Does the higher root carbon contribution to soil under cropping cycles following grassland conversion also increase shoot biomass?

International audience; This study tested the possible root biomass improvements in crop rotations after the conversion of grasslands, and crop samples from maize, winter wheat, and winter barley were collected during 2011-2013 from a long-term experimental site in Lusignan, France (http://www.soere-acbb). Root biomass C quantification was performed using delta C-13 isotopic signatures to determine the presence of both C3 and C4 plants. We also calculated the recovery rate of maize root biomass C. The results showed that after crop rotations, 0-60 cm root biomass C values were 44.1, 34.2, and 18.7 g C m(-2) for maize, winter wheat, and winter barley respectively. The Root biomass C of crops after conversion to grassland was approximately 2-3 times those observed after crop rotations. However, incorporating ley grassland duration into crop rotations showed limited improvements in shoot biomass C and grain yield of the crops, regardless of the decreased rate of N fertilizer for maize. Moreover, root biomass C had a significant relationship with N supply from residues (P