Projects per year
Abstract
This study investigated N capture by Plantago lanceolata L. and Brassica napus L. from complex organic material (dual-labelled with N-15/C-13) added either as a thin concentrated layer (discrete patch treatment) or dispersed uniformly with the background sand:soil mix in a 10 cm band (dispersed treatment) when grown in monoculture or in interspecific competition and in the presence or absence of a mycorrhizal inoculum (Glomus mosseae). No C-13 enrichments from the organic material were detected in the plant tissues, but N-15 enrichments were present. Total plant uptake of N from the organic material on a microcosm basis was not affected by the spatial placement of the organic material, but Plantago monocultures captured less N than the species in interspecific competition (i.e. 23% versus 38% of the N originally added). N capture from Brassica monocultures was no different to either Plantago monocultures or both species in mixture. However, N capture from the organic material by both individual Plantago and Brassica plants was reduced when grown with Brassica plants (by 10-fold and by more than half, respectively). N capture from the organic material was directly related to the estimated root length produced in the sections containing the organic material: the individual that produced the greatest root length captured most N. Strikingly, when the organic material was added as a discrete patch the N captured by Brassica, a non-mycorrhizal species, actually increased when the G. mosseae inoculum was present compared to when G. mosseae was absent (i.e. 35% versus 19% of the N originally added).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2331-2342 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Botany |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 391 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2003 |
Keywords
- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus
- Brassica napus L.
- decomposition
- nitrogen capture
- organic material
- Plantago lanceolata L.
- root demography
- LOCALIZED SOIL ENRICHMENT
- NITROGEN-RICH PATCHES
- ROOT PROLIFERATION
- LOLIUM-PERENNE
- FIELD
- RESPONSES
- PHOSPHATE
- GLYCINE
- GROWTH
- HYPHAE
Projects
- 1 Finished
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AM fungi as determinants of plant resource capture from organic patches followed by isotopic and molecular techniques
1/02/00 → 30/09/07
Project: Research project (funded) › Research