Underlining the potential drivers of carbon allocation in Kernza® crops
(2025) NGEM01 20251Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Abstract
- Conventional agriculture, dominated by annual crops, has revolutionised food production but also introduced significant environmental and social challenges. Perennial crops offer a promising alternative, with potential benefits for ecosystem services, agricultural sustainability, and food security. Although the environmental benefits of perennial crops, such as the intermediate wheat grass Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium), are increasingly recognised, our understand- ing of how carbon is partitioned between aboveg and belowground biomass under varying field conditions remains limited. This study investigates the primary factors influencing carbon allocation Kernza during its first growth year at the PERENNIAL experimental site in Alnarp,... (More)
- Conventional agriculture, dominated by annual crops, has revolutionised food production but also introduced significant environmental and social challenges. Perennial crops offer a promising alternative, with potential benefits for ecosystem services, agricultural sustainability, and food security. Although the environmental benefits of perennial crops, such as the intermediate wheat grass Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium), are increasingly recognised, our understand- ing of how carbon is partitioned between aboveg and belowground biomass under varying field conditions remains limited. This study investigates the primary factors influencing carbon allocation Kernza during its first growth year at the PERENNIAL experimental site in Alnarp, Sweden. As direct carbon measurements were not performed, dry biomass was used as a proxy for carbon allocation. Given that dry biomass is primarily composed of organic carbon, it provides a reliable basis for assessing relative allocation patterns, even though it does not reflect absolute carbon quantities. The study also aims to understand how soil texture and moisture affect the biomass distributions within the Kernza crops. Root biomass and aboveground biomass data were obtained from prior field sampling, which involved the collection of soil cores to assess root biomass and depth, and measurements of aboveground biomass from defined plots. For the present study, soil texture was analysed for sand, silt, and clay content, and moisture conditions were categorised based on observed field states (flooded and non-flooded). Results indicate that Kernza roots extend more deeply in sandy soils and that carbon allocation to roots increases under non-flooded conditions. The observed root-to-shoot ratio ranged from 0.08 to 0.47, reflecting lower belowground investment than previously reported for mature stands. Moreover, flooded plots exhibited a marked decrease in total (dry) biomass (849 g/m²) compared to non-flooded plots (1005 g/m²). These results suggest that early-stage Kernza carbon allocation strategies are sensitive to soil texture and moisture, with implications for establishment and long-term potential for soil carbon sequestration. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Beyond annuals: how Kernza® roots for a sustainable agriculture
The way we farm has a huge impact on our planet. Traditional annual crops, while feeding billions, often require yearly tilling that disturbs the soil, leading to erosion and reduced fertility. This cycle also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. But what if we could grow grain crops that stay in the ground year after year, much like natural grasslands? This thesis explores the potential of such crops, specifically focusing on Kernza, a type of perennial wheatgrass.
Imagine cultivating a crop that would not only provide food, but also have a smaller environmental impact than our current agricultural model. The promise of perennial grains. Unlike regular wheat, which is... (More) - Beyond annuals: how Kernza® roots for a sustainable agriculture
The way we farm has a huge impact on our planet. Traditional annual crops, while feeding billions, often require yearly tilling that disturbs the soil, leading to erosion and reduced fertility. This cycle also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. But what if we could grow grain crops that stay in the ground year after year, much like natural grasslands? This thesis explores the potential of such crops, specifically focusing on Kernza, a type of perennial wheatgrass.
Imagine cultivating a crop that would not only provide food, but also have a smaller environmental impact than our current agricultural model. The promise of perennial grains. Unlike regular wheat, which is planted and harvested annually, Kernza stays put, developing deep, extensive root systems that anchor the soil and draw nutrients from deeper underground. This means less soil disturbance, and better water retention. In addition, it could provide a durable atmospheric carbon storage in the ground, through persistent crop coverage, deeper and more developed roots, as well as healthier soil conditions that enhance carbon storage.
We measured where the the plant distributes its energy. We can see this “distribution of energy” as the biomass allocation. Biomass being the physical material of the plant. Indeed, plants opt where to distribute their resources (energy), such as investing it towards the growth of certain organs, at more or less specific times during its growth. This can be influenced by the environmental conditions, and we investigated the effect that soil type and water conditions would have on the biomass allocation after a full first year of growth in field conditions. Studying this biomass allocation, is key to understanding how these plants contribute to both agriculture and the environment.
Our study revealed that Kernza’s growth is indeed influenced by its environment. We observed that sandy soils seem to encourage deeper root growth compared to clay-rich soils. This is likely because sandy soils offer less resistance to root penetration and might require plants to seek out moisture deeper down. When the soil was waterlogged, Kernza’s overall growth was reduced, particularly its root development, and its grain yield was lower. This highlights the sensitivity of young perennial crops to excess moisture. We also found a trade-off: plants that invested more in above-ground growth (leaves and stems) tended to allocate less to their root systems, and vice versa. This is a common strategy in plants, balancing immediate growth with long-term resource acquisition. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9210595
- author
- de Roissart, Hugues LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- NGEM01 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Physical Geography, Ecosystem analysis, Biomass, Allocation, Perennial, Kernza
- language
- English
- id
- 9210595
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-27 09:00:14
- date last changed
- 2025-08-27 09:00:14
@misc{9210595,
abstract = {{Conventional agriculture, dominated by annual crops, has revolutionised food production but also introduced significant environmental and social challenges. Perennial crops offer a promising alternative, with potential benefits for ecosystem services, agricultural sustainability, and food security. Although the environmental benefits of perennial crops, such as the intermediate wheat grass Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium), are increasingly recognised, our understand- ing of how carbon is partitioned between aboveg and belowground biomass under varying field conditions remains limited. This study investigates the primary factors influencing carbon allocation Kernza during its first growth year at the PERENNIAL experimental site in Alnarp, Sweden. As direct carbon measurements were not performed, dry biomass was used as a proxy for carbon allocation. Given that dry biomass is primarily composed of organic carbon, it provides a reliable basis for assessing relative allocation patterns, even though it does not reflect absolute carbon quantities. The study also aims to understand how soil texture and moisture affect the biomass distributions within the Kernza crops. Root biomass and aboveground biomass data were obtained from prior field sampling, which involved the collection of soil cores to assess root biomass and depth, and measurements of aboveground biomass from defined plots. For the present study, soil texture was analysed for sand, silt, and clay content, and moisture conditions were categorised based on observed field states (flooded and non-flooded). Results indicate that Kernza roots extend more deeply in sandy soils and that carbon allocation to roots increases under non-flooded conditions. The observed root-to-shoot ratio ranged from 0.08 to 0.47, reflecting lower belowground investment than previously reported for mature stands. Moreover, flooded plots exhibited a marked decrease in total (dry) biomass (849 g/m²) compared to non-flooded plots (1005 g/m²). These results suggest that early-stage Kernza carbon allocation strategies are sensitive to soil texture and moisture, with implications for establishment and long-term potential for soil carbon sequestration.}},
author = {{de Roissart, Hugues}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Underlining the potential drivers of carbon allocation in Kernza® crops}},
year = {{2025}},
}