Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses
Abstract Aims Although different plant foraging responses to the two macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are well researched, the effect of timing of fertilizer application on root system architecture (RSA) remains largely unknown. We, therefore, aimed to understand how RSA of Hordeum vul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Plant-Environment Interactions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10057 |
| _version_ | 1819081620481638400 |
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| author | Richard vanDuijnen Hannah Uther Werner Härdtle Vicky M. Temperton Amit Kumar |
| author_facet | Richard vanDuijnen Hannah Uther Werner Härdtle Vicky M. Temperton Amit Kumar |
| author_sort | Richard vanDuijnen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aims Although different plant foraging responses to the two macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are well researched, the effect of timing of fertilizer application on root system architecture (RSA) remains largely unknown. We, therefore, aimed to understand how RSA of Hordeum vulgare L. responds to timing of N and P application. Methods Plants were grown in rhizoboxes for 38 days in nutrient‐poor soil and watered with nutrient solution, lacking either N or P, with the absent nutrient applied once either 2/3/4 weeks after sowing. Positive controls were continuously receiving N and P and a negative control receiving both N and P only after 3 weeks. We tracked root growth over time, measured plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Results Late N application strongly reduced total root biomass and visible root length compared with continuous NP and late P application. Root mass fractions (total root biomass/total plant biomass) remained similar over all treatments, but relative allocation (% of total root biomass) was higher in lower depth with late N application. Shoot P concentrations remained relatively stable, but the plants receiving P later had higher N concentrations. Conclusions Late N application had overall more negative effects on early plant growth compared with late P. We propose that future studies under field conditions should try to disentangle the effect of timing from the nutrient availability on RSA responses and hence ultimately plant performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:03:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4ce34c2cfe246ec8efa86b96e2c798c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2575-6265 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:03:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plant-Environment Interactions |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4ce34c2cfe246ec8efa86b96e2c798c2022-12-21T18:51:55ZengWileyPlant-Environment Interactions2575-62652021-08-012419420510.1002/pei3.10057Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responsesRichard vanDuijnen0Hannah Uther1Werner Härdtle2Vicky M. Temperton3Amit Kumar4Institute of Ecology Faculty of Sustainability Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg GermanyInstitute of Ecology Faculty of Sustainability Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg GermanyInstitute of Ecology Faculty of Sustainability Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg GermanyInstitute of Ecology Faculty of Sustainability Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg GermanyInstitute of Ecology Faculty of Sustainability Leuphana University Lüneburg Lüneburg GermanyAbstract Aims Although different plant foraging responses to the two macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are well researched, the effect of timing of fertilizer application on root system architecture (RSA) remains largely unknown. We, therefore, aimed to understand how RSA of Hordeum vulgare L. responds to timing of N and P application. Methods Plants were grown in rhizoboxes for 38 days in nutrient‐poor soil and watered with nutrient solution, lacking either N or P, with the absent nutrient applied once either 2/3/4 weeks after sowing. Positive controls were continuously receiving N and P and a negative control receiving both N and P only after 3 weeks. We tracked root growth over time, measured plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Results Late N application strongly reduced total root biomass and visible root length compared with continuous NP and late P application. Root mass fractions (total root biomass/total plant biomass) remained similar over all treatments, but relative allocation (% of total root biomass) was higher in lower depth with late N application. Shoot P concentrations remained relatively stable, but the plants receiving P later had higher N concentrations. Conclusions Late N application had overall more negative effects on early plant growth compared with late P. We propose that future studies under field conditions should try to disentangle the effect of timing from the nutrient availability on RSA responses and hence ultimately plant performance.https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10057barleyfertilizerfunctional traitsrhizoboxroot system architectureroot traits |
| spellingShingle | Richard vanDuijnen Hannah Uther Werner Härdtle Vicky M. Temperton Amit Kumar Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses Plant-Environment Interactions barley fertilizer functional traits rhizobox root system architecture root traits |
| title | Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses |
| title_full | Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses |
| title_fullStr | Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses |
| title_short | Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses |
| title_sort | timing matters distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses |
| topic | barley fertilizer functional traits rhizobox root system architecture root traits |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10057 |
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