Impact of axial root growth angles on nitrogen acquisition in maize depends on environmental conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Backgrounds and aims

Crops with reduced requirement for nitrogen (N) fertilizer would have substantial benefits in developed nations, while improving food security in developing nations. This study employs the functional structural plant model SimRoot to test the hypothesis that variation in the growth angles of axial roots of maize (Zea mays L.) is an important determinant of N capture.

Methods

Six phenotypes contrasting in axial root growth angles were modelled for 42 d at seven soil nitrate levels from 10 to 250 kg ha(-1) in a sand and a silt loam, and five precipitation regimes ranging from 0·5× to 1·5× of an ambient rainfall pattern. Model results were compared with soil N measurements of field sites with silt loam and loamy sand textures.

Key results

For optimal

SUBMITTER: Dathe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4998975 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature