Summary
The release of organic materials by roots of maize and wheat was studied using a growth chamber with a14CO2 atmosphere at constant total CO2 concentration and constant specific activity. The distribution of14C within shoots, roots and soil was determined for both plants after 4 and 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, 1.5% of the total amount of14C fixed by maize was found as a residue in the soil, while for wheat this figure was 2.0%.
Rhizosphere14CO2 production was measured in a second experiment and plants were harvested after 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks growth. The rhizosphere14CO2 evolution by wheat accounted for some 20% of the total amount of fixed14C and was a constant value throughout the growth period. Root-derived products were slowly incorporated by the soil microbial biomass to a maximum of 20% of the residual soil14C content after 6 weeks growth.
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Contribution No. 2249 of the Radiation Protection Programme of the Commission of the European Communities.
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Merckx, R., van Ginkel, J.H., Sinnaeve, J. et al. Plant-induced changes in the rhizosphere of maize and wheat. Plant Soil 96, 85–93 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374998
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374998