Estimating nutrient uptake by mature tree roots under field conditions: challenges and opportunities

Lucash, Melissa S.; Eissenstat, David M.; Joslin, J. D.; McFarlane, K. J.; Yanai, Ruth D.

doi:10.1007/s00468-007-0160-0

Cited by 49 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…Fig. 2 Seasonal variation of extractable NO 3 − and NH 4 + in the upper 5 cm of the mineral soils of the three investigated landuse types disadvantages that can impact the N uptake rates of roots (Lucash et al 2007). For excised roots it has been argued that 2 h after a root has been cut, soluble sugar concentrations and metabolic activity in that root sharply decline which affects the capacity for active uptake of compounds and may lead to an underestimation of root N uptake capacity (Farrar 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High potential, but low actual, glycine uptake of dominant plant species in three Australian land-use types with intermediate N availability

2009

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The traditional view of the nitrogen (N) cycle has been challenged since the discovery that plants can compete with microbes for low molecular weight (LMW) organic N. Despite a number of studies that have shown LMW organic N uptake by plants, there remains a debate on the overall ecological relevance of LMW organic N uptake by plants across ecosystems with different N availabilities. We here report patterns of glycine N uptake by plants from three different Australian land-use types with intermediate N availability and low inherent glycine concentrations in the soil. Using 15N labeled tracers, we tested the potential of these plants to acquire glycine in ex-situ laboratory experiments and attempted to validate these results in the field by determining actual uptake of glycine by plants directly from the soil. We found in the ex-situ experiments that plants from all three land-use types were able to take up significant amounts of glycine. In contrast, glycine uptake directly from the soil was minimal in all three land-use types and 15 N tracers were largely immobilized in the soil organic N pool. Our study confirms that the potential for LMW organic N uptake by plants is a widespread phenomenon. However, our in-situ experiments show that in the three land-use types tested here plants are inferior competitors for LMW organic N and rely on NH 4 + as their main N source. In contrast to several previous studies in arctic, alpine and even temperate ecosystems, our study suggests that in ecosystems with intermediate N availability, mineral N is the plants' main N source, while LMW organic N is of less ecological relevance to plant N nutrition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High potential, but low actual, glycine uptake of dominant plant species in three Australian land-use types with intermediate N availability

2009

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“…A similar method, based on a modified in-growth core technique, was used by Hairiah et al (1991). However, despite a wide range of approaches to assessing nutrient uptake by tree roots, considerable methodological problems remain (Lucash et al, 2007). Putz and Canham (1992) found no differences between trees and shrubs in below-ground architectural plasticity or in root extension along a nutrient gradient.…”

Section: Root Growth and Distribution Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root distribution of trees and crops: competition and/or complementarity.

Noordwijk¹,

Lawson²,

Soumaré³

et al. 2015

Tree-Crop Interactions: Agroforestry in a Changing Climate

112

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“…Net uptake of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ was negative in Scots pine (Boxman and Roelofs, 1987), Douglar-fir, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock (Rygiewicz et al, 1984) seedlings, except at high pH (Rygiewicz et al, 1984) and low NO 3 − concentrations (Boxman and Roelofs, 1987). In previous field experiments, we observed negative uptake of Mg 2+ in hardwoods but found uptake was positive in conifers using roots of mature trees that were excavated and measured in nutrient solution (Lucash et al, 2007). Uptake of Ca 2+ was negative in chestnut and white oak but not in the other species we studied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Mechanically striking roots without causing any visible damage can cause a short-term decline in net nitrate uptake and an increase in nitrate efflux (Aslam et al, 1996). Our previous attempts to measure uptake of recently excavated, intact roots resulted in considerable net efflux of some nutrients (McFarlane and Yanai, 2006;Lucash et al, 2007).…”

Section: E-mail Address: Rdyanai@syredu (Rd Yanai)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient uptake by intact and disturbed roots of loblolly pine seedlings

Lucash

Yanai

Joslin³

2008

Environmental and Experimental Botany

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a b s t r a c tMost measurements of nutrient uptake use either hydroponic systems or soil-grown roots that have been disturbed by excavation. The first objective of this study was to test how root excavation affects nitrate uptake. Rates of NO 3 − uptake by mycorrhizal loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings were measured in intact sand-filled columns, hydroponics, and disturbed sand-filled columns. Total nitrate uptake in intact sand-filled columns was higher than in disturbed columns, indicating that disturbance lowers uptake. Transferring plants from the sand-filled columns to hydroponics had little effect on NO 3 − uptake beyond delaying uptake for an hour. The second objective of this study was to determine whether NH 4 + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+and K + uptake could be studied using sand-filled columns, since previous studies had tested this method only for nitrate uptake. Uptake rates of NH 4 + and K + were positive, while Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ uptake rates were negative in intact sand-filled columns, indicating that net efflux may occur even without physical disturbance to the root system. The sand-filled column approach has some limitations, but holds promise for conducting nutrient uptake studies with minimal disturbance to the root system.

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Estimating nutrient uptake by mature tree roots under field conditions: challenges and opportunities

Cited by 49 publications

References 112 publications

High potential, but low actual, glycine uptake of dominant plant species in three Australian land-use types with intermediate N availability

High potential, but low actual, glycine uptake of dominant plant species in three Australian land-use types with intermediate N availability

Root distribution of trees and crops: competition and/or complementarity.

Nutrient uptake by intact and disturbed roots of loblolly pine seedlings

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