Carbon allocation in Larrea tridentata plant-soil systems as affected by elevated soil moisture and N availability

AbstractDue to climate change, water availability will become increasingly variable, affecting nitrogen (N) availability. Therefore, we hypothesised watering frequency would have a greater impact on plant growth than quantity, affecting N availability, uptake and carbon allocation. We used a gravimetric platform, which measures the unit of volume per unit of time, to control soil moisture and precisely compare the impact of quantity and frequency of water under variable N levels. Two wheat genotypes (Kukri and Gladius) were used in a factorial glasshouse pot experiment, each with three N application rates (25, 75 and 150 mg N kg−1 soil) and five soil moisture regimes (changing water frequency or quantity). Previously documented drought tolerance, but high N use efficiency, of Gladius as compared to Kukri provides for potentially different responses to N and soil moisture content. Water use, biomass and soil N were measured. Both cultivars showed potential to adapt to variable watering, producing higher specific root lengths under low N coupled with reduced water and reduced watering frequency (48 h watering intervals), or wet/dry cycling. This affected mineral N uptake, with less soil N remaining under constant watering × high moisture, or 48 h watering intervals × high moisture. Soil N availability affected carbon allocation, demonstrated by both cultivars producing longer, deeper roots under low N. Reduced watering frequency decreased biomass more than reduced quantity for both cultivars. Less frequent watering had a more negative effect on plant growth compared to decreasing the quantity of water. Water variability resulted in differences in C allocation, with changes to root thickness even when root biomass remained the same across N treatments. The preferences identified in wheat for water consistency highlights an undeveloped opportunity for identifying root and shoot traits that may improve plant adaptability to moderate to extreme resource limitation, whilst potentially encouraging less water and nitrogen use.

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Vegetation Alters Soil Water Drainage and Retention of Replicate Rain Gardens

Water ◽

10.3390/w12113151 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3151

Author(s):

Marie R. Johnston ◽

Nick J. Balster ◽

Anita M. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Soil Water ◽

Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Structural Development ◽

Rain Gardens ◽

Response Dynamics ◽

Drainage Volume ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Soil Systems

Rain gardens are residential bioretention practices widely used to manage urban runoff, yet their design as plant-soil systems lacks understanding. We hypothesized that vegetative treatment (turfgrass, prairie, and shrubs, plus a non-vegetated control) would alter the volume and rate of drainage from 12 replicate mesocosms (i.e., rain gardens) through changes to the belowground system. Roof runoff was collected on-site and distributed equally among the mesocosms following natural rain events for two growing seasons. We monitored stormwater input, drainage output, and soil moisture to assess differences in hydrology by treatment, explained by indices of soil structural development (infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention). Drainage volume and response dynamics differed as predicted by vegetative treatment in support of our hypothesis. The greatest reductions in drainage volume were observed beneath shrubs and prairie following smaller stormwater inputs, and accelerated drainage responses were observed beneath turfgrass following larger stormwater inputs. Differences in infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and plant-induced changes in antecedent soil moisture among vegetative treatments help explain these plant-mediated drainage responses. This study shows that plants can alter the hydrologic dynamics of rain gardens and thus are a critical component of the design and intent of these plant-soil systems.

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Prototype Alat Penyiram Tanaman Otomatis dengan Sensor Kelembaban dan Suhu Berbasis Arduino

JTEIN: Jurnal Teknik Elektro Indonesia ◽

10.24036/jtein.v1i1.12 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 21-25

Author(s):

Shamaratul Fuadi ◽

Oriza Candra

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Water Discharge ◽

Sensor Data ◽

Water Pump ◽

Final Project ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Control Water

Quality plants are produced by observing soil moisture and plant temperature. Plants humidity and temperature are affected by plant irrigations system. Therefore, this Final Project aims to make a plant sprinklers that can control water discharge according to plant needs. Using the Soilmoisture Sensor which functions as a reader of plant soil moisture and DHT11 as a reader of the air temperature around the plant. Then the relay module functions to activate and deactivate the water pump. LCD is used to display the data results and the ESP8266 Module is also used as a display of the results of sensor data, which will be sent to the thingspeak.com website

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Complexities of nitrogen isotope biogeochemistry in plant-soil systems: implications for the study of ancient agricultural and animal management practices

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2014.00288 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 145

Author(s):

Paul Szpak

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Animal Management ◽

Soil Systems

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Photoassimilated carbon allocation in a wheat plant-soil system as affected by soil fertility and land-use history

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-014-2173-y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 383 (1-2) ◽

pp. 173-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Saikat Chowdhury ◽

Mark Farrell ◽

Nanthi Bolan

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Carbon Allocation ◽

Wheat Plant ◽

Land Use History ◽

Soil System ◽

Plant Soil

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Responses of two hybrid Populus clones to flooding, drought, and nitrogen availability. I. Morphology and growth

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b92-281 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 70 (11) ◽

pp. 2265-2270 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Zhijun Liu ◽

Donald I. Dickmann

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Stress ◽

Nitrogen Availability ◽

Carbon Allocation ◽

Hybrid Poplar ◽

Leaf Expansion ◽

Root Production ◽

Leaf Initiation ◽

Stem Biomass ◽

Nitrogen Levels

Repeated progressive drought and flooding stress were imposed on hybrid poplar clones Populus × euramericana 'Eugenei', and Populus tristis × Populus balsamifera ‘Tristis’ grown in pots in a greenhouse under two nitrogen levels. In both clones the rate of leaf initiation was promoted only in high-N plants subjected to minimum water stress. Water stress alone did not retard the rate of leaf initiation, but it significantly reduced leaf expansion of 'Eugenei', whereas only flooding led to smaller leaves in 'Tristis'. The addition of N stimulated leaf expansion, leaf chlorophyll and N concentrations, and leaf and stem biomass production across soil moisture levels, but the greatest effect of N was associated with minimum water stress. High N altered carbon allocation towards the aboveground portions, leading to lower root to shoot ratios. High N also appeared to stimulate initiation of fine roots. Soil moisture determined the amount of biomass that accumulated in roots, with highest root production in well-watered pots and lowest in flooded pots, with the droughted treatment in between. Leaves became thinner as soil moisture decreased from flooding. Stem biomass of 'Tristis' declined more under flooding than under drought, whereas 'Eugenei' displayed a greater reduction of stem biomass in droughty than in flooded soil. Key words: water stress, nitrogen, leaf and root morphology, root to shoot ratio, biomass, Populus, flooding.

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