Abstract
In a field study P and K uptake by two corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes which differed in root growth was investigated. The effect of differences in root growth on P and K uptake was assessed using a mechanistic-mathematical model which describes nutrient uptake by growing plant roots in soil. Nitrogen was applied at 0 and 227 kg ha−1 to Pioneer 3732 and B73xMo17 corn grown on Raub silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Aquic Argiudoll) and at 227 kg N ha−1 to these two genotypes on Chalmers silt loam (finesilty, mixed, mesic, Typic Haplaquoll). Root growth and P and K uptake by the two corn genotypes was measured 31, 47, 75 and 91 d after planting on the Raub and 31, 47, 61 and 75 d after planting on the Chalmers soil.
Root growth and P and K uptake by B73xMo17 was greater than that of Pioneer 3732 on N-fertilized Raub soil. On Chalmers soil the difference in root growth between the two genotypes resulted in an increase in K but not P uptake. The higher soil P level of the Chalmers appears to have offset possible differences in P uptake due to root size. There were no differences between the two genotypes in either the percentage of roots with root hairs, or the density or length of root hairs. Phosphorus and K uptake calculated with the simulation models for both corn genotypes on both soils over each of three growth periods agreed with observed P (Y = 0.68X + 1.71; r = 0.944**) and K (Y = 0.88X + 15.52; r = 0.928**) uptake. Differences in P and K uptake between B73xMo17 and Pioneer 3732 resulted primarily from the difference in root growth in the topsoil. A high correlation was found between root surface area and P (r = 0.893**) and K (r = 0.928**) uptake by both corn genotypes on both the soils.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barber SA and Mackay AD (1985) Sensitivity analysis of the parameters of a mechanistic mathematical model affected by changing soil moisture. Agron J 77:528–530
Barley KP and Rovira AD (1970) The influence of root hairs on the uptake of phosphate. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 1, 287–292
Claassen N and Barber SA (1974) A method for characterising the relation between nutrient concentration and the flux into roots of intact plants. Plant Physiol 54, 564–568
Claassen N and Barber SA (1976) Simulation model for nutrient uptake from soil by a growing plant root system. Agron J 68, 961–964
Cushman JH (1984) Nutrient transport inside and outside the root rhizosphere: generalized model. Soil Sci Soc Am J 138:164–171
Foehse D and Jungk A (1983) Influence of phosphate and nitrate supply on root hair formation of rape, spinach and tomato plants. Plant Soil 74, 359–368
Grinsted MJ, Hedley MJ, White RE and Nye PH (1982) Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of rape (Brassica napus var. Emerald) seedlings. I. pH change and the increase in P concentration in the soil solution. New Phytol 91, 19–29
Hatlitligil MB, Olson RA and Compton WA (1984) Yield, water use, and nutrient uptake of corn hybrids under varied irrigation and nitrogen regimes. Fert Res 5, 321–333
Itoh S and Barber SA (1983) Phosphorus uptake by six plant species as related to root hairs. Agron J 75, 457–461
Jungk A and Barber SA (1975) Plant age and the phosphorus uptake characteristics of trimmed and untrimmed corn root systems. Plant Soil 42, 227–239
Lambert DH, Baker DE and Cole H Jr. (1979) The role of mycorrhizae in the interactions of phosphorus with zinc, copper, and other elements. Soil Sci Soc Am J 43, 976–980
Mackay AD and Barber SA (1984) Soil temperature affects on root growth and phosphorus uptake by corn. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48, 818–823
Mackay AD and Barber SA (1986) Effect of nitrogen on root growth of two corn genotypes in the field. Agron J 77 (submitted)
Mackay AD and Barber SA (1985) Effect of soil moisture and phosphate level on root hair growth on corn roots. Plant Soil 86, 321–331
Mackay AD and Barber SA (1985) Soil moisture effects on root growth and phosphorus uptake by corn. Agron J 77, 519–523
Nielsen NE and Barber SA (1978) Differences among genotypes of corn in the kinetics of phosphorus uptake. Agron J 70, 695–698
Schenk MK and Barber SA (1979) Root characteristics of corn genotypes as related to phosphorus uptake. Agron J 71, 921–924
Schenk MK and Barber SA (1980) Potassium and phosphorus uptake by corn genotypes grown in the field as influenced by root characteristics. Plant Soil 54, 65–76
Silberbush M and Barber SA (1983) Sensitivity of simulated phosphorus uptake to parameters used by a mechanistic thematical model. Plant Soil 74, 93–100
Silberbush M and Barber SA (1983) Sensitivity analysis of parameters used in simulating potassium uptake with a mechanistic mathematical model. Agron J 75, 851–854
Silberbush M and Barber SA (1983) Prediction of phosphorus and potassium uptake by soybeans with a mechanistic mathematical model. Soil Sci Soc Am J 47, 262–265
Silberbush M and Barber SA (1984) Phosphorus and potassium uptake of fieldgrown soybean cultivars predicted by a simulation model. Soil Sci Soc Am J 48, 592–596
Tsai CY, Huber DM, Glover DV and Warren HL (1984) Relationship of N deposition to grain yield and N response of three maize hybrids. Crop Sci 24, 277–281
Warncke DD and Barber SA (1974) Root development and nutrient uptake by corn grown in solution culture. Agron J 66, 514–516
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Journal paper No. 10,316 Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn., W. Lafayette, In 47906. Contribution from the Dep. of Agron. This paper was supported in part by a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barber, S., Mackay, A. Root growth and phosphorus and potassium uptake by two corn genotypes in the field. Fertilizer Research 10, 217–230 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049351
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049351