Increasing root biomass derived carbon input to agricultural soils by genotype selection – a review

Abstract

Background and aims Soil carbon sequestration can play an important role in mitigating climate change. Higher organic C inputs to agricultural soils are needed in order to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Genotype selection and breeding towards increased root biomass may enhance root C inputs to the soil and could therefore be a promising, easy-to-implement management option for potentially increasing C sequestration. However, an increase in root C inputs may compromise yield, which is not desirable in terms of food security. Methods Data from 13 global studies with field experiments were compiled in order to estimate the potential of optimised genotype selection for enhancing root biomass without compromising the yield of winter wheat, spring wheat, silage maize, winter rapeseed and sunflower. A lack of data on the effect of variety on rhizodeposition was identified which thus had to be excluded. Results Systematic genotype selection increased mean yields by 52% and mean root biomass by 22% across all crops and sites. A median root C increase of 6.7% for spring wheat, 6.8% for winter rapeseed, 12.2% for silage maize, 21.6% for winter wheat and 26.4% for sunflower would be possible without a yield reduction. Conclusion Overall, this review demonstrates that optimised genotype selection can be a win-win option for increasing root biomass C input to soil while maintaining or even enhancing yield.

Selection of M5 mutant lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for agronomic traits and biomass allocation under drought stress and non-stressed conditions

“…The mutant lines with high root biomass recorded grain yields above average under drought stress conditions ( Table 4 ). The current study found a strong correlation between root biomass and grain yield under drought stress conditions ( Figure 1 ), suggesting optimal root biomass allocation could increase soil carbon sequestration, increasing yield and mitigating climate change effects ( Heinemann et al., 2023 ; Shamuyarira et al., 2023 ).…”

The Effect of Water Availability on the Carbon Content of Grain and Above- and Belowground Residues in Common and Einkorn Wheat

“…Roots represent the least certain part of the description of the C cycle in the soil and in ecosystems, because C is lost during growth to the soil in the form of exudates and mechanically abraded surface tissues and due to the decay of some roots during growth [ 52 ]. According to a review of previous studies, the net C deposited in the roots of grasses and dicotyledonous crops represents 16 and 10% of total assimilated C, respectively, and it is an important aspect of soil C sequestration [ 54 ]. Clivot et al [ 43 ] calculated plant C extra-root material (C from root turnover and root exudates) as 65% of root C [ 31 ].…”

Domestication of Ciplukan (Physalis angulata L.) from Three Altitudes Using Watering Treatment

“…This biomass includes all parts of the plant, such as roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. It is a crucial component of ecosystems as it serves as a source of energy and nutrients for various organisms [50][51][52][53][54]. Ciplukan seeds originating from the low and medium plains showed biomass that was not significantly different.…”