Abstract
Background and Aim
The deep placement (DP) of fertilizers is a key strategy to improve fertilizer-use efficiency in rice production. In this study, we assessed the effect of DP with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers on the spatial distribution of root system architecture (RSA) and evaluated the combined effect of DP fertilization and RSA on essential mineral uptake.
Methods
A three-year field experiment was conducted using the Akitakomachi rice cultivar with three fertilization treatments: Mix (broadcast), DP1 (one-position-DP at 7 or 10 cm soil depth), and DP2 (two-position-DP at 7 and 15 cm depth). A root box experiment was conducted to quantify the responses of RSA. The root morphological traits were measured in the field and root box experiments.
Results
The amount of mineral uptake of N, P, and K, applied as fertilizers, and other minerals such as calcium and magnesium during ripening period, was significantly increased by DP. DP resulted in changing the RSA with greater root surface area and thicker roots (with a diameter of 0.1–0.4 mm) accumulation in deep soil layers at the fertilizer position. Root box experiments also supported root accumulation at localized fertilizer position.
Conclusion
DP helped maintain a continuous nutrient supply during ripening by promoting root accumulation at the fertilizer position. The ability of roots to accumulate toward fertilizer can be an effective strategy for creating an ideal RSA for better mineral uptake, which can reduce the fertilizer input required to achieve sustainable rice production.
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Abbreviations
- DAT:
-
Day after transplanting
- DP:
-
Deep placement
- RSA:
-
Root system architecture
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr. Kensaku Suzuki (Iwate University) for critically reading the manuscript and his helpful comments. The authors thank Ms. Shafi Sabrina, Ms. Yukie Aikawa, Ms. Mayu Sawai, Mr. Shin Okamura, and Mr. Tomoya Kumachi for technical assistance, and Mr. Masayuki Nishi, Mr. Shinya Takeda, and Mr. Hiroyuki Chida for the management of the experiment field. We also thank Dr. Yuka Sasaki (Yamagata University) for her support and fruitful comments.
Funding
This study was partly supported by the United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences Student Research Project and Iwate University.
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Nabila Mumtahina and Maya Matsunami contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Nabila Mumtahina, Aya Matsuoka, Keigo Yoshinaga, Aozora Moriwaki, and Moe Uemura. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Nabila Mumtahina. Hiroyuki Shimono and Maya Matsunami edited the draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Mumtahina, N., Matsuoka, A., Yoshinaga, K. et al. Deep placement of fertilizer enhances mineral uptake through changes in the root system architecture in rice. Plant Soil 490, 189–200 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06066-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06066-8