Its just like utilization of resources from two different strata of rhizosphere in case of forest and grass land.secondly they are different ecosystem for overall differentiation. In general forests will predominated by trees and so have deep root system but their feeder roots are also prevailing on upper horizon. Within temperate and tropical the tropical system will be more deep root system due to competition compare to temperate but nutrient cycling is different. If see succession in forest grasses are pioneer species which form the base for further development of trees.