Theoretical evidence that root penetration ability interacts with soil compaction regimes to affect nitrate capture.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Although root penetration of strong soils has been intensively studied at the scale of individual root axes, interactions between soil physical properties and soil foraging by whole plants are less clear. Here we investigate how variation in the penetration ability of distinct root classes and bulk density profiles common to real-world soils interact to affect soil foraging strategies.

Methods

We utilize the functional-structural plant model 'OpenSimRoot' to simulate the growth of maize (Zea mays) root systems with variable penetration ability of axial and lateral roots in soils with (1) uniform bulk density, (2) plow pans and (3) increasing bulk density with depth. We also modify the availability and leaching of nitrate to uncover reciprocal interactions

SUBMITTER: Strock CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8835659 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature