Root Growth of Hordeum vulgare and Vicia faba in the Biopore Sheath

Petzoldt, Lisa; Athmann, Miriam; Buechse, Andreas; Kautz, Timo

doi:10.3390/agriculture10120650

Cited by 5 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Petzoldt and Kautz (2021) observed that the utilization of oilseed rape roots to the soil near the biopores was greater than that of faba bean, possibly due to their various rooting behavior. Moreover, Petzoldt et al (2020) found that the root length density of spring barley was 7.4 times higher than that of faba bean at a distance of 0-2 mm from the biopores. This may be due to the thicker and less morphological plasticity of faba bean roots (Athmann et al, 2019;Li et al, 2014;Materechera et al, 1991;Zhang et al, 2016), resulting in fewer roots in the biopore sheath.…”

Section: Root-biopore Interaction Is Affected By Crop Speciesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The entry of fine roots into the biopore sheath is also significant for nutrient absorption in subsoil (Petzoldt et al, 2020). Petzoldt and Kautz (2021) found that oilseed rape roots could grow toward the biopore sheath due to N enrichment in the biopore sheath.…”

Section: Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…White and Kirkegaard (2010) used a microscope to observe wheat roots growing in biopores in broken soil cores. Petzoldt et al (2020) sampled the biopore sheath of different distances from the biopores using the biopore sheath scraping device. Although destructive methods destroy the soil structure and require time, they can provide useful information when combined with other technologies.…”

Section: Destructive Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Root and root‐derived biopore interactions in soils: A review

Xiong

Zhang

Peng

2022

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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In recent years, the investigation of root–biopore interactions has been reported in many studies, particularly with the application of X‐ray computed tomography (CT). To clarify our understanding of root–biopore interactions, we reviewed the effects of plant roots on soil structure and the biopore effects on plant growth and uptake of nutrients and water. Plant roots can penetrate the soil matrix and form biopores after decay. The biopores are cylindrical, continuous, and stable and facilitate the transport of air and water. The soil around biopores also affects plant growth by its rich nutrients; hence, the concept of a biopore sheath is proposed to indicate the soil affected by the roots and resulting biopores. The behavior of roots encountering biopores is impacted by soil strength, oxygen concentration, biopore characteristics, and crop species. The biopores provide many channels with the least mechanical resistance for crop roots to enter the subsoil, improving the absorption of water and nutrients by crops. However, the effect of biopores on crop growth depends on biopore size. The smaller biopores (<2 mm) promoted plant growth, but the larger biopores did not (≥2 mm), which was mainly related to the degree of contact between root and soil in biopores. However, quantification of root–biopore wall contact is difficult due to the low resolution of CT images, which limits the understanding of the effects of biopore characteristics on plant growth and nutrient uptake. Therefore, determining the contact area between roots and soil in the biopores and revealing the contribution of biopore characteristics to water and nutrient uptake are important to give full play to the functions of biopores in sustainable agriculture.

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Section: Root-biopore Interaction Is Affected By Crop Speciesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Destructive Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Root and root‐derived biopore interactions in soils: A review

Xiong

Zhang

Peng

2022

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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“…After finishing the pH measurements, soil samples were taken in a soil depth of 25-35 cm in three lateral distances from pore surface: 0-2, 2-4 and 4-8 mm for analyzing the total content of C and N (C t , N t ). The scraping sampling device and the proceeding of the samples, as well as the measurement of the elements are described in detail in Petzoldt et al 2020.…”

Section: Determination Of Total C-and N-contentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Root growth in untilled deeper soil layers can be facilitated by physical access paths through biopores (Passioura 1991;Logsdon and Linden 1992). Biopore surroundings provide elevated nutrient concentrations, particularly in the first two millimeters of the sheath due to earthworm linings and root debris (Lavelle 1988;Athmann et al 2017;Petzoldt et al 2020). Generally, crops can respond to different nutrient availabilities in their root growing environment by changing their metabolic activity as reviewed by, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic activity of Hordeum vulgare, Brassica napus and Vicia faba in Worm and Root type Biopore Sheaths

2022

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Aims Biopores offer favorable chemical, biological and physical properties for root growth in untilled soil layers. There they are considered as nutrient “hotspots” with preferential root growth. However, the literature lacks a quantification of metabolic activity due to nutrient acquisition of main crops while growing in the biopore sheath. Methods A pot experiment was performed to map the metabolic activity of roots, as indicated by pH change. The roots of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were growing through the biopore sheath influenced by an earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris L.) or a taproot (Cichorium intybus L.), in comparison to subsoil without a pore (bulk soil). pH sensitive planar optodes were applied in order to image a planar section of the sheath, while preserving an intact biopore sheath during the experiment. Results Roots were first found in the field of view in worm biopore then root biopore and bulk soil. At time of the first measurement the pH value was highest in worm biopore sheath (LS-Mean±SEM: 7.16a±0.11), followed by root biopore sheath (6.99ab±0.12) and bulk soil (6.61b±0.12). In spring oilseed rape a significant alkalization (+0.80 Δ pH) was found over time in bulk soil. Faba bean significantly acidified the root biopore sheath (-0.73 Δ pH). Spring barley showed no significant pH changes. Conclusions The results of the current study reveal a trend of faster root growth through biopores and a higher initial pH value in the biopore sheaths compared to the bulk soil. Biopores serve not only as an elongation path for roots, but their sheaths also provide an environment for root activity in the subsoil.

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New tools for dead roots: Radioisotope labelling and compound‐specific analysis reveal how subsoil hotspots work

Banfield

2022

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Subsoils are increasingly studied as they, first, store a great deal of terrestrial carbon (C) and possibly even more, and second, offer resources like water and nutrients to plants, potentially mitigating negative consequences of global change. As subsoil access is often hampered by compacted soil layers, the key to accessing subsoil resources and storing more C below ground might be in biopores. Appropriately nicknamed 'highways of root growth' , biopores are macropores left behind by dying roots and earthworm activities, often enriched with organic matter (OM) and nutrients. They are thought to be the most abundant microbial hotspots in the subsoil, thus possibly accounting for a large part of C turnover, as well as offering pore wall nutrients to subsequent crops. Understanding the multifunctionality and complexities of biopores remains challenging. This contribution aims to showcase analytical ways to deepen our understanding of origin and functioning of biopores and hotspots. Regarding their biogeochemistry, biopore OM quality and its turnover can be better unravelled through compound-specific analysis to deduct bioporespecific OM turnover. Biopores can be reliably differentiated by their OM quality. A more profound understanding of subsoil C turnover in very contrasting hotspots is crucially important for managing subsoil functions. Biopores are often assumed to be beneficial in crop sequences. Roots making use of specific biopores can be, for the first time, quantified after radiotracer application, two-step phosphor imaging, and image processing.Combining radioactive with stable isotopes as well as plant and microbial biomarkers allows to investigate the relevance of individual pore wall nutrients in plant growth in consideration of physical biopore properties. Biopore-friendly management practices (e.g., reduced tillage, perennial cover cropping) could be part of smart subsoil management. Faster access to subsoil water and concentrated biopore nutrients may safeguard agricultural production-especially in times of rising fertiliser costs (both monetary and environmental) and more frequent droughts.

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Root Growth of Hordeum vulgare and Vicia faba in the Biopore Sheath

Cited by 5 publications

References 52 publications

Root and root‐derived biopore interactions in soils: A review

Root and root‐derived biopore interactions in soils: A review

Metabolic activity of Hordeum vulgare, Brassica napus and Vicia faba in Worm and Root type Biopore Sheaths

New tools for dead roots: Radioisotope labelling and compound‐specific analysis reveal how subsoil hotspots work

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