title: Root Biomass under Range of Pasture Swards -Implications for Soil Carbon Stocks

authors: Jordan, Olivia Margaret

subjects: root biomass

abstract: Soil carbon (C) is the largest terrestrial store of carbon, greater than all other pools combined. Root biomass is recognised as an important contributor to the accumulation of soil C and recent studies have suggested that a higher diversity of plant species with higher root biomass may increase soil C content. Maintenance of soil C stocks is important as losses can contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore soil C is important for maintaining soil quality. Much of New Zealand agricultural land is under pastoral grazing and is the greatest contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions from land. The potential for storing additional soil C in pasture soils is poorly understood. This study has assessed root biomass and carbon contents of soils under a range of pasture diversities and species composition to determine whether (i) there is greater root biomass under increasing plant diversity, (ii) changes in root properties between diversity treatments are evident and (iii) there is variation in root biomass between seasons. 
Soil samples were collected from an existing small plot trial managed by DairyNZ and Landcare Research containing 14 different mixtures of pasture species (three replicates per treatment). From each plot, fifteen soil cores were taken to a depth of 60cm, and bulked by 10cm depth increments. Root characteristics were determined after removing soil via scanning and analysing with WinRHIZO©, and subsequently root biomass determined following oven drying and weighing. A sub-sample of soil was also taken for C and nitrogen (N) analysis by combustion furnace. 
While there were no significant differences in root biomass with individual treatments, plots which had a presence of herb species chicory and plantain, resulted in a lesser root biomass when compared with plots without herb species. This would imply that while the use of herb species is desirable for above-ground production and drought tolerance, they provide limited potential for increasing C input to soil. Root characteristics determined that the use of tall fescue as a base grass resulted in a reduced root length density (RLD, root length per volume of soil to 60 cm), specific root length (SRL) and an increased average diameter compared with ryegrass based pastures. These characteristics promote increased root longevity in soil.

text: Root Biomass under Range of Pasture Swards -Implications for Soil Carbon Stocks Soil carbon (C) is the largest terrestrial store of carbon, greater than all other pools combined. Root biomass is recognised as an important contributor to the accumulation of soil C and recent studies have suggested that a higher diversity of plant species with higher root biomass may increase soil C content. Maintenance of soil C stocks is important as losses can contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore soil C is important for maintaining soil quality. Much of New Zealand agricultural land is under pastoral grazing and is the greatest contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions from land. The potential for storing additional soil C in pasture soils is poorly understood. This study has assessed root biomass and carbon contents of soils under a range of pasture diversities and species composition to determine whether (i) there is greater root biomass under increasing plant diversity, (ii) changes in root properties between diversity treatments are evident and (iii) there is variation in root biomass between seasons. 
Soil samples were collected from an existing small plot trial managed by DairyNZ and Landcare Research containing 14 different mixtures of pasture species (three replicates per treatment). From each plot, fifteen soil cores were taken to a depth of 60cm, and bulked by 10cm depth increments. Root characteristics were determined after removing soil via scanning and analysing with WinRHIZO©, and subsequently root biomass determined following oven drying and weighing. A sub-sample of soil was also taken for C and nitrogen (N) analysis by combustion furnace. 
While there were no significant differences in root biomass with individual treatments, plots which had a presence of herb species chicory and plantain, resulted in a lesser root biomass when compared with plots without herb species. This would imply that while the use of herb species is desirable for above-ground production and drought tolerance, they provide limited potential for increasing C input to soil. Root characteristics determined that the use of tall fescue as a base grass resulted in a reduced root length density (RLD, root length per volume of soil to 60 cm), specific root length (SRL) and an increased average diameter compared with ryegrass based pastures. These characteristics promote increased root longevity in soil.

year: 2015

title: COVIDiSTRESS diverse dataset on psychological and behavioural outcomes one year into the COVID-19 pandemic

authors: Blackburn, Angélique M.

abstract: During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVIDiSTRESS Consortium launched an open-access global survey to understand and improve individuals’ experiences related to the crisis. A year later, we extended this line of research by launching a new survey to address the dynamic landscape of the pandemic. This survey was released with the goal of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion by working with over 150 researchers across the globe who collected data in 48 languages and dialects across 137 countries. The resulting cleaned dataset described here includes 15,740 of over 20,000 responses. The dataset allows cross-cultural study of psychological wellbeing and behaviours a year into the pandemic. It includes measures of stress, resilience, vaccine attitudes, trust in government and scientists, compliance, and information acquisition and misperceptions regarding COVID-19. Open-access raw and cleaned datasets with computed scores are available. Just as our initial COVIDiSTRESS dataset has facilitated government policy decisions regarding health crises, this dataset can be used by researchers and policy makers to inform research, decisions, and policy.</jats:p>

text: COVIDiSTRESS diverse dataset on psychological and behavioural outcomes one year into the COVID-19 pandemic During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVIDiSTRESS Consortium launched an open-access global survey to understand and improve individuals’ experiences related to the crisis. A year later, we extended this line of research by launching a new survey to address the dynamic landscape of the pandemic. This survey was released with the goal of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion by working with over 150 researchers across the globe who collected data in 48 languages and dialects across 137 countries. The resulting cleaned dataset described here includes 15,740 of over 20,000 responses. The dataset allows cross-cultural study of psychological wellbeing and behaviours a year into the pandemic. It includes measures of stress, resilience, vaccine attitudes, trust in government and scientists, compliance, and information acquisition and misperceptions regarding COVID-19. Open-access raw and cleaned datasets with computed scores are available. Just as our initial COVIDiSTRESS dataset has facilitated government policy decisions regarding health crises, this dataset can be used by researchers and policy makers to inform research, decisions, and policy.</jats:p>

year: 2022

title: “Landlords wouldn’t give my application a second look.” Discrimination exacerbates inequalities in access to private rental housing

authors: Terruhn, Jessica

abstract: This report and the key insights are based on findings from a housing survey that was conducted with 800 residents in neighbourhoods in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch. 
• Perceptions of unfairness in Aotearoa’s housing sector are widespread. Renters, Māori, younger people and low-income groups as well as residents in neighbourhoods with high levels of housing deprivation are most likely to think that people are treated unfairly when trying to rent or buy a home in Aotearoa. 
• Nearly one in three respondents reported having experienced discrimination when trying to rent or buy a home in Aotearoa. Renters, Māori, younger people and low-income groups as well as residents in neighbourhoods with high levels of housing deprivation are most likely to report experiences of discrimination. 
• Advantage and disadvantage in securing a home are determined by a combination of interlocking factors, including income and employment status, age, family status, and race/ethnicity or skin colour. These patterns suggest widespread experiences of potentially unlawful housing discrimination. 
• People strategically try to avoid and mitigate discrimination. Expectations of being discriminated against and of being advantaged influence where and how home seekers search for housing. This finding signals that experiences of rejection play a role in constraining people’s housing choices. 
• The survey findings suggest that discrimination, as part of tenant selection, contributes to housing precarity and inequalities in access to rental housing. Therefore, this research points to an urgent need to address housing discrimination, especially in the context of high levels of residential mobility among renters and intense competition for rental properties.

text: “Landlords wouldn’t give my application a second look.” Discrimination exacerbates inequalities in access to private rental housing This report and the key insights are based on findings from a housing survey that was conducted with 800 residents in neighbourhoods in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch. 
• Perceptions of unfairness in Aotearoa’s housing sector are widespread. Renters, Māori, younger people and low-income groups as well as residents in neighbourhoods with high levels of housing deprivation are most likely to think that people are treated unfairly when trying to rent or buy a home in Aotearoa. 
• Nearly one in three respondents reported having experienced discrimination when trying to rent or buy a home in Aotearoa. Renters, Māori, younger people and low-income groups as well as residents in neighbourhoods with high levels of housing deprivation are most likely to report experiences of discrimination. 
• Advantage and disadvantage in securing a home are determined by a combination of interlocking factors, including income and employment status, age, family status, and race/ethnicity or skin colour. These patterns suggest widespread experiences of potentially unlawful housing discrimination. 
• People strategically try to avoid and mitigate discrimination. Expectations of being discriminated against and of being advantaged influence where and how home seekers search for housing. This finding signals that experiences of rejection play a role in constraining people’s housing choices. 
• The survey findings suggest that discrimination, as part of tenant selection, contributes to housing precarity and inequalities in access to rental housing. Therefore, this research points to an urgent need to address housing discrimination, especially in the context of high levels of residential mobility among renters and intense competition for rental properties.

year: 2024-08