Interspecific competition among catch crops modifies vertical root biomass distribution and nitrate scavenging in soils.

ABSTRACT: The potential of a plant species to acquire nutrients depends on its ability to explore the soil by its root system. Co-cultivation of different species is anticipated to lead to vertical root niche differentiation and thus to higher soil nutrient depletion. Using a qPCR-based method we quantified root biomass distribution of four catch crop species in vertical soil profiles in pure vs. mixed stands. Pure stands of mustard and phacelia robustly reached 70 cm soil depth, while oat preferably colonized upper soil layers, and clover developed the shallowest and smallest root system. Analysis of residual nitrate pools in different soil depths and correlation with root biomass showed that, besides rooting depth also root biomass determines soil nitrogen depletion. While occupying the same verti

SUBMITTER: Heuermann D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6687801 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature