Response of a Pioneering Species (Leptospermum scoparium J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) to Heterogeneity in a Low-Fertility Soil

Frontiers in Plant Science
María Jesús Gutiérrez-GinésB H Robinson

Abstract

Root foraging may increase plant nutrient acquisition at the cost of reducing the total volume of soil explored, thereby reducing the chance of the roots encountering additional patches. Patches in soil seldom contain just one nutrient: the patch may also have distinct textural, hydrological, and toxicological characteristics. We sought to determine the characteristics of root foraging by a pioneering species, Leptospermum scoparium, using pot trials and rhizobox experiments with patches of biosolids. The growth of L. scoparium was increased by <50 t/ha equiv. of biosolids but higher doses were inhibitory. Roots foraged patches of biosolids in a low-fertility soil. There was no evidence of chemotaxis, rather, the roots proliferated toward the patch of biosolids, following chemical gradients of nitrate. While the biosolids also contained high concentrations of other nutrients (P, K, and S), only significant chemical gradients of nitrate were found. Once the roots encountered a patch of biosolids, the growth of the plant increased to a level similar to plants growing in soil homogeneously mixed with biosolids or surface-applied biosolids. Our results indicate that roots forage nitrate, which is mobile in soil, and that gradients ...Continue Reading

References

Sep 25, 2008·Plant, Cell & Environment·Angela Hodge
May 5, 2009·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Gordon G McNickleJames F Cahill
May 12, 2009·Environmental Pollution·Ahmad B MoradiRainer Schulin
Oct 26, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Sandrine RuffelGloria M Coruzzi
Feb 28, 2017·The Science of the Total Environment·J EsperschuetzB H Robinson
Aug 8, 2017·Journal of Environmental Quality·María Jesús Gutiérrez-GinésRoger McLenaghen

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Citations

Aug 8, 2021·Foods·Alexandra MeisterBrett Robinson

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