Root growth, macro-nutrient uptake dynamics and soil fertility requirements of a high-yielding winter oilseed rape crop

• Published in: Plant and soil 1989-09, Vol.119 (1), p.59-70
• Main Author: BARRACLOUGH, P.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorcion de substancias nutritivas; absorption de substances nutritives; Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; brassica napus; crecimiento; croissance; Drought; fertilidad del suelo; fertilite du sol; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Analysis and diagnosis methods; growth; Nutrient uptake; Oilseeds; Plant roots; Plants; racine; raices; roots; soil fertility; Soil nutrients; Soil solution; Soil water; Soil water content; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02370269

Shoot growth, root growth and macro-nutrient uptake by a high-yielding (5 t/ha grain) winter oilseed rape crop have been measured. Maximum rooting density in the top 20 cm of soil was 9.4 cm cm⁻³ and roots reached a depth of at least 1.8 m. Maximum nutrient uptakes were 364 kg ha⁻¹ for N, 43 kg ha⁻¹ for P, 308 kg ha⁻¹ for K, 287 kg ha⁻¹ for Ca and 16 kg ha⁻¹ for Mg. A 30-day drought coincided with the flowering period and root and shoot growth, as well as nutrient uptake rates, were reduced. Nutrient concentrations in the soil solution necessary to sustain the nutrient fluxes into the root system by diffusive supply have been calculated. Peak values were in the range 10 µM for P to 87 µM for N, lower than the observed concentrations, and it was concluded that nutrient transport to roots was not a limitation to uptake by this rape crop.