Root production and root mortality of winter barley and its implication with regard to phosphate acquisition
Winter barley was grown in a long-term fertilizer experiment (14 years) using two P treatments: (i) no P fertilization over the whole time (–P) and (ii) an annual fertilization of 44 kg P ha⁻¹ (+P). The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of the P supply on total root production...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Plant and soil 2001-12, Vol.237 (2), p.239-248 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Winter barley was grown in a long-term fertilizer experiment (14 years) using two P treatments: (i) no P fertilization over the whole time (–P) and (ii) an annual fertilization of 44 kg P ha⁻¹ (+P). The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of the P supply on total root production and root mortality (i.e., root turnover) and to assess the benefit of a more rapid root turnover on P acquisition. Shoot development and grain yield was reduced in the '–P' treatment, whereas the standing root system had nearly the same size as in the '+ P' treatment. Gross root growth was measured using the 'ingrowth core method'. Mesh bags filled with root-free soil were buried into the rooting zone (0-30 cm) and root growth into the bags over periods of 2-3 weeks was determined. Assuming that no root mortality occured inside the bags during this short period, root length in the bags will be a measure of total root production. Total root production between April and June exceeded the size of the standing root system by a factor of 2 to 3 and was significantly higher at P deficiency. Root mortality as the difference between total root production and the size of the standing root system was also increased at P shortage. P uptake was calculated by using a mechanistic transport and uptake model. Calculations based on gross root growth and root mortality resulted in a higher uptake than calculations based on the development of the standing root system, although the length of the active roots were the same in both calculations. This was due to a better exploitation of undepleted soil areas by the growing root system. The root renewal by a continuous root growth and root mortality is discussed as a mechanism of P uptake efficiency. |
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ISSN: | 0032-079X 1573-5036 |
DOI: | 10.1023/A:1013345718414 |