柳地下竞争和地上竞争的关系及对总竞争的影响。结果表明,水曲柳苗木的地下部分生物量、地上部分生物量和总生物量与营养空间有密切关系。随着苗木空间距离增加,由生物量计算的竞争指数下降。在同一密度条件下,地下竞争指数明显大于地上竞争指数。由于地下生长与地上生长的相互作用,各竞争指数之间具有明显的相关性。但是地下竞争和地上竞争对总竞争的影响是不同的,通径分析可以定量的区分地下竞争和地上竞争的相对大小。地下竞争对总竞争的直接作用范围在0．5543～0．7426之间,明显大于地上竞争对总竞争的直接作用(0．2851～0．5282)。随着距离的增加,单株苗木的生长空间加大,地上部分的竞争作用增加,地下部分的竞争程度减弱。但是,地下根系的竞争在水曲柳苗木总的竞争中占有重要地位。     

江西千烟洲不同恢复途径下白栎种群生物量

利用不同自变量和函数,建立白栎枝条和单株地上各器官的生物量模型,选择其中的最佳模型估算了千烟洲人工造林和自然封育两种恢复途径下白栎种群地上生物量及其年增长量,并利用地上生物量和地下生物量的线性关系,估算了白栎种群地下生物量及其年增长量.结果表明:模拟白栎枝条和单株地上各器官生物量的最佳函数均为幂函数,而最佳自变量分别为d²l和D²H.白栎种群各器官生物量和总生物量均为天然次生林大于人工湿地松林.次生林中白栎种群地上和地下生物量分别为3.592和1.723 t·hm^-2,其中树干生物量>枝生物量>叶生物量;湿地松林中白栎种群地上和地下生物量分别为0.666和0.462 t·hm^-2,其中树干生物量>叶生物量>枝生物量.2004—2006年,两种恢复途径下白栎种群地上、地下及总生物量的年增长量均逐年增加.其中地上生物量年增长量占总年增长量的比重呈逐年升高趋势,湿地松林中由54.35%增至62.20%,次生林中由67.27%增至68.94%.与次生林相比,湿地松林中白栎种群各器官生物量年增长量较小,但其相对增长速率较快.     

氮添加对中国陆地植被地上-地下生物量分配的影响

大气氮沉降水平持续升高导致的外源氮输入增加,强烈影响了陆地生态系统的碳循环。目前,已有大量报道证实了氮沉降升高对全球陆地植被固碳的积极影响。虽然之前大部分研究将这一结果归因于光合作用增强导致的地上生物量增加,但最近的研究发现长期氮添加对植物地下根系的影响也同样重要。归纳整理了181篇公开发表的我国野外模拟氮沉降试验结果,采用整合分析(Meta-analysis)方法,定量评估了氮添加对我国陆地植被地上-地下生物量分配的影响特征和不同生态系统类型及施氮方式之间的影响差异。通过分析地上-地下生物量分配对氮添加的响应差异来探究植被碳增益对长期大气氮沉降增加的潜在响应机制。结果表明,氮添加显著增强了我国陆地植被的光合作用及碳固存,且植物碳增益在不同生态系统类型及施氮制度间有所差异。植物叶片的氮含量显著增加,使得叶片碳氮比及凋落物碳氮比显著降低,但并未显著影响细根的碳氮比。氮添加总体上显著提高了植物的净光合速率,但降低了光合利用效率。地上生物量,凋落物产量和根生物量平均分别显著增加了38%,17%和18%,总体上植物地上部分对氮添加的响应程度比地下部分更高。然而,不同生态系统类型的地上-地下生物...     

Periodic carbon flushing to roots of Quercus rubra saplings affects soil respiration and rhizosphere microbial biomass

Patterns of root/shoot carbon allocation within plants have been studied at length. The extent, however, to which patterns of carbon allocation from shoots to roots affect the timing and quantity of organic carbon release from roots to soil is not known. We employed a novel approach to study how natural short-term variation in the allocation of carbon to roots may affect rhizosphere soil biology. Taking advantage of the semi-determinate phenology of young northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), we examined how pulsed delivery of carbon from shoots to roots affected dynamics of soil respiration as well as microbial biomass and net nitrogen mineralization in the rhizosphere. Young Q. rubra exhibit (1) clear switches in the amount of carbon allocated below-ground that are non-destructively detected simply by observing pulsed shoot growth above-ground, and (2) multiple switches in internal carbon allocation during a single growing season, ensuring our ability to detect short-term effects of plant carbon allocation on rhizosphere biology separate from longer-term seasonal effects. In both potted oaks and oaks rooted in soil, soil respiration varied inversely with shoot flush stage through several oak shoot flushes. In addition, upon destructive harvest of potted oaks, microbial biomass in the rhizosphere of saplings with actively flushing shoots was lower than microbial biomass in the rhizosphere of saplings with shoots that were not flushing. Given that plants have evolved with their roots in contact with soil microbes, known species-specific carbon allocation patterns within plants may provide insight into interactions among roots, symbionts, and free-living microbes in the dynamic soil arena.     

植物种群自疏过程中构件生物量与密度的关系

不论是在对植物种群自疏规律还是在对能量守衡法则的研究中,个体大小(M)大多针对植物地上部分生物量,地下部分和构件生物量及其动态十分重要又多被忽视。以1年生植物荞麦为材料研究了自疏种群地下部分生物量、包括地下部分的个体总生物量以及各构件生物量与密度的关系。结果表明:平均地上生物量和个体总生物量与密度的异速关系指数(γabove-ground和γindividual)分别为-1.293和-1.253,与-4/3无显著性差异(P>0.05),为-4/3自疏法则提供了有力证据;平均根生物量-密度异速指数γroot(-1.128)与-1无显著性差异(P>0.05),与最终产量恒定法则一致;平均茎生物量-密度异速指数γstem(-1.263)接近-4/3(P>0.05),平均叶生物量-密度异速指数γleaf(-1.524)接近-3/2(P>0.05),分别符合-4/3自疏法则与-3/2自疏法则;而繁殖生物量与密度的异速关系指数γreproductive(-2.005)显著小于-3/2、-4/3或-1(P<0.001)。因此,不存在一个对植物不同构件普适的生物量-密度之间的关系。光合产物在地上和地下构件的生物量分配格局以及构件生物量与地上生物量之间特异的异速生长关系导致不同构件具有不同的自疏指数。无论对于地上生物量还是个体总生物量,荞麦种群能量均守衡,而对于地下生物量,荞麦种群能量不守衡。     

Facilitation and inhibition: changes in plant nitrogen and secondary metabolites mediate interactions between above-ground and below-ground herbivores

To date, it remains unclear how herbivore-induced changes in plant primary and secondary metabolites impact above-ground and below-ground herbivore interactions. Here, we report effects of above-ground (adult) and below-ground (larval) feeding by Bikasha collaris on nitrogen and secondary chemicals in shoots and roots of Triadica sebifera to explain reciprocal above-ground and below-ground insect interactions. Plants increased root tannins with below-ground herbivory, but above-ground herbivory prevented this increase and larval survival doubled. Above-ground herbivory elevated root nitrogen, probably contributing to increased larval survival. However, plants increased foliar tannins with above-ground herbivory and below-ground herbivory amplified this increase, and adult survival decreased. As either foliar or root tannins increased, foliar flavonoids decreased, suggesting a trade-off between these chemicals. Together, these results show that plant chemicals mediate contrasting effects of conspecific larval and adult insects, whereas insects may take advantage of plant responses to facilitate their offspring performance, which may influence population dynamics.     

Significance of the simultaneous growth of vegetative and reproductive organs in the prostrate annual Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small (Euphorbiaceae)

To elucidate the significance of the simultaneous growth of vegetative and reproductive organs in the prostrate annual Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small (Euphorbiaceae) from the standpoint of meristem allocation, we investigated plant architecture, meristem allocation, and the spatial and temporal patterns in vegetative growth and reproduction in the reproductive stage. The numbers of secondary and tertiary shoots successively increased by branching in the reproductive stage, and the sum of shoot length was greater in secondary shoots than in primary shoots. The specific shoot length (shoot length per shoot biomass) was greater in lateral shoots than in primary shoots, indicating efficient lateral shoot elongation. The internode length was shorter in secondary shoots than in primary shoots, increasing the number of nodes per shoot length in secondary shoots. Many nodes on a shoot generated two meristems, one of which committed to a flower and one to a lateral shoot. The number of reproductive meristems was greatest in tertiary shoots, and 96% of total reproductive meristems on shoots were generated in lateral shoots. On almost all nodes, the reproductive meristem developed into a flower, and 95–98% of the flowers produced a fruit. Therefore, vegetative growth by branching in the reproductive stage contributed to the increase in reproductive outputs. From the standpoint of meristem allocation, the simultaneous growth of vegetative and reproductive organs in prostrate plant species might be important for increasing the number of growth and reproductive meristems, resulting in the increase in reproductive outputs.     

Growth dynamics and biomass allocation of Eleocharis sphacelata at different water depths: observations, modeling, and applications

Imbalanced biomass allocation patterns in emergent aquatic plants to above and below-ground structures as a response to climatic variations and water depth were investigated on the basis of observation of three stable homogeneous populations established under different water regimes and climatic environments in Goulburn and Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia, from August 2003 to December 2004. The growth of shoots depended on water inundation-drawdown patterns and climatic variations. Shoot density was greater in shallow water but with shorter shoot length and less maximum above-ground biomass density than for plant stands in deep water. Deep-water populations attained higher below-ground biomass with higher above to below-ground biomass ratio than for the shallow-water population. Translocation of carbohydrate reserves between above and below-ground organs in deep-water populations were mostly downward throughout the year whereas the depletion–recharge pattern varied seasonally in shallow water populations. Shoots of deep-water populations grew year-round whereas in shallow water shoots died off after recession of the water level with no re-growth afterward, showing that Eleocharis sphacelata is better adapted to deep water and is stressed under shallow-water conditions. A mathematical model was formulated to describe the growth patterns of E. sphacelata and subsequently to predict the effect of water depth on production. Model simulations are in satisfactory agreement with observed patterns of growth. The model also predicts that maximum production decreases sharply with increasing water depth.     

Standing State and Cycling of Nitrogen in Soil-vegetation Components of Prairie Ecosystems

In the present paper, distribution of nitrogen in differentplant compartments and in the top 20 cm soil from three grasslandsites for a 3-year period at the time of peak standing crophas been studied. The sites represent short-grass, mixed-grass,and tall-grass prairies located, respectively, in Colorado,South Dakota, and Oklahoma. Partitioning, uptake, transfers,and release of nitrogen in the above-ground and below-groundcompartments were evaluated with respect to the abiotic factors.A positive linear relationship was found with the total nitrogencontent in shoots (g m^–2) and the annual precipitationas well as with the annual actual evapotranspiration. On theother hand, a negative linear relationship was found with thenitrogen per gram dry weight in shoots, and the annual precipitationand evapotranspiration. Inter-seasonal and inter-site variationsin the nitrogen content (g m^–2) in different plant compartmentsindicated significant differences. The short-grass and mixed-grassprairies indicated greater nitrogen content in the above-groundand below-ground plant tissues as compared to the tall-grassprairie. However the total nitrogen content in shoots from thetall-grass prairie was greater than that of short-grass or mixed-grassprairies which was mainly due to greater shoot biomass in thetall-grass prairie. The major portion of nitrogen (over 90 percent) in the system was retained in the soil while a fractionof nitrogen (4–8 per cent) resided in the biological material.The distribution of nitrogen in different plant compartments,the uptake, transfer, and release of nitrogen with respect toabiotic factors have been discussed in detail.     

Causes of increased nutrient concentrations in post-fire regrowth in an East African savanna

The aim of the present study was to investigate the causes of increased macronutrient concentrations in above-ground post-fire regrowth in an East African savanna (Northern Tanzania). Experiments were set up to discriminate between the following possible causes: (1) increased soil nutrient supply after fire, (2) relocation of nutrients from the roots to the new shoots, (3) rejuvenation and related changes in plant tissue composition and (4) changes in nutrient uptake in relation to above-ground carbon gains. N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations in post-burn graminoid vegetation were compared with clipped and with unburned, control vegetation during the post-burn growth season. One month after burning and clipping, nutrient concentrations in live grass shoots in the burned and clipped treatments were significantly higher than in the control. This effect, however, declined in the course of the season and, except for Ca, disappeared three months after onset of the treatments. There were no significant differences in live grass shoot nutrient concentrations between burned and clipped treatments which suggests that the increased nutrient concentration in post-fire regrowth is not due to increased soil nutrient supply via ash deposition. The relatively low input of nutrients through ash deposition, compared to the amount of nutrients released through mineralisation during the first month after burning and to the total nutrient pools, supports this suggestion. There was no difference between burned and unburned vegetation in total root biomass and root nutrient concentrations. Relocation of nutrients from the roots to the new shoots did not, therefore, appear to be a cause of higher post-fire shoot nutrient concentrations. The present study shows that in this relatively nutrient-rich savanna, the increased nutrient concentration in above-ground post-fire regrowth is primarily due to increased leaf:stem ratios, rejuvenation of plant material and the distribution of a similar amount of nutrients over less above-ground biomass. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.