Revision Date: October 05, 2005

NPP Grassland: Otradnoe, Russia, 1969-1973

Summary:

Productivity of a two meadows, on a loamy and a sandy soil respectively, were determined at the Otradnoe study site from 1969 to 1972/73. Measurement of monthly dynamics of above-ground and below-ground plant biomass were made for each growing season (April-October). Above-ground net primary production was estimated for each year. These data are part of a series of grassland data sets recently assembled and checked by Dr. Tagir Gilmanov, which cover a wide range of climate and "continentality" (increasing maximum summer temperatures, decreasing precipitation) from the North-West to the South-East of the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR).

Climate data for this site are also available: see Any Other Relevant Information in section 11 of this document.

More information on the entire Net Primary Production Project can be found on the NPP homepage.

Table of Contents

  1. Data Set Overview
  2. Investigator(s)
  3. Theory of Measurements
  4. Equipment
  5. Data Acquisition Methods
  6. Observations
  7. Data Description
  8. Data Organization
  9. Data Manipulations
  10. Errors
  11. Notes
  12. Application of the Data Set
  13. Future Modifications and Plans
  14. Software
  15. Data Access
  16. Output Products and Availability
  17. References
  18. Glossary of Terms
  19. List of Acronyms
  20. Document Information

1. Data Set Overview:

Data Set Identification:

NPP Grassland: Otradnoe, Russia, 1969-1973

Introduction:

The Otradnoe study sites (60.83 N 30.25 E) are situated on the Karelian peninsula, 100 km north of St. Petersburg in north-western Russia. They were established for the Russian International Biological Programme (IBP) by the V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. These kind of meadows represent man-made pastures in the southern taiga sub-zone of the forest zone, and are typically mowed annually.

The study site has been described by Guricheva et al. (1975); an account also appears in Ponyatovskaya (1978).

Objective/Purpose:

Data on biomass dynamics and productivity were recently assembled and checked as part of a series of grassland data sets covering a wide range of climate and "continentality" (increasing maximum summer temperatures, decreasing precipitation) from the North-West to the South-East of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Gilmanov et al., 1996).

Summary of Parameters:

There are seventeen (17) parameters for this dataset. Items 1 and 2 refer to the site and the treatment of the site. Items 3, 4, 5, and 6 indicate the date of data collection.
1. Site
2. Treatment
3. Year
4. Month
5. Day
6. Date in decimal year
7. Above ground biomass
8. Standing dead
9. Litter
10. Above ground total matter
11. Below ground dead
12. Below ground total matter
13. Above ground net primary production
14. Cumulative above ground net primary production
15. Nitrogen content of above-ground live biomass
16. Phosphorus content of above-ground live biomass
17. Sulphur content of above-ground live biomass

Discussion:

Measurements of monthly dynamics of above and below-ground live and dead matter are available for the sandy meadow from 1969 to 1972, and for the loamy meadow from 1969 to 1973. There is also a single determination of above and below-ground live and dead matter at the sandy meadow site for June 1972, and a single determination of above-ground live and dead only at the loamy meadow site for May 1973. Monthly N, P and S content of above-ground live biomass are available for 1969-71 at the sandy meadow site.

Related Data Sets:

NPP data from other grassland sites are available elsewhere in this archive. Summary tables containing site characteristics and metadata for all the grassland sites are also available.

2. Investigator(s):

Investigator(s) Name and Title:

Dr. N.P. Guricheva, Dr. O.M. Demina and Dr. G.I. Kozlova

Title of Investigation:

Determination of net primary productivity of a sandy and a loamy upland meadow at Otradnoe, Russia.

Contact Information:

Dr. T.G. Gilmanov
Center for Ecology and Productivity of Forests
Russian Academy of Sciences
69 Novocheryomushkinskaya
Moscow 117418
RUSSIA

c/o Department of Biology and Microbiology
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007
U.S.A.

Telephone (U.S.A.): +1 (605) 688-4925/6141
Fax (Russia): +7 (095) 200-2216/2217 (Attn. Gilmanov 002840)
Fax (U.S.A.): +1 (605) 688-6677
Email: Tagir_Gilmanov@sdstate.edu

3. Theory of Measurements:

Net primary production (NPP), sensu stricto, is the total photosynthetic gain (less respiratory losses) of vegetation per unit ground area. For a given period, this is equal to the change in plant mass plus any losses due to death and decomposition, measured for both above ground and below ground plant parts. Earlier estimates of grassland NPP were based on peak standing dry matter only, and the studies of the International Biological Programme (IBP) in the late 1960s and early 1970s were based mainly on above-ground biomass changes, with few estimates of below-ground production.

Peak above-ground live biomass (or in some cases, the difference between maximum and minimum biomass) has been used as an estimate of net primary production - usually where only one or two measurements per year are available. Sometimes a conversion factor has been applied to take account of estimated turnover and the estimated ratio of above-ground to below-ground dry matter.

The "IBP Standard Method" of Milner and Hughes (1968) assumes that where live biomass increases between successive samples, production equals this increase; where biomass decreases or remains the same, production is assumed to be zero. Annual production is then obtained by summing the estimates for each sample interval.

Essentially, this method was used for the IBP synthesis by Singh and Joshi (1979), in particular for their estimates of below-ground production. A modified method was used for above-ground production, determined by a decision matrix (Singh et al., 1975); where increments in live biomass coincided with increases in standing dead matter, the latter were added to the monthly production.

The limitations of the above methods are discussed in detail by Long et al. (1989). In particular, the peak biomass method and variations on the IBP method underestimate production by not accounting for simultaneous growth and death. This may be significant in temperate grasslands with a long growing season, and is particularly a problem in tropical grasslands where the growing season may extend over much of the year. Some limited overestimation may occur by not accounting for periods of negative NPP (due to stress, or translocation between above and below ground plant parts) but underestimation of root turnover is probably the largest source of error. Long et al. (1989) estimated NPP for three terrestrial tropical grassland sites by summing monthly changes in live biomass plus losses due to death and decomposition for above and below ground vegetation. Monthly losses were determined as the change in dead matter plus the estimated disappearance of dead matter through decomposition. Dead matter disappearance was calculated each month as the product of relative decomposition rate and mean amount of dead matter.

Although some correlation between estimates obtained using different methods has been reported (Singh et al., 1975), the degree of underestimation may be strongly site-specific (Linthurst and Reimold, 1978; Long and Mason, 1983). Where sufficient data are available for a given grassland site, it may be possible to estimate NPP according to the different methods for the purposes of comparison. This may involve entry of data into algorithms or a spreadsheet containing these algorithms.

Methodological aspects of field experimental studies of biomass and production of grassland ecosystems in the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR) were summarized by Titlyanova (1988). The methods of field measurements of above-ground and below-ground biomass in Russian grasslands are based on the harvest technique and with respect to sampling area, replication, etc., are very close to the methods used by western ecologists during the IBP studies (e.g. Milner and Hughes, 1968; Sims and Coupland, 1979). The Russian approach to estimation of the annual production of grassland plant communities (with subdivision on aboveground and belowground components) is based on a calculation procedure utilizing data of repeated (usually 2-weekly) sampling during the season of live, standing dead and litter fractions of phytomass. This method of calculation gives the estimates of production which are 1.6 to 2.0 times higher than the seasonal maximum of the standing crop of the corresponding phytomass fraction (Titlyanova, 1988).

4. Equipment:

Sensor/Instrument Description:

Collection Environment:

Ground level

Platform/Source:

Field investigation

Platform/Source Mission Objectives:

Determination of net primary productivity

Key Variables:

Above-ground live biomass/ standing dead matter/ litter; below-ground live biomass/ dead matter

Principles of Operation:

See "3. Theory" Above

Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry:

Not Applicable

Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument:

Information Not Available

Calibration:

Not Applicable

5. Data Acquisition Methods:

Refer to literature or Principal Investigator/ Contact for details

6. Observations:

Data/Field Notes:

Contact Principal Investigator (see 2. above) for details of any peculiar conditions at the time of data collection

site elevation (m): 50

mean annual precipitation (mm): 485.2

mean monthly min temperature (C): -12.5/-9.2 (sandy/loamy) (Feb)

mean monthly maximum temperature (C): 23.4/26.3 (sandy/loamy) (July)

vegetation type: sandy meadow/ loamy meadow

dominant species: Alopecurus pratensis (sandy); Alchemilla monticola (loamy) (both C3 photosynthetic types)

historical long-term management regime (estimated): annual mowing (both sub-sites)

maximum above ground live biomass (typical month): 277 g/m2 (sandy); 244 g/m2 (loamy) (both June)

soil type: soddy-pozolic, sandy; soddy-pozolic, loamy

soil pH: 5.0 (sandy); 5.2 (loamy)

soil texture (sand/silt/clay): 0.80/ 0.12/ 0.08 (sandy); 0.425 / 0.40 / 0.175 (loamy)

soil carbon content: 3780 g/m2 (sandy); 5780 g/m2 (loamy) (0-20 cm)

soil nitrogen content: 280 g/m2 (sandy); 460 g/m2 (loamy) (0-20 cm)

7. Data Description:

Spatial Characteristics:

Spatial Coverage:

Study site located at 60.83 N, 30.25 E

Spatial Coverage Map:

include map of study site location?

Spatial Resolution:

Not Applicable

Projection:

Not Applicable

Grid Description:

Not Applicable

Temporal Characteristics:

Temporal Coverage:

April 1969 to May 1973. Preview data set to check for data gaps, missing values, etc.

Temporal Coverage Map:

Not Applicable

Temporal Resolution:

One month

Data Description:

Parameter/Variable:

There are seventeen (17) parameters for each of these 2 datasets. There are 2 treatments at this site, but the same types of data were collected for each treatment and both data files are presented in exactly the same format. Items 1-2 refer to the site and the treatments, respectively. Minimum and maximum values for the remaining parameters are for the combined treatments.

1.
variable=Site
definition=site where data were gathered
code=otr: Otradnoe

2.
variable=Treatmt
definition=long term management of site
code=1_loamy: annual mowing
code=2_sandy: annual mowing

3.
variable=Year
definition=year in which data were collected
units=year
minimum=1969
maximum=1973

4.
variable=Mn
definition=month in which data were collected
units=month
minimum=01
maximum=12

5.
variable=Dy
definition=day in which data were collected
units=day
minimum=04
maximum=31

6.
variable=Tyear
definition=Date in decimal year
units=year plus the Julian date divided by 365
minimum=1969.320
maximum=1973.350

7.
variable=AGbiomass
definition=Above ground live biomass
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=5.6
maximum=335.4

8.
variable=Stdead
definition=Standing dead
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=0
maximum=236.6

9.
variable=litter
definition=dead biomass found above ground
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=0.6
maximum=290.8

10.
variable=AGtotmatter
definition=above ground total matter
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=53.2
maximum=583.1

11.
variable=BGdead
definition=Below ground dead
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=164.0
maximum=450.0

12.
variable=BGtotmatter
definition=below ground total matter
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=490
maximum=1060

13.
variable=ANPP
definition=Above ground net primary production
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=0.0
maximum=204.14

14.
variable=CUMANPP
definition=Cumulative above ground net primary production
units=[g][m^-2]
minimum=0.0
maximum=378.2

15.
variable=N-AGlive
definition=Nitrogen content of above-ground live biomass
units=[g][N][m^-2]
minimum=0.0
maximum=2.76

16.
variable=P-AGlive
definition=Phosphorus content of above-ground live biomass
units=[g][P][m^-2]
minimum=0.0
maximum=0.57

17.
variable=S-AGlive
definition=Sulphur content of above-ground live biomass
units=[g][S][m^-2]
minimum=0.0
maximum=.52

Sample Data Record:

Site   Treatmt   Year   Mn   Dy   Tyear     AGbiomass   Stdead   litter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ot2    2_sandy   1969   04   25   1969.320   7.3         0.0      63.2

AGtotmatter   BGbiomass   BGdead  BGtotmatter  ANPP   CUMANPP
----------------------------------------------------------------
70.5           460.0      230.0    690.0       0.0     0.0


N-AGlive   P-AGlive   S-AGlive 
-------------------------------
0.123      0.010       0.010

8. Data Organization:

Data Granularity:

The data files associated with the Otradnoe Grassland are listed below.

1. Data File otr1_npp.txt 3.6 KBytes
Period: 25 Apr 1969 through 09 May 1973
Latitude: 60.60N To 60.83N, Longitude: 30.25E

2. Data File otr2_npp.txt 3.7 KBytes
Period: 25 Apr 1969 through 28 Jun 1972
Latitude: 60.60N To 60.83N, Longitude: 30.25E

A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary.

Data Format:

The dataset is an ASCII file. The first 18 lines are metadata; data records begin on line 19. The variable values are delimited by semi-colons. The value -999.9 is used to denote missing values.
Site;Treatmt;Year;Mn;Dy;Tyear;AGbiomass;Stdead;litter;AGtotmatter;BGbiomass;BGdead;
BGtotmatter;ANPP;CUMANPP [units g/m2]

ot1;1_loamy ;1969;04;25;1969.320;   5.6;   0.0;  47.6;  53.2; 326.0; 164.0; 490.0;   0.0;   0.0
ot1;1_loamy ;1969;05;29;1969.410;  59.7;   0.0;  14.4;  74.1; 559.3; 279.7; 839.0;   0.0;   0.0


Site;Treatmt;Year;Mn;Dy;Tyear;AGbiomass;Stdead;litter;AGtotmatter;BGbiomass;BGdead;
BGtotmatter;ANPP;CUMANPP;N-AGlive;P-AGlive;S-AGlive [units g/m2]

ot2;2_sandy ;1969;04;25;1969.320;   7.3;   0.0;  63.2;  70.5; 460.0; 230.0; 690.0;   0.0;   0.0;   0.123;   0.010;   0.010
ot2;2_sandy ;1969;05;29;1969.410;  89.0;   0.0;  16.8; 105.8; 657.3; 328.7; 986.0;  81.7;  81.7;   1.308;   0.142;   0.169

9. Data Manipulations:

Formulae:

Derivation Techniques and Algorithms:

Algorithms and/or software available for calculating NPP from data sets using different methods are not currently available.

Data Processing Sequence:

Information Not Available

Calculations

NPP Data Dictionary

Graphs and Plots

Information Not Available

10. Errors:

Information Not Available

11. Notes:

Limitations of the Data:

Net primary production of grasslands is subject to a number of different methods of estimation from biomass data, some of which may be inappropriate for particular biome types. Methodology of estimation/calculation needs to be taken into account, as well as methodology of measurement, when making comparisons between different regions. Errors in biomass measurement may also occur between different study sites. For short time series of data it may be assumed that measurement methodology remains consistent; however, over very long time series changes in staff, tools, etc. may lead to "calibration" errors.

Known Problems with the Data:

Information Not Available

Usage Guidance:

See "Limitations of the Data" above

Any Other Relevant Information About the Study:

Monthly climate data from 1969 to 1973 (monthly maximum and minimum temperature and monthly rainfall) are available for this study site in the file otr_cli.txt.

12. Application of the Data Set:

Data on net primary production of particular ecosystem types worldwide is in demand from modellers working at a variety of scales from Global Climate Models (GCMs) to regional or national estimates of carbon fluxes between atmosphere, biosphere and soils. Ground-based data are also required for calibration of remote sensing measurements, and parameterisation and validation of models based on remote sensing.

13. Future Modifications and Plans:

Refer to Principal Investigator for details of continuing data collection.

14. Software:

Software Description:

Utility software is planned to available for (i) generating quasi-real daily/hourly climate data from the monthly data; (ii) calculating NPP from data sets using different algorithms, crude root/shoot ratios, etc.

Software Access:

Not Yet Available

15. Data Access:

Contact Information:

ORNL DAAC User Services Office
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN
U.S.A.

Telephone: +1 (865) 241-3952
Email Address: ornldaac@ornl.gov

Data Center Identification:

ORNL EOSDIS Distributed Active Archive Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN
U.S.A.

Telephone: +1 (865) 241-3952
Email Address: ornldaac@ornl.gov

Procedures for Obtaining Data:

Users may place requests by telephone, electronic mail, or FAX. Data are also available via the World Wide Web at http://daac.ornl.gov.

Data Center Status/Plans:

NPP data may be ordered from the ORNL DAAC. Please contact the ORNL DAAC User Services Office for the most current information about these data and how to order them.

16. Output Products and Availability:

Available on-line, as computer FTP file (zipped or unzipped), on CDs, or IBM-formatted diskettes.

17. References:

Gilmanov, T.G., W.J. Parton and D.S. Ojima (1996) Testing the CENTURY ecosystem level model on data sets from eight grassland sites in the former USSR representing a wide climatic/soil gradient. Ecological Applications (in press).

Guricheva, N. P., O. M. Demina, and G. I. Kozlova. 1975. NPP Grassland: Otradnoe, Russia, 1969-1973, In Guricheva N.P., O.M. Demina, G.I. Kozlova et al. (1975) Productivity of meadow communities. In: Resources of the biosphere (Results of the Soviet studies on the International Biological Programme). Vol. 1. Nauka, Leningrad. pp. 96-127.

Guricheva N.P., O.M. Demina, G.I. Kozlova et al. (1975) Productivity of meadow communities. In: Resources of the biosphere (Results of the Soviet studies on the International Biological Programme). Vol. 1. Nauka, Leningrad. pp. 96-127.

Linthurst, R. and R.J. Reimold (1978) An evaluation of methods for estimating the net primary production of estuarine angiosperms. J. Applied Ecology 15, 919-932.

Long, S.P. and Mason, C.F. (1983) Saltmarsh Ecology. Blackie, Glasgow.

Long, S.P., E. Garcia Moya, S.K. Imbamba, A. Kamnalrut, M.T.F. Piedade, J.M.O. Scurlock, Y.K. Shen and D.O. Hall (1989) Primary productivity of natural grass ecosystems of the tropics: a reappraisal. Plant and Soil 115, 155-166.

Milner, C. and R.E. Hughes (1968) Methods for the Measurement of the Primary Production of Grassland. IBP Handbook No.6. Blackwell, Oxford.

Ponyatovskaya, V.M., ed. (1978) Productivity of meadow communities (Analysis of the primary production process). (In Russian). Nauka, Leningrad. 287 pp.

Sims P.L. and R.T. Coupland (1979) Producers. In: Grassland ecosystems of the world: analysis of grassland and their uses (ed. R.T. Coupland). Cambridge University Press. pp. 49-72.

Singh, J.S. and M.C. Joshi (1979) Tropical grasslands primary production. IN: Grassland Ecosystems of the World (R.T. Coupland, ed.) Cambridge University Press. pp. 197-218.

Singh, J.S., W.K. Lauenroth and R.K. Sernhorst (1975) Review and assessment of various techniques for estimating net aerial primary production in grasslands from harvest data. Botanical Review 41, 181-232.

Titlyanova, A.A. (1988) Methodology and methods of studying of the production-destruction processes in herbaceous ecosystems, In: Biologicheskaya produktivnost' travyanykh ecosistem [Biological productivity of herbaceous ecosystems] (V.B. Ilyin, ed.). Nauka, Novosibirsk (In Russian). pp. 3-10.

18. Glossary of Terms:

A general glossary for the DAAC is located at http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/cdiac/glossary.html.

A glossary of EOSDIS terms is available at http://www-v0ims.gsfc.nasa.gov/v0ims/glossary.of.terms.html.

19. List of Acronyms:

A general list of acronyms for the DAAC is available at http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/cdiac/pns/acronyms.html.

The EOSDIS Acronym and Abbreviation List is located at http://www-v0ims.gsfc.nasa.gov/v0ims/acronyms.html

20. Document Information:

Document Revision Date:

December 4, 1997 (data citation revised on September 23, 2002)

Review Date:

January 15, 1998

Document ID:

ORNL-NPP_OTR

Citation:

Gilmanov, T. G. 1996. NPP Grassland: Otradnoe, Russia, 1969-1973. Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Document Curator:

webmaster@daac.ornl.gov

Document Author:

Dr. J. M. O. Scurlock

Document URL:

http://daac.ornl.gov/NPP/guides/otr_guide.html


Otradnoe Site | NPP Page | ORNL Home Page
Revision Date: October 05, 2005
URL: http://daac.ornl.gov/NPP/guides/otr_guide.html