Hydrologic regulation of plant rooting depth
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Universidade de Santiago de Compostela · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Plant rooting depth affects ecosystem resilience to environmental stress such as drought. Deep roots connect deep soil/groundwater to the atmosphere, thus influencing the hydrologic cycle and climate. Deep roots enhance bedrock weathering, thus regulating the long-term carbon cycle. However, we know little about how deep roots go and why. Here, we present a global synthesis of 2,200 root observations of >1,000 species along biotic (life form, genus) and abiotic (precipitation, soil, drainage) gradients. Results reveal strong sensitivities of rooting depth to local soil water profiles determined by precipitation infiltration depth from the top (reflecting climate and soil), and groundwater table depth from…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 50.05
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 50
Authors
5- YFYing FanCorresponding
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- GMGonzalo Miguez‐Macho
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
- EGEstéban G. Jobbágy
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, National University of San Luis
- RBRobert B. Jackson
Palo Alto Institute, Stanford University
- COCarlos Otero-Casal
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Topics & keywords
- Carbon cycle
- Environmental science
- Earth science
- Weathering
- Atmosphere (unit)
- Water cycle
- Productivity
- Soil carbon
- Life in Land