role of hydraulic lift and subsoil P placement in P uptake of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 325; no. 1-2; pp. 263 - 275
• Main Authors: Wang, X, Tang, C, Guppy, C. N, Sale, P. W. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.12.2009; Springer; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Clay; Clay soils; Cotton; Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Hydraulics; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plants; Regular Article; Roots; Sand soils; Sandy soils; Soil columns; Soil hydraulic properties; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil surfaces; Soil texture; Soil water; Soil water content; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Subsoil; Subsoils; Topsoil; Hydraulic lift; P acquisition; Dry topsoil; P placement; Soil texture; Subsoil nutrients; Malvaceae; Top soil; Fiber crop; Texture; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; C3-Type; Non metal; Vegetals; Phosphorus; Nutrient uptake; Physical properties; Acquisition; Group VA element; Soils; Subsoil; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Gossypium hirsutum; Soil plant relation
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-009-9977-1

Hydraulic lift can be a desirable characteristic for cotton growing in areas that experience frequent drying of the topsoil. This study employed specialized soil columns to test if cotton can hydraulically lift water and whether this hydraulically lifted water can facilitate P acquisition from the dry topsoil of a clay and a sandy soil. The role of subsoil P placement on cotton growth was also tested. By using a Theta probe, hydraulic lift was detected in the clay soil for 7 days after water was withheld from the topsoil. However, in the sandy soil, a significant overnight increase in soil water was only detected for one day for the treatment with subsoil P application. Where P was applied to the topsoil, and water was withheld, cotton roots showed significant root P uptake from the sandy soil, but negligible P uptake from the clay soil. Irrespective of topsoil watering, the higher root length density in the subsoil of the clay soil accounted for the pronounced response to deep P placement. This study demonstrated that soil texture affects the amount and longevity of hydraulic lift from cotton roots. Hydraulic lift detected in the clay soil did not aid P acquisition from dry surface soil by cotton plants.