Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

Kumar, Amit; Delory, Benjamin M.; Temperton, Vicky M.; Brüggemann, Nicolas; van Duijnen, Richard; Reichel, Rüdiger

doi:10.1007/s11104-020-04626-w

Journal Article

FZJ-2020-03286

Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

Kumar, A. (Corresponding author) ; van Duijnen, R. ; Delory, B. M. ; Reichel, R.FZJ* ; Brüggemann, N.FZJ* ; Temperton, V. M.

2020
Springer Science + Business Media B.V Dordrecht [u.a.]

Plant and soil 453(1-2), 515 - 528 (2020) [10.1007/s11104-020-04626-w]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/25797 doi:10.1007/s11104-020-04626-w

Abstract: AimsRoot system responses to the limitation of either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) are well documented, but how the early root system responds to (co-) limitation of one (N or P) or both in a stoichiometric framework is not well-known. In addition, how intraspecific competition alters plant responses to N:P stoichiometry is understudied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of N:P stoichiometry and competition on root system responses and overall plant performance.MethodsPlants (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown in rhizoboxes for 24 days in the presence or absence of competition (three vs. one plant per rhizobox), and fertilized with different combinations of N:P (low N + low P, low N + high P, high N + low P, and high N + high P).ResultsShoot biomass was highest when both N and P were provided in high amounts. In competition, shoot biomass decreased on average by 22%. Total root biomass (per plant) was not affected by N:P stoichiometry and competition but differences were observed in specific root length and root biomass allocation across soil depths. Specific root length depended on the identity of limiting nutrient (N or P) and competition. Plants had higher proportion of root biomass in deeper soil layers under N limitation, while a greater proportion of root biomass was found at the top soil layers under P limitation.ConclusionsWith low N and P availability during early growth, higher investments in root system development can significantly trade off with aboveground productivity, and strong intraspecific competition can further strengthen such effects.

Classification:

ddc:580

Contributing Institute(s):

Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

Database coverage:
Medline

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