scholarly journals On the potential vegetation feedbacks that enhance phosphorus availability – insights from a process-based model linking geological and ecological time scales

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 19347-19407
Author(s):  
C. Buendía ◽  
S. Arens ◽  
T. Hickler ◽  
S. I. Higgins ◽  
P. Porada ◽  
...  

Abstract. In old and heavily weathered soils, the availability of P might be so small that the primary production of plants is limited. However, plants have evolved several mechanisms to actively take up P from the soil or mine it to overcome this limitation. These mechanisms involve the active uptake of P mediated by mycorrhiza, biotic de-occlusion through root clusters, and the biotic enhancement of weathering through root exudation. The objective of this paper is to investigate how and where these processes contribute to alleviate P limitation on primary productivity. To do so, we propose a process-based model accounting for the major processes of the carbon, water, and P cycle including chemical weathering at the global scale. We use simulation experiments to assess the relative importance of the different uptake mechanisms to alleviate P limitation on biomass production. Implementing P limitation on biomass synthesis allows the assessment of the efficiencies of biomass production across different ecosystems. We find that active P-uptake is an essential mechanism for sustaining P availability on long time scales, whereas biotic de-occlusion might serve as a buffer on time scales shorter than 10 000 yr. Although active P uptake is essential for reducing P losses by leaching, humid lowland soils reach P limitation after around 100 000 yr of soil evolution. Given the generalized modeling framework, our model results compare reasonably with observed or independently estimated patterns and ranges of P concentrations in soils and vegetation. Furthermore, our simulations suggest that P limitation might be an important driver of biomass production efficiency (the fraction of the gross primary productivity used for biomass growth), and that vegetation on older soils becomes P-limited leading to a smaller biomass production efficiency. With this study, we provide a theoretical basis for investigating the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to P availability linking geological and ecological time scales under different environmental settings.

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3661-3683 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Buendía ◽  
S. Arens ◽  
T. Hickler ◽  
S. I. Higgins ◽  
P. Porada ◽  
...  

Abstract. In old and heavily weathered soils, the availability of P might be so small that the primary production of plants is limited. However, plants have evolved several mechanisms to actively take up P from the soil or mine it to overcome this limitation. These mechanisms involve the active uptake of P mediated by mycorrhiza, biotic de-occlusion through root clusters, and the biotic enhancement of weathering through root exudation. The objective of this paper is to investigate how and where these processes contribute to alleviate P limitation on primary productivity. To do so, we propose a process-based model accounting for the major processes of the carbon, water, and P cycles including chemical weathering at the global scale. Implementing P limitation on biomass synthesis allows the assessment of the efficiencies of biomass production across different ecosystems. We use simulation experiments to assess the relative importance of the different uptake mechanisms to alleviate P limitation on biomass production. We find that active P uptake is an essential mechanism for sustaining P availability on long timescales, whereas biotic de-occlusion might serve as a buffer on timescales shorter than 10 000 yr. Although active P uptake is essential for reducing P losses by leaching, humid lowland soils reach P limitation after around 100 000 yr of soil evolution. Given the generalized modelling framework, our model results compare reasonably with observed or independently estimated patterns and ranges of P concentrations in soils and vegetation. Furthermore, our simulations suggest that P limitation might be an important driver of biomass production efficiency (the fraction of the gross primary productivity used for biomass growth), and that vegetation on old soils has a smaller biomass production rate when P becomes limiting. With this study, we provide a theoretical basis for investigating the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to P availability linking geological and ecological timescales under different environmental settings.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (6) ◽  
pp. 1997-2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Whitworth ◽  
Antony B. Holmes ◽  
Alistair G. Irvine ◽  
David A. Hodgson ◽  
David J. Scanlan

ABSTRACT In many organisms, phosphatase expression and phosphate (P) uptake are coordinately regulated by the Pho regulon. In Myxococcus xanthus P limitation initiates multicellular development, a process associated with changes in phosphatase expression. We sought here to characterize the link between P acquisition and development in this bacterium, an organism capable of preying upon other microorganisms as a sole nutrient source. M. xanthus seems to possess no significant internal P stores, as reducing the P concentration to less than 10 μM retarded growth within one doubling time. Pyrophosphate, polyphosphate, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate could support growth as sole P sources, although many other P-containing biomolecules could not (including nucleic acids and phospholipids). Several Pho regulon promoters were found to be highly active during vegetative growth, and P limitation specifically induced pstSCAB, AcPA1, and pho3 promoter activity and repressed pit expression. Enhanced pstSCAB and pho3 promoter activities in a phoP4 mutant (in the presence of high and low concentrations of P) suggested that PhoP4 acts as a repressor of these genes. However, in a phoP4 background, the activities of pstSCAB remained P regulated, suggesting that there is additional regulation by a P-sensitive factor. Initiation of multicellular development caused immediate down-regulation of Pho regulon genes and caused pstSCAB and pho3 promoter activities to become P insensitive. Hence, P acquisition components of the M. xanthus Pho regulon are regulated by both P availability and development, with developmental down-regulation overriding up-regulation by P limitation. These observations suggest that when development is initiated, subsequent changes in P availability become irrelevant to the population, which presumably has sufficient intrinsic P to ensure completion of the developmental program.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Poblete-Grant ◽  
Philippe Biron ◽  
Thierry Bariac ◽  
Paula Cartes ◽  
María de La Luz Mora ◽  
...  

To maintain grassland productivity and limit resource depletion, scarce mineral P (phosphorus) fertilizers must be replaced by alternative P sources. The effect of these amendments on plant growth may depend on physicochemical soil parameters, in particular pH. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of soil pH on biomass production, P use efficiency, and soil P forms after P amendment application (100 mg kg−1 P) using poultry manure compost (PM), rock phosphate (RP), and their combination (PMRP). We performed a growth chamber experiment with ryegrass plants (Lolium perenne) grown on two soil types with contrasting pH under controlled conditions for 7 weeks. Chemical P fractions, biomass production, and P concentrations were measured to calculate plant uptake and P use efficiency. We found a strong synergistic effect on the available soil P, while antagonistic effects were observed for ryegrass production and P uptake. We conclude that although the combination of PM and RP has positive effects in terms of soil P availability, the combined effects of the mixture must be taken into account and further evaluated for different soil types and grassland plants to maximize synergistic effects and to minimize antagonistic ones.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
FERNANDO C. BACHIEGA ZAMBROSI ◽  
RAFAEL VASCONCELOS RIBEIRO ◽  
EDUARDO CARUSO MACHADO ◽  
JÚLIO CÉSAR GARCIA

SUMMARYThe shoot regrowth vigour of sugarcane varieties having contrasting phosphorus (P) efficiency was evaluated under varying soil P availability. The P-inefficient (IAC91–1099 and IACSP94–2101) and -efficient (IACSP94–2094 and IACSP95–5000) sugarcane varieties were grown under low (25 mg P kg−1 soil) or high (400 mg P kg−1 soil) P supply at planting. After 90 days (first cycle of growth), the shoots were harvested and regrowth was studied 70–75 days later by evaluating photosynthesis, leaf area formation, biomass production and P uptake. The shoot dry matter (DM) of sugarcane regrowth subjected to a low P supply was genotype-dependent, with the P-efficient varieties exhibiting greater values than the inefficient ones. This result was explained by the greater efficiency of IACSP94–2094 and IACSP95–5000 in acquiring P rather than P utilization efficiency for shoot biomass production. The root P stored during the first cycle of growth would represent only a minor fraction (< 20%) of the total P content in the shoots at the end of the regrowth period. Thus, we argue that the improved shoot P uptake of the P-efficient varieties was related to their ability to sustain P acquisition after harvesting rather than to the remobilization of root P reserves. Moreover, our data revealed that net CO2 assimilation per leaf area was not associated with differential performance among varieties under P deficiency, suggesting a more critical role of total leaf area in photosynthate supply for sugarcane regrowth. In conclusion, sugarcane regrowth is improved in P-efficient varieties under P deficiency conditions, a finding of practical relevance as such ability might benefit the productivity and the longevity of sugarcane ratoons in low P tropical soils.


1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. James ◽  
William D. Taylor ◽  
John W. Barko

Seasonal production of Ceratium hirundinella and its diel migratory patterns were examined in relation to phosphorus (P) availability in eutrophic Eau Galle Reservoir, Wisconsin (USA). During mid-June, hypolimnetic P gradients (0.030–1.045 mg∙L−1) developed as internal P loading was high (14.7–18.0 mg∙m−2∙d−1). Ceratium migrated as much as 4 m into the upper hypolimnion at night. Subsequent increases in Ceratium biomass, gross primary productivity, and chlorophyll a indicated retrieval of hypolimnetic P for production. During early July, anoxia restricted vertical migration of Ceratium into the hypolimnion. Surplus cellular P was low during this period, while alkaline phosphatase activity increased to a maximum, suggesting P limitation of Ceratium production. During late July and August, P-rich interflows from the Eau Galle River entered the reservoir at the base of the epilimnion. Ceratium migrated into these interflows at night, with corresponding increases and decreases in surplus cellular P and alkaline phosphatase activity, respectively. Ceratium production increased to a maximum in early September, following these periods of high external P input. These results directly support the hypothesis that Ceratium can access multiple P sources through vertical migration.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiucheng Liu ◽  
Yuting Wang ◽  
Shuangri Liu ◽  
Miao Liu

Abstract Aims Phosphorus (P) availability and efficiency are especially important for plant growth and productivity. However, the sex-specific P acquisition and utilization strategies of dioecious plant species under different N forms are not clear. Methods This study investigated the responsive mechanisms of dioecious Populus cathayana females and males based on P uptake and allocation to soil P supply under N deficiency, nitrate (NO3 −) and ammonium (NH4 +) supply. Important Findings Females had a greater biomass, root length density (RLD), specific root length (SRL) and shoot P concentration than males under normal P availability with two N supplies. NH4 + supply led to higher total root length, RLD and SRL but lower root tip number than NO3 − supply under normal P supply. Under P deficiency, males showed a smaller root system but greater photosynthetic P availability and higher leaf P remobilization, exhibiting a better capacity to adaptation to P-deficiency than females. Under P deficiency, NO3 − supply increased leaf photosynthesis and PUE but reduced RLD and SRL in females while males had higher leaf P redistribution and photosynthetic PUE than NH4 + supply. Females had a better potentiality to cope with P deficiency under NO3 − supply than NH4 + supply; the contrary was true for males. These results suggest that females may devote to increase in P uptake and shoot P allocation under normal P availability, especially under NO3 − supply, while males adopt more efficient resource use and P remobilization to maximum their tolerance to P-deficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leangsrun Chea ◽  
Ana Meijide ◽  
Catharina Meinen ◽  
Elke Pawelzik ◽  
Marcel Naumann

The limited availability of phosphorus (P) in soils causes a major constraint in the productivity of potatoes, which requires increased knowledge of plant adaptation responses in this condition. In this study, six potato cultivars, namely, Agria, Lady Claire, Milva, Lilly, Sieglinde, and Verdi, were assessed for their responses on plant growth, leaf physiology, P use efficiency (PUE), and tuber quality with three P levels (Plow, Pmed, and Phigh). The results reveal a significant variation in the cultivars in response to different P availabilities. P-efficient cultivars, Agria, Milva, and Lilly, possessed substantial plant biomass, tuber yield, and high P uptake efficiency (PUpE) under low P supply conditions. The P-inefficient cultivars, Lady Claire, Sieglinde, and Verdi, could not produce tubers under P deprivation conditions, as well as the ability to efficiently uptake P under low-level conditions, but they were efficient in P uptake under high soil P conditions. Improved PUpE is important for plant tolerance with limited P availability, which results in the efficient use of the applied P. At the leaf level, increased accumulations of nitrate, sulfate, sucrose, and proline are necessary for a plant to acclimate to P deficiency-induced stress and to mobilize leaf inorganic phosphate to increase internal PUE and photosynthesis. The reduction in plant biomass and tuber yield under P-deficient conditions could be caused by reduced CO2 assimilation. Furthermore, P deficiency significantly reduced tuber yield, dry matter, and starch concentration in Agria, Milva, and Lilly. However, contents of tuber protein, sugars, and minerals, as well as antioxidant capacity, were enhanced under these conditions in these cultivars. These results highlight the important traits contributing to potato plant tolerance under P-deficient conditions and indicate an opportunity to improve the P efficiency and tuber quality of potatoes under deficient conditions using more efficient cultivars. Future research to evaluate molecular mechanisms related to P and sucrose translocation, and minimize tuber yield reduction under limited P availability conditions is necessary.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Alexander Peña Venegas ◽  
Soon-Jae Lee ◽  
Moses Thuita ◽  
Deusdedit Peter Mlay ◽  
Cargele Masso ◽  
...  

A vast majority of terrestrial plants are dependent on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for their nutrient acquisition. AMF act as an extension of the root system helping phosphate uptake. In agriculture, harnessing the symbiosis can potentially increase plant growth. Application of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis has been demonstrated to increase the yields of various crops. However, there is a paradigm that AMF colonization of roots, as well as the plant benefits afforded by inoculation with AMF, decreases with increasing phosphorus (P) supply in the soil. The paradigm suggests that when fertilized with sufficient P, inoculation of crops would not be beneficial. However, the majority of experiments demonstrating the paradigm were conducted in sterile conditions without a background AMF or soil microbial community. Interestingly, intraspecific variation in R. irregularis can greatly alter the yield of cassava even at a full application of the recommended P dose. Cassava is a globally important crop, feeding 800 million people worldwide, and a crop that is highly dependent on AMF for P uptake. In this study, field trials were conducted at three locations in Kenya and Tanzania using different AMF and cassava varieties under different P fertilization levels to test if the paradigm occurs in tropical field conditions. We found that AMF colonization and inoculation responsiveness of cassava does not always decrease with an increased P supply as expected by the paradigm. The obtained results demonstrate that maximizing the inoculation responsiveness of cassava is not necessarily only in conditions of low P availability, but that this is dependent on cassava and fungal genotypes. Thus, the modeling of plant symbiosis with AMF under different P levels in nature should be considered with caution.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trung Hieu Mai ◽  
Pieterjan De Bauw ◽  
Andrea Schnepf ◽  
Roel Merckx ◽  
Erik Smolders ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and aimsUpland rice is often grown where water and phosphorus (P) are limited and these two factors interact on P bioavailability. To better understand this interaction, mechanistic models representing small-scale nutrient gradients and water dynamics in the rhizosphere of full-grown root systems are needed.MethodsRice was grown in large columns using a P-deficient soil at three different P supplies in the topsoil (deficient, suboptimal, non-limiting) in combination with two water regimes (field capacity versus drying periods). Root architectural parameters and P uptake were determined. Using a multiscale model of water and nutrient uptake, in-silico experiments were conducted by mimicking similar P and water treatments. First, 3D root systems were reconstructed by calibrating an architecure model with observed phenological root data, such as nodal root number, lateral types, interbranch distance, root diameters, and root biomass allocation along depth. Secondly, the multiscale model was informed with these 3D root architectures and the actual transpiration rates. Finally, water and P uptake were simulated.Key resultsThe plant P uptake increased over threefold by increasing P and water supply, and drying periods reduced P uptake at high but not at low P supply. Root architecture was significantly affected by the treatments. Without calibration, simulation results adequately predicted P uptake, including the different effects of drying periods on P uptake at different P levels. However, P uptake was underestimated under P deficiency, a process likely related to an underestimated affinity of P uptake transporters in the roots. Both types of laterals (i.e. S- and L-type) are shown to be highly important for both water and P uptake, and the relative contribution of each type depend on both soil P availability and water dynamics. Key drivers in P uptake are growing root tips and the distribution of laterals.ConclusionsThis model-data integration demonstrates how multiple co-occurring single root phene responses to environmental stressors contribute to the development of a more efficient root system. Further model improvements such as the use of Michaelis constants from buffered systems and the inclusion of mycorrhizal infections and exudates are proposed.


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