Dynamics of the root system of the prairie ecosystem and contribution to the soil carbon balance under climate change ; Dynamique du système racinaire de l'écosystème prairial et contribution au bilan de carbone du sol sous changement climatique

In Europe, grasslands occupy 25% of the land area and nearly 40% of the agricultural area. Many ecosystem services depend on this ecosystem such as forage production, reservoir of plant and animal diversity and ability of carbone storage in soils. In a context of climate change and agricultural abandonment (extensification of grassland in upland), current research interest to estimate the storage capacity of carbon in the soil with the maintenance of ecosystem services. This thesis aims to observe in situ the effects of major determinants of climate change(air temperature, precipitation, atmospheric CO2 concentration) on the functioning of the root system and determinants of carbon storage on extensive permanent grasslands. This study examines the influence of projected climate change scenario by 2080 for the center of France. This scenario (Accacia A2) provides an increase in air temperature of 3.5°C (T) and atmospheric CO2 concentration of 200 Nmol mol-1 (CO2) and a reduction in summerprecipitation by 20% (D). A follow-up of root cohorts for 3 to 4 years with the Minirhizotron is performed to monitor the demography (growth, mortality, life span and risk of mortality). The potential growth in ingrowth core is followed over a year after 4 years of climate change along with measures of root litter decomposition and soil respiration. After 3 years of experiment, we observed a positive effect of air warming (T) and climate change (TDCO2) on root production and climate change and a decreasing of root life span under air warming. An increasing of root fineness under warmed conditions (T, TD,TDCO2) should facilitate nutrients and water uptake. After 5 years of experiment, air warming (T) decreases the root production, root life span and accelerates decomposition of root litter. The increase in CO2 offset the negative effect of air warming on production. Climate change (TDCO2) accelerates the inputs but also outputs (decomposition and respiration were accelerated) in soil carbon. With the negative effect of air warming ...