Significance of root hairs at the field scale – modelling root water and phosphorus uptake under different field conditions

Background and aims Root hairs play a significant role in phosphorus (P) extraction at the pore scale. However, their importance at the field scale remains poorly understood. Methods This study uses a continuum model to explore the impact of root hairs on the large-scale uptake of P, comparing root...

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Published inPlant and soil Vol. 447; no. 1-2; pp. 281 - 304
Main Authors Ruiz, S., Koebernick, N., Duncan, S., Fletcher, D. McKay, Scotson, C., Boghi, A., Marin, M., Bengough, A. G., George, T. S., Brown, L. K., Hallett, P. D., Roose, T.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2020
Springer
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Computer simulation
Continuum modeling
Ecology
Life Sciences
Phosphorus
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Regular
Regular Article
Root hairs
Soil profiles
Soil properties
Soil Science & Conservation
Soils
United Kingdom
Water
Rhizosphere
Field
Plant roots
Soil
Phosphorus
Mathematical modelling
Root hairs
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Summary:Background and aims Root hairs play a significant role in phosphorus (P) extraction at the pore scale. However, their importance at the field scale remains poorly understood. Methods This study uses a continuum model to explore the impact of root hairs on the large-scale uptake of P, comparing root hair influence under different agricultural scenarios. High vs low and constant vs decaying P concentrations down the soil profile are considered, along with early vs late precipitation scenarios. Results Simulation results suggest root hairs accounted for 50% of total P uptake by plants. Furthermore, a delayed initiation time of precipitation potentially limits the P uptake rate by over 50% depending on the growth period. Despite the large differences in the uptake rate, changes in the soil P concentration in the domain due to root solute uptake remains marginal when considering a single growth season. However, over the duration of 6 years, simulation results showed that noticeable differences arise over time. Conclusion Root hairs are critical to P capture, with uptake efficiency potentially enhanced by coordinating irrigation with P application during earlier growth stages of crops.
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Responsible Editor: W Richard Whalley.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-019-04308-2