Effects of Nitrogen Supply on the Root Morphology of Corn and Velvetleaf

Root morphology will affect interplant competition for soil nutrients. Research was conducted to assess fine root fraction, mean root radius, specific root length, root length density, and nitrogen (N) uptake per unit fine root biomass of corn and velvetleaf over time and in response to nitrogen sup...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant nutrition 2009-07, Vol.32 (7-9), p.1371-1382
Main Authors: Bonifas, Kimberly, Lindquist, John
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abutilon theophrasti
Abutilon theophrasti Medic
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Biological and medical sciences
biomass partitioning
competition
corn
crop-weed competition
density
dry matter accumulation
dry matter partitioning
Economic plant physiology
functional equilibrium
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
genetic drift
length
maize
Metabolism
Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements
nitrogen
Nitrogen fertilization
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations
nutrient requirements
nutrient uptake
nutrient use efficiency
Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism
ontogenetic drift
ontogeny
optimal partitioning theory
Parasitic plants. Weeds
phenology
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
plant morphology
Plant physiology and development
root growth
root length density
roots
Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
specific root length
velvetleaf
Weeds
Zea mays
Zea mays L
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Summary:Root morphology will affect interplant competition for soil nutrients. Research was conducted to assess fine root fraction, mean root radius, specific root length, root length density, and nitrogen (N) uptake per unit fine root biomass of corn and velvetleaf over time and in response to nitrogen supply. Pots containing either corn or velvetleaf were embedded in the ground and received one of three N treatments. Plants were destructively sampled on 10 dates during each of two years and root subsamples analyzed using root scanning software. While corn root morphology was more responsive to N supply than velvetleaf, velvetleaf N uptake per unit fine root length was greater than that of corn at similar biomass. Results suggest that, in lieu of modifying root morphology to increase uptake efficiency when N is deficient, velvetleaf may invest more root biomass to produce a deeper tap root to reach nutrients deeper in the profile.
ISSN:0190-4167
1532-4087
DOI:10.1080/01904160903007893