Effect of patchy distribution of soil nutrients on root morphology and biomass allocation of selected grassland species: experimental approach

• Autorzy: Zaller J G
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Nutrient distribution in natural habitats is usually patchy in space and time, however most knowledge about plant growth and behaviour is based on experiments conducted under spatially homogenous conditions. Evidence has accumulated that the growth and competitive interaction of plant species are strongly affected by heterogeneous rather than homogeneous resource distribution, even when the total resource supply remains similar. For this study it is hypothesized that infestations of grasslands with the nitrophilous weed Rumex obtusifolius L. (broadleaved dock) are partially the consequence of its ability to exploit spatial nutrient heterogeneity. This was tested in a full-factorial pot experiment with homogeneously or heterogeneously distributed nitrogen and/or potassium at either normal or increased soil moisture where R. obtusifolius was grown together with three other grassland species (grass: Arrhenatherum elatius L., non-leguminous herb: Taraxacum officinale Weber, leguminous herb: Trifolium repens L.). The species differed significantly in their root morphology (root length and diameter, specific root length, number of root tips) and biomass allocation response to nutrient distribution, as well as to the nutrient type used to create patches and to soil moisture (e.g., significant species × treatment interactions). Generally, the root system of A. elatius showed the highest plasticity to imposed treatments, followed by T. officinale, R. obtusifolius and T. repens. Unexpectedly, root morphology of R. obtusifolius was unresponsive to soil heterogeneity and less responsive to nutrient type and irrigation than that of the other species. Nutrient type used to create patches influenced the biomass allocation to the root system of R. obtusifolius while nutrient distribution and irrigation showed no effect on biomass allocation. Exploitation of soil nitrate-nitrogen and potassium was similar among species but exploitation was individually affected by nutrient type, nutrient distribution and irrigation suggesting that species-specific differences in nutrient storage capacities in roots or adjustments regarding root nutrient uptake kinetics may play an important role. Results from this study show that R. obtusifolius does not seem to have superior traits to utilize soil nutrient heterogeneity, certain nutrient types or higher soil moisture that differentiates it from the other grassland species tested. The observed effects might have consequences for the long-term competitive relationships between species in the grassland community suggesting that cultural and biological management measures oriented towards the improvement of the competitive ability of co-occurring grassland species might also be important in heterogeneous soils.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

biomass; experimental approach; grassland; Arrhenatherum elatius; weed ecology; patchy distribution; soil nutrient; Taraxacum officinale; Trifolium repens; soil heterogeneity; root morphology; nutrient distribution; natural habitat; Rumex obtusifolius

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2007
• Tom: 55
• Numer: 4
• Opis fizyczny: p.731-747,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Zaller J G

• University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Bibliografia

• Bilbrough C.J., Caldwell M.M. 1995 – The effects of shading and N status on root proliferation in nutrient patches by the perennial grass Agropyron desertorum in the field – Oecologia, 103: 10–16.
• Caldwell M.M., Manwaring J.H., Durham S.L. 1991 – The microscale distribution of neighbouring plant roots in fertile soil microsites – Funct. Ecol., 5: 765–772.
• Campbell B.D., Grime J.P., Mackey J.M.L. 1991 – A trade-off between scale and precision in resource foraging – Oecologia, 87: 532–538.
• Cavers P.B., Harper J.L. 1964 – Biological flora of the British Isles. Rumex obtusifolius L. and Rumex crispus L. – J. Ecol., 52: 737–766.
• Crick J.C., Grime J.P. 1987 – Morphological plasticity and mineral nutrient capture in two herbaceous species of contrasted ecology – New Phytol., 107: 403–414.
• Day K.J., Hutchings M.J., John E.A. 2003a – The effects of spatial pattern of nutrient supply on the early stages of growth in plant populations – J. Ecol., 91: 305–315.
• Day K.J., John E.A., Hutchings M.J. 2003b – The effects of spatially heterogeneous nutrient supply on yield, intensity of competition and root placement patterns in Briza media and Festuca ovina – Funct. Ecol., 17: 454–463.
• Dickinson C.H., Craig G. 1990 – Effects of water on the decomposition and release of nutrients from cow pats – New Phytol., 115: 139–147.
• Eissenstat D. 1992 – Costs and benefits of construction roots of small diameter – Journal of Plant Nutrition, 15: 763–782.
• Ellenberg H. 1986 – Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. 4th edn, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart. (in German)
• Facelli E., Facelli J.M. 2002 – Soil phosphorus heterogeneity and mycorrhizal symbiosis regulate plant intra-specific competition and size distribution – Oecologia, 133: 54–61.
• Farley R.A., Fitter A.H. 1999 – The response of seven co-occuring woodland herbaceous perennials to localized nutrient-rich patches – J. Ecol., 87: 849–859.
• Fransen B., De Kroon H., Berendse F. 1998 – Root morphological plasticity and nutrient acquisition of perennial grass species from habitats of different nutrient availability – Oecologia, 115: 351–358.
• Fransen B., De Kroon H., Berendse F. 2001 – Soil nutrient heterogeneity alters competition between two perennial grass species – Ecology, 82: 2534–2546.
• Gebauer G., Melzer A., Rehder H. 1984 – Nitrate content and nitrate reductase activity in Rumex obtusifolius L. I. Differences in organs and diurnal changes – Oecologia, 63: 136–142.
• Gross K.L., Peters A., Pregitzer K.S. 1993 – Fine root growth and demographic responses to nutrient patches in four old-field plant species – Oecologia, 95: 61–64.
• Gross K.L., Pregitzer K.S., Burton A.J. 1995 – Spatial variation in nitrogen availability in three successional plant communities – J. Ecol., 83: 357–367.
• Hodge A. 2004 – The plastic plant: root responses to heterogeneous supplies of nutrients – New Phytol., 162: 9–24.
• Hoffmann G. 1991 – Verband Deutscher Landwirtschaftlicher Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalten Methodenbuch. Band I. Die Untersuchung von Böden. 4th edn – VDLUFAVerlag, Darmstadt, Germany. (in German)
• Hutchings M.J., John E.A. 2004 – The effects of environmental heterogeneity on root growth and root/shoot partitioning – Ann. Bot., 94: 1–8.
• Jackson R.B., Caldwell M.M. 1989 – The timing and degree of root proliferation in fertile-soil microsites for three cold-desert perennials – Oecologia, 81: 149–153.
• Jackson R.B., Caldwell M.M. 1991 – Kinetic responses of Pseudoroegneria roots to localized soil enrichment – Plant Soil, 138: 231–238.
• Jackson R.B., Caldwell M.M. 1993 – The scale of nutrient heterogeneity around individual plants and its quantification with geostatistics – Ecology, 74: 612–614.
• Jackson R.B., Manwaring J.H., Caldwell M.M. 1990 – Rapid physiological adjustment of roots to localized soil enrichment – Nature, 344: 58–60.
• Johnson H.A., Biondini M.E. 2001 – Root morphological plasticity and nitrogen uptake of 59 plant specie from the Great Plains grasslands, U.S.A. – Basic Appl. Ecol., 2: 127–143.
• Kembel S.W., Cahill J.F. 2005 – Plant phenotypic plasticity belowground: A phylogenetic perspective on root foraging trade-offs – Am. Natur., 166: 216–230.
• Kutschera L., Sobotik M. 1985 – Gülleflora – Unterschiede durch Klima und Boden. (In: 7. Arbeitstag, BAL Gumpenstein, Ed. – BAL Gumpenstein – Gumpenstein, Austria, pp. 79–119. (in German)
• Pino J., Haggar R.J., Sans F.X., Masalles R.M., Hamilton R.N.S., Sackville Hamilton R.N. 1995 – Clonal growth and fragment regeneration of Rumex obtusifolius L – Weed Res., 35: 141–148.
• Pregitzer K.S., Hendrick R.L., Fogel R. 1993 – The demography of fine roots in response to patches of water and nitrogen – New Phytol., 125: 575–580.
• Rehder H. 1982 – Nitrogen relations of ruderal communities (Rumicion alpini) in the Northern Calcareous Alps – Oecologia, 55: 120–129.
• Reynolds H.L., D’Antonio C. 1996 – The ecological significance of plasticity in root weight ratio in response to nitrogen: opinion – Plant Soil, 185: 75–97.
• Riehm H. 1948 – Arbeitsvorschrift zur Bestimmung der Phosphorsäure und des Kaliums nach Lactatverfahren – Z. Pflanzenernähr. Düng. Bodenk., 40: 152–156. (in German)
• Robinson D., Rorison I. H. 1983 – A comparison of the responses of Lolium perenne L., Holcus lanatus L. and Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin. to a localized supply of nitrogen – New Phytol., 94: 263–273.
• Robinson D., van Vuuren M.M.I. 1998 – Responses of wild plants to nutrient patches in relation to growth rate and life-form (In: Inherent variation in plant growth. Physiological mechanisms and ecological consequences, Eds: H. Lambers, H. Poorter, M.M.I. Van Vuuren) – Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, pp. 237–257.
• Ryel R.J., Caldwell M.M., Manwaring J.H. 1996 – Temporal dynamics of soil spatial heterogeneity in sagebrush-wheatgrass steppe during a growing season – Plant Soil, 184: 299–309.
• Van Vuuren M.M.I., Robinson D., Griffiths B.S. 1996 – Nutrient inflow and root proliferation during the exploitation of a temporally and spatially discrete source of nitrogen in soil – Plant Soil, 178: 185–192.
• Wijesinghe D.K., John E.A., Beurskens S., Hutchings M.J. 2001 – Root system size and precision in nutrient foraging: responses to spatial pattern of nutrient supply in six herbaceous species – J. Ecol., 89: 972–983.
• Wijesinghe D.K., John E.A., Hutchings M.J. 2005 – Does pattern of soil resource heterogeneity determine plant community structure? An experimental investigation – J. Ecol., 93: 99–112.
• Zaller J.G. 2004a – Competitive ability of Rumex obtusifolius against native grassland species: above- and belowground allocation of biomass and nutrients – J. Plant Diseases Protect., Spec. Iss. XIX: 345–351.
• Zaller J.G. 2004b – Ecology and non-chemical control of Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius (Polygonaceae): a review – Weed Res., 44: 414–432.
• Zaller J.G. 2006a – Allelopathic effects of Rumex obtusifolius leaf extracts against native grassland species – J. Plant Diseases Protect., Spec. Iss. XX: 463–470.
• Zaller J.G. 2006b – Sheep grazing vs. cutting: regeneration and soil nutrient exploitation of the grassland weed Rumex obtusifolius – BioControl, 51: 837–850.
• Zaller J.G., Köpke U. 2004 – Effects of traditional and biodynamic farmyard manure amendment on yields, soil chemical, biochemical and biological properties in a longterm field experiment – Biol. Fertil. Soils, 40: 222–229.