8 research outputs found
Patterns of Plant Biomass Partitioning Depend on Nitrogen Source
Nitrogen (N) availability is a strong determinant of plant biomass partitioning, but the role of different N sources in this process is unknown. Plants inhabiting low productivity ecosystems typically partition a large share of total biomass to belowground structures. In these systems, organic N may often dominate plant available N. With increasing productivity, plant biomass partitioning shifts to aboveground structures, along with a shift in available N to inorganic forms of N. We tested the hypothesis that the form of N taken up by plants is an important determinant of plant biomass partitioning by cultivating Arabidopsis thaliana on different N source mixtures. Plants grown on different N mixtures were similar in size, but those supplied with organic N displayed a significantly greater root fraction. 15N labelling suggested that, in this case, a larger share of absorbed organic N was retained in roots and split-root experiments suggested this may depend on a direct incorporation of absorbed amino acid N into roots. These results suggest the form of N acquired affects plant biomass partitioning and adds new information on the interaction between N and biomass partitioning in plants
Wheat roots efflux a diverse array of organic N compounds and are highly proficient at their recapture
Nitrogen fluxes at the root-soil interface show a mismatch of nitrogen fertilizer supply and sugarcane root uptake capacity
Nitrogen Availability and Physiological Response of Corn After 12 Years with Organic and Mineral Fertilization
Past, present and future of organic nutrients
Slowing crop yield increases despite high fertiliser application rates, declining soil health and off-site pollution are testimony that many bioproduction systems require innovative nutrient supply strategies. One avenue is a greater contribution of organic compounds as nutrient sources for crops. That plants take up and metabolise organic molecules ('organic nutrients') has been discovered prior to more recent interest with scientific roots reaching far into the 19th century. Research on organic nutrients continued in the early decades of the 20th century, but after two world wars and yield increases achieved with mineral and synthetic fertilisers, a smooth continuation of the research was not to be expected, and we find major gaps in the transmission of methods and knowledge