Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging
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In: Plant and Soil, Vol. 453, No. 1-2, 01.08.2020, p. 515-528.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging
AU - Kumar, Amit
AU - van Duijnen, Richard
AU - Delory, Benjamin
AU - Reichel, Rüdiger
AU - Brüggemann, Nicolas
AU - Temperton, Victoria Martine
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s).
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - Aims: Root 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. Methods: Plants (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). Results: Shoot 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. Conclusions: With 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.
AB - Aims: Root 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. Methods: Plants (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). Results: Shoot 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. Conclusions: With 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.
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - Root system responses
KW - vertical root distribution
KW - specific root length
KW - nutrient stoichiometry
KW - instraspecific competition
KW - Root system responses
KW - vertical root distribution
KW - specific root length
KW - nutrient stoichiometry
KW - Intraspecific competition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087743881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/0a57c783-b7aa-362a-953f-bf016cd7dd12/
U2 - 10.1007/s11104-020-04626-w
DO - 10.1007/s11104-020-04626-w
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 453
SP - 515
EP - 528
JO - Plant and Soil
JF - Plant and Soil
SN - 0032-079X
IS - 1-2
ER -