Reduction in below-ground biomass estimates from freezing of soil cores

Study was designed to quantify the effects of freezing soil cores prior to washing on estimates of below-ground biomass. Cores were extracted from nearly pure stands of 3 native grasses growing in a southern USA mixed-grass prairie. Estimates of crown + rhizome biomass in the top 10-cm of the soil profile did not differ as a function of pre-washing treatment (frozenvs unfrozen). However, estimates of root biomass were 26% less from frozen (434 g m^–2) than unfrozen samples (585 g m^–2).