| |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11104-011-0752-8 |
Web URL(s): | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11104-011-0752-8 Last checked: 10/05/2017 https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11104-011-0752-8.pdf |
Publication Type:
| Refereed |
Author(s): | Mommer, Liesje;
Visser, Eric J. W.;
van Ruijven, Jasper;
de Caluwe, Hannie;
Pierik, Ronald;
de Kroon, Hans |
Author Affiliation: | Mommer, Visser, de Caluwe and de Kroon: Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Mommer and van Ruijven: Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Pierik: Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
Title: | Contrasting root behaviour in two grass species: A test of functionality in dynamic heterogeneous conditions |
Source: | Plant and Soil. Vol. 344, No. 1-2, July 2011, p. 347-360. |
Publishing Information: | Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers |
# of Pages: | 14 |
Related Web URL: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11104-011-0752-8#Abs1 Last checked: 07/09/2018 Notes: Abstract only |
Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Anthoxanthum odoratum; Competitive ability; Festuca rubra; Nutrient uptake; Nutrition; Root analysis; Root length; Root systems
|
Abstract/Contents: | "Root systems are highly plastic as they express a range of responses to acquire patchily distributed nutrients. However, the ecological significance of placing roots selectively in nutrient hotspots is still unclear. Here, we investigate under what conditions selective root placement may be a significant functional trait that determines belowground competitive ability. We studied two grasses differing in root foraging behaviour, Festuca rubra and Anthoxanthum odoratum. The plants were grown in stable and more dynamic heterogeneous environments, by switching nutrient patches halfway through the experiment. A. odoratum was a factor of two less selective in placing its roots into nutrient-rich patches than F. rubra. A. odoratum produced overall higher root length densities with higher specific root length than F. rubra and acquired more nutrients. A. odoratum appeared to be the superior competitor, irrespective of the nutrient dynamics. Our results suggest that root behaviour consisting of producing high root length densities at relatively low biomass investments can be a more effective foraging strategy than placing roots selectively in nutrient hotspots. When understanding the functionality of root traits among different species, specific root length may play a key role." |
Language: | English |
References: | 34 |
Note: | Figures Tables Graphs |
| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete): Mommer, L., E. J. W. Visser, J. van Ruijven, H. de Caluwe, R. Pierik, and H. de Kroon. 2011. Contrasting root behaviour in two grass species: A test of functionality in dynamic heterogeneous conditions. Plant Soil. 344(1-2):p. 347-360. |
| Fastlink to access this record outside TGIF: https://tic.msu.edu/tgif/flink?recno=183859 |
| If there are problems with this record, send us feedback about record 183859. |
| Choices for finding the above item: |
| DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0752-8 |
| Web URL(s): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11104-011-0752-8 Last checked: 10/05/2017 https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11104-011-0752-8.pdf |
| MSU catalog number: b2212822 |
| Find from within TIC: Digitally in TIC by record number. |
| Request through your local library's inter-library loan service (bring or send a copy of this TGIF record) |