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Plant Biogeochemistry

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Ecosystem Biogeochemistry

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Abstract

Terrestrial plant communities exist at the interface between the atmosphere and the underlying soil and geologic substrate, acting as major regulators of biogeochemical and hydrologic cycling patterns in the biosphere. In a forest ecosystem, the plant canopy represents the “power station” for energy flow, the major end-user for water, a massive gas exchange system, a primary sink for nutrients, and a multi-dimensional surface exposed to continuous atmospheric interactions. The belowground root system, on the other hand, contains large structural woody roots that anchor a prolific branching system of fine roots that acts as a sink for photosynthate, a nutrient absorption network, a hydrologic connection between the shoot and the soil, and a source of fresh organic matter for the surrounding subsoil environment. This chapter explores a range of plant metabolic and nutrient cycling processes and structural-functional relationships that are integral to the biogeochemical role of plants in forested watersheds.

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  1. School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA

    Christopher S. Cronan

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Cronan, C.S. (2018). Plant Biogeochemistry. In: Ecosystem Biogeochemistry. Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66444-6_4

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