Qualitative differences between day- and night-time rhizodeposition in maize (Zea mays L.) as investigated by pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry

Rhizodeposition is an important pathway of atmospheric C-input to soil, however, quantity and quality of plant rhizodeposition are insufficiently known. Therefore, the composition and diurnal dynamics of water-soluble root-derived substances and products of their interaction with sandy soil were investigated in maize plants (Zea mays L.) by pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS). In both night- and day-rhizodeposits the C, N and S concentrations were larger by factors ranging from 3.0 to 9.7 than the samples from non-cropped soil. The rhizodeposition was larger during the day than during the night-time and the composition of these deposits was different. The largest differences in the Py-FI mass spectra resulted from signals assigned to amino acids (aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, leucine, isoleucine, hydroxyproline and phenylalanine) and carbohydrates, in particular pentoses, which were exuded in the photosynthetic period. Marker signals in the Py-FI mass spectra and the curves of their thermal volatilization provided unequivocal evidence for the occurrence of free amino acids in the day-rhizodeposits. Other compounds detected in the Py-FI mass spectra were interpreted as constituents of rhizodeposits (lipids, suberin, fatty acids) or products of the interaction of rhizodeposits and microbial metabolites with stable soil organic matter (lignin dimers and alkylaromatics). It was concluded that the diurnal dynamics in the molecular-chemical composition between day- and night-rhizodeposits resulted from the exudation carbohydrates and amino acids during the photosynthetic period, the deposition of other root-derived compounds such as lipids, suberin and fatty acids, and the microbial metabolism of all available organic compounds in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, applications of the presented approach in C-turnover and phytoremediation research, and for risk assessment of genetically modified crops are proposed.     

前氮后移对寒地水稻根系吸收能力的影响

采用田间小区试验方法,在高氮（135 kg/hm2）和中氮（105 kg/hm2）水平下,研究了穗肥比例对寒地水稻根系吸收能力的影响。试验结果表明：高氮水平下,穗肥比例为15% 的处理各个时期伤流量和根系含糖量均最低,中氮水平下穗肥比例为35% 的处理伤流量和根系含糖量均最高。相同氮量条件下,随着穗肥比例增加根系伤流量增加,幼穗分化期增加均达到了5% 的显著水平;中氮条件下,前氮后移使幼穗分化期和抽穗后20天的根系含糖量显著提高了14.0% 和35.1%（p＜0.05）。穗肥比例由15% 增加到35%,水稻吸氮量增加了11.1% ~ 15.6%,氮肥吸收利用率提高了20% ~ 43%,农学利用率提高了37.5% ~ 38.5%,氮肥偏生产力提高了12.6% ~ 20.8%,水稻产量提高了12.3% ~ 12.7%,且均达到了5% 的显著水平。以上结果表明,前氮后移促进了水稻碳氮代谢的协调,增加了根系可溶性糖含量,提高了水稻根系吸氮能力,增加了氮素积累量,因此提高了氮肥利用率和产量。     

Infection of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees by Glomus mosseae: growth and mineral nutrition

In the past century, the excessive exploitation of the environment by human beings has resulted in the depletion of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees in Italian forests, creating a need for re-forestation. The aim of this research was to verify whether a vescicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus is able to colonise the root of valuable hardwood trees and to evaluate the impact of the VAM fungus on growth and macroelement nutrition of its plant hosts.Four species of valuable broadleaf hardwood trees, Prunus avium L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., and Juglans nigra L., were inoculated with Glomus mosseae, a VAM fungus, and cultivated in a greenhouse. Infection after inoculation and root colonization by the fungus, tree growth, and macro-element nutrition were evaluated two-years after inoculation. G. mosseae formed mycorrhizae on all plants. However, different morphological aspects - predominantly the formation of Arum type arbuscles in P. avium and F. excelsior - were observed. A general improvement of macro-element nutrition from species to species characterised an enhanced growth of mycorrhizal plants. Therefore, it is plausible that the association of VAMs with these broadleaf trees, could overcome the difficulties encountered in the transplanting and the slow growth typical of these tree species.Although numerous articles have reported the beneficial effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi on trees, there is a sparse literature on the association of VAM with tree species. Therefore, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of the symbiosis between valuable broadleaf trees and VAM fungi in macroelement nutrition.     

Effect of a multispecies nematode population on the root, corm, and shoot growth of East African Musa genotypes

A study to determine the impact of a multispecies nematode population on the root, corm, and shoot growth of East African Musa genotypes was carried out. Eight genotypes comprising the plantain “Gonja” (Musa AAB group), the dessert banana “Sukali Ndizi” (AAB), the beer banana “Kayinja” (ABB), and five East African Highland bananas (AAA-EA) were assessed at flower emergence of the plant crop. Root damage and plant growth characteristics were assessed on both infected and noninfected plants. This study showed that Radopholus similis and Helicotylenchus multicinctus were recovered in highest numbers from infected mother plants. Significantly (P<0.05) higher shoot and root damage was observed in the infested plot compared to the noninfested plot. The differences in nematode damage observed among the different Musa genotypes confirm the variability in susceptibility to nematodes. Most of the East African Highland bananas and “Gonja” had a significant reduction in root system size. In addition, toppling and lengthening of the period to flower emergence of the plant crop was much more pronounced in these genotypes. In contrast to previous reports, this study indicated that a multispecies nematode infection significantly (P<0.05) reduced shoot and root growth of “Kayinja”. “Sukali Ndizi”, however, was observed to be tolerant to nematode infection as a small reduction in the root system size was associated with a negligible effect on the corm and shoot growth characteristics. Therefore, the percentage reduction in root and shoot growth due to nematode infection is not constant but depends on the plant genotype.     

Relationships between soil penetration resistance and soif nematode burden in barley on Prince Edward Island

Fifty sloping fields of barley with different short-term cropping histories across Prince Edward Island were examined for variations in root-zone depth and the severity of soil parasitic nematodes as part of a wider study of relationships between cropping sequence, topographic position, soil physical conditions and crop performance. Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans) density in the roots was significantly greater (13%) at foot slopes than at top slopes, and stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus spp.) was significantly greater (8%) at top slopes where the soil was drier. The density of stunt nematodes and root lesion nematodes in the soil was significantly greater (>15%) under miscellaneous cereals-barley sequences than under potato-barley or hay-barley, attributable to level of carryover. Root lesion nematode density in the roots was significantly greater (12%) under hay-barley than either of the other two sequences. This nematode also showed a strong tendency to increase in number with increasing root-zone depth, and may be explained on the basis that increased root-zone depth provides increased host root mass (substrate). Stunt nematodes, on the other hand, increased with decreasing root-zone depth and may be explained by the known propensity of these organisms for drier, shallower soil conditions.     

Comparison of modeling approaches to quantify residue architecture effects on soil temperature and water

RZ-SHAW is a hybrid model, comprised of modules from the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model integrated into the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) that allows more detailed simulation of different residue types and architectures that affect heat and water transfer at the soil surface. RZ-SHAW allows different methods of surface energy flux evaluation to be used: (1) the SHAW module, where evapotranspiration (ET) and soil heat flux are computed in concert with a detailed surface energy balance; (2) the Shuttleworth–Wallace (S–W) module for ET in which soil surface temperature is assumed equal air temperature; and (3) the PENFLUX module, which uses a Penman transformation for a soil slab under incomplete residue cover. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of the three RZ-SHAW modules to simulate effects of residue architecture on net radiation, soil temperature, and water dynamics near the soil surface. The model was tested in Akron, Colorado in a wheat residue-covered (both standing and flat) no-till (NT) plot, and a reduced till (RT) plot where wheat residue was incorporated into the soil. Temperature difference between the soil surface and ambient air frequently exceeded 17 °C under RT and NT conditions, invalidating the isothermal assumption employed in the S–W module. The S–W module overestimated net radiation (R_n) by an average of 69 Wm⁻² and underestimated the 3-cm soil temperature (T_s3) by 2.7 °C for the RT plot, attributed to consequences of the isothermal assumption. Both SHAW and PENFLUX modules overestimated midday T_s3 for RT conditions but underestimated T_s3 for NT conditions. Better performances of the SHAW and PENFLUX surface energy evaluations are to be expected as both approaches are more detailed and consider a more discretized domain than the S–W module. PENFLUX simulated net radiation slightly better than the SHAW module for both plots, while T_s3 was simulated the best by SHAW, with a mean bias error of +0.1 °C for NT and +2.7 °C for RT. Simulation results for soil water content in the surface 30 cm (θ_v30) were mixed. The NT conditions were simulated best by SHAW, with mean bias error for θ_v30 within 0.006 m³ m⁻³; RT conditions were simulated best by the PENFLUX module, which was within 0.010 m³ m⁻³.     

Impact of elevated CO2 on mycorrhizal associations and implications for plant growth

The impact of increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ upon plant physiology has been widely investigated. Plant, and in particular root, growth is nearly always enhanced as a direct consequence of CO₂ enrichment, with C₃ species generally more responsive than C₄ species. Such alterations in plant productivity will have consequence for below-ground processes and increased carbon allocation to the roots may favour symbiotic relationships. This paper discusses the current information available for the consequences of these changes upon mycorrhizal relationships. Generally mycorrhizal plants grown under CO₂ enrichment show enhanced phosphorus uptake but nitrogen uptake is unaffected. This increased nutrient uptake is not correlated with increased mycorrhizal colonization of the roots. Similarly root exudation does not increase under CO₂ enrichment but qualitative differences have yet to be assessed. However, it is predicted that total rhizodeposition of materials will increase as will litter inputs, although mineral and biochemical alterations to these plant derived inputs may occur. The consequences of such changes within the rhizosphere are discussed and future research     

不同土壤层次供应水分和养分对玉米幼苗生长和吸收养分的影响

本试验模拟滴灌方法 ,在不同土壤层次进行灌水和施用氮磷养分的盆栽玉米试验 ,旨在探讨在不同土壤层次供应水分和养分对夏玉米幼苗生长、根系空间构型及玉米对养分吸收的影响。试验表明 :在土壤深层进行滴灌可以有效降低土面蒸发 ,提高水分和养分的利用效率 ,从而显著提高玉米幼苗的生长量 ;在不同层次施肥灌水 ,对玉米根系在土壤中的空间构型影响很大 ,进行深层滴灌可以极大促进根系在较深土壤中的发育 ;在不同土层施肥灌水对玉米幼苗吸收N、P、K三种养分的能力也有影响 ,深层施肥灌水提高了玉米对 3种养分的吸收量     

钾素营养对水稻根系生长和养分吸收的影响

本文研究了大田和盆栽试验中钾素营养对水稻根系形态、活力及其对养分吸收的影响。试验结果表明：（１）在氮磷肥的基础上施钾能促进稻根的生长；（２）土壤供钾潜力、钾肥种类和水稻品种的吸Ｋ特性均影响根系的生长；（３）在缺钾的酸性土壤上，吸钾强的品种，施钾的促根效应最为明显；（４）施钾能增加小于０．２ｍｍ的细根量，提高稻根的再生能力，影响Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ等营养元素的吸收及其在地上和地下部分间的分配；（５     

冬小麦根系生长规律及土壤环境条件对其影响的研究

通过两年田间实测取样和盆栽试验对冬小麦根系的生长发育与在土壤中的分布规律以及环境条件如肥、水、耕作措施对根系生长发育的影响进行了研究，并建立了根系生长及其在土壤上分布的数学模型。