Interspecific competition among catch crops modifies vertical root biomass distribution and nitrate scavenging in soils

Heuermann, Diana; Gentsch, Norman; Boy, Jens; Schweneker, Dörte; Feuerstein, Ulf; Groß, Jonas; Bauer, Bernhard; Guggenberger, Georg; Wirén, Nicolaus von

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-48060-0

Cited by 31 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It has been shown that plant-plant competition decreases the total biomass production both for interspecific (Heuermann et al 2019) and intraspecific competition (Zhou et al 2018). We also showed that shoot biomass decreased in the presence of competition.…”

Section: Intraspecific Competition Reduces Shoot But Not Root Biomass Productionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims Root system responses to the limitation of either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) are well documented, but how the early root system responds to (co-) limitation of one (N or P) or both in a stoichiometric framework is not well-known. In addition, how intraspecific competition alters plant responses to N:P stoichiometry is understudied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of N:P stoichiometry and competition on root system responses and overall plant performance. Methods Plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown in rhizoboxes for 24 days in the presence or absence of competition (three vs. one plant per rhizobox), and fertilized with different combinations of N:P (low N + low P, low N + high P, high N + low P, and high N + high P). Results Shoot biomass was highest when both N and P were provided in high amounts. In competition, shoot biomass decreased on average by 22%. Total root biomass (per plant) was not affected by N:P stoichiometry and competition but differences were observed in specific root length and root biomass allocation across soil depths. Specific root length depended on the identity of limiting nutrient (N or P) and competition. Plants had higher proportion of root biomass in deeper soil layers under N limitation, while a greater proportion of root biomass was found at the top soil layers under P limitation. Conclusions With low N and P availability during early growth, higher investments in root system development can significantly trade off with aboveground productivity, and strong intraspecific competition can further strengthen such effects.

show abstract

Section: Intraspecific Competition Reduces Shoot But Not Root Biomass Productionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is less debate with regard to the effect of competition (whether inter- or intraspecific) on biomass production, with several studies showing a decrease in plant biomass when growing in competition (Zhou et al 2017; Heuermann et al 2019). We also show that shoot biomass decreased in the presence of competition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

Kumar

Duijnen

Delory

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1 Background and Aims Plants respond to various environmental stimuli, and root systems 2 are highly responsive to the availability and distribution of nutrients in the soil. Root system 3 responses to the limitation of either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) are well documented, 4 but how the early root system responds to (co-) limitation of one (N or P) or both (N and 5 P) in a stoichiometric framework is not well known despite its relevance in agriculture. In 6 addition, how plant-plant competition (here intra-specific) alters plant responses to N:P 7 stoichiometry is understudied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of N:P 8 stoichiometry and competition on root system responses and overall plant performance. 9  Methods Plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown in rhizoboxes for 24 days in the 10 presence or absence of competition (three vs. one plant per rhizobox), and fertilized with 11 different combinations of N:P (low N+low P, low N+high P, high N+low P, and high 12 N+high P). 13 Key Results Shoot biomass was highest when both N and P were provided in high 14 amounts. In competition, shoot biomass decreased on average by 22%. Interestingly, N:P 15 stoichiometry and competition had no clear effect on root biomass. However, we found 16 distinct root responses in relation to biomass allocation across depths. Specific root length 17 depended on the identity of limiting nutrient (N or P) and presence/absence of competition. 18 Plants rooted deeper when N was the most limiting compared to shallower rooting when P 19 was the most limiting nutrient. 20  Conclusions Overall, our study sheds light on the early plant responses to plant-plant 21 competition and stoichiometric availability of two macronutrients most limiting plant 22 performance. With low N and P availability during early growth, higher investments in 23 root system development can significantly trade off with aboveground productivity, and 24 strong intra-specific competition can further strengthen such effects. 25 Keywords: Root system responses, vertical root distribution, specific root length, nutrient 26 stoichiometry, intraspecific competition 27

show abstract

“…Such highly dynamic architectural responses of roots allow plants to optimize spatially defined soil exploration, improving plant performance under challenging N conditions. For instance, plant species forming more root biomass in deeper soil layers also deplete nitrate pools more efficiently ( Heuermann et al , 2019 ), and local proliferation of lateral roots into N-rich soil patches contributes significantly to plant N nutrition ( Hodge et al , 1999 ; Robinson et al , 1999 ; Ma et al , 2013 ). Under N-deficient conditions, plants develop a steeper root angle, which promotes deep rooting and facilitates N acquisition from subsoil layers, especially under soil conditions with high potential for nitrate leaching ( Trachsel et al , 2013 ; Saengwilai et al , 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Signaling pathways underlying nitrogen-dependent changes in root system architecture: from model to crop species

Jia

Wirén

2020

Journal of Experimental Botany

Self Cite

125

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Among all essential mineral elements, nitrogen (N) is required in the largest amounts and thus is often a limiting factor for plant growth. N is taken up by plant roots in the form of water-soluble nitrate, ammonium, and, depending on abundance, low-molecular weight organic N. In soils, the availability and composition of these N forms can vary over space and time, which exposes roots to various local N signals that regulate root system architecture in combination with systemic signals reflecting the N nutritional status of the shoot. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying N-dependent signaling provides great potential to optimize root system architecture for the sake of higher N uptake efficiency in crop breeding. In this review, we summarize prominent signaling mechanisms and their underlying molecular players that derive from external N forms or the internal N nutritional status and modulate root development including root hair formation and gravitropism. We also compare the current state of knowledge of these pathways between Arabidopsis and graminaceous plant species.

show abstract

Interspecific competition among catch crops modifies vertical root biomass distribution and nitrate scavenging in soils

Cited by 31 publications

References 42 publications

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

Signaling pathways underlying nitrogen-dependent changes in root system architecture: from model to crop species

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About