A functional-structural model of upland rice root systems reveals the importance of laterals and growing root tips for phosphate uptake from wet and dry soils.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Upland rice is often grown where water and phosphorus (P) are limited. To better understand the interaction between water and P availability, functional-structural models that mechanistically represent small-scale nutrient gradients and water dynamics in the rhizosphere are needed.

Methods

Rice was grown in large columns using a P-deficient soil at three P supplies in the topsoil (deficient, sub-optimal and non-limiting) in combination with two water regimes (field capacity vs. drying periods). Root system characteristics, such as nodal root number, lateral types, interbranch distance, root diameters and the distribution of biomass with depth, as well as water and P uptake, were measured. Based on the observed root data, 3-D root systems were reconstructe

SUBMITTER: De Bauw P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7489101 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature