Global Root Turnover Rates Across Terrestrial Biomes

Approximately 190 papers, book chapters, and technical reports were compiled to calculate root turnover rates from live root standing crop and belowground net primary production. The data covers research from every continent except Antarctica, with the most abundant coverage for grasslands and temperate zones. It associates vegetation characteristics, soil properties, and climate conditions with turnover rates to examine global patterns and controls.

Use Cases

• Modeling global carbon budgets based on root turnover rates.
• Analyzing biome-level controls on belowground net primary production.
• Comparing root longevity across plant functional types and climate zones.

Strengths

• Compilation from approximately 190 distinct sources provides a broad evidence base.
• Global spatial coverage includes every continent except Antarctica.
• Builds upon and extends prior published analyses (Jackson et al. 1996, 1997).

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are not provided in any source.
• Conflicting last updated dates (1999 vs. 2026) suggest potential metadata inconsistency.
• Majority of source papers are from North America, which may bias global patterns.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Compiled from primary literature, including journals, book chapters, technical reports, and unpublished manuscripts.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-04-10 02:49:49.213065

Geography

Worldwide, every continent except Antarctica.