Summary
Roots of barley (Hordeum vulgare, L. v. Salve) exposed to a mechanical stress (pressure) showed morphological and growth changes and differences in nutrient uptake. A model system was used where the roots developed in a nutrient solution in a bed of glass beads, which was compressed by an external pressure of 20 kPa. Pot experiments with compacted sand gave similar results. The main effects of applied pressure were: 1) elongation of roots was suppressed to 30–40% of controls, 2) mean diameter of roots increased, 3) dry matter content of roots increased, 4) N concentration of whole plants decreased, 5) Ca concentration of roots decreased, 6) concentrations of P, K and S were mainly unaffected. The results indicated that the main part of N and P are absorbed by lateral roots but that Ca is taken up by seminal roots. Short term experiments showed that K (86Rb) influx in roots of stressed plants was reduced to 50% of the controls. The corresponding inhibition for SO4 (35S) influx was 20%.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdalla A M, Hettiaratchi D R P and Reece A R 1969 The mechanics of root growth in granular media. J. Agric. 14, 236–248.
Baligar V C, Nash V E, Hare M L and Price J A Jr 1975 Soybean root anatomy as influenced by soil bulk density. Agron. J. 67, 842–844.
Barley K P 1963 Influence of soil strength on growth of roots. Soil Sci. 96, 175–180.
Castillo S R, Dowdy R H, Bradford J M and Larson W E 1982 Effects of applied mechanical stress on plant growth and nutrient uptake. Agron. J. 74, 526–530.
Eavis W 1972 Soil physical conditions affecting seedling root growth. I. Mechanical impedance, aeration and moisture availability as influenced by bulk density and moisture levels in a sandy loam soil. Plant and Soil 36, 613–622.
Goss M J 1977 Effect of mechanical impedance on root growth in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). I. Effects on elongation and branching of seminal root axes. J. Exp. Bot. 28, 96–111.
Peterson W R and Barber S A 1981 Soybean root morphology and K uptake. Agron. J. 73, 316–319.
Russell R S 1977 Plant Root Systems. Their Functions and Interactions with the Soil. McGraw-Hill Book Co., U.K.
Russell R S and Goss M J 1974 Physical aspects of soil fertility — The response of roots to mechanical impedance. Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 22, 262–269.
Taylor H M and Ratliff L F 1969 Root elongation rates of cotton and peanuts as a function of soil strength and soil water content. Soil Sci. 108, 113–119.
Veen B W 1982 The influence of mechanical impedance on growth of maize roots. Plant and Soil 66, 101–109.
Veen B W and Boone F R 1981 The influence of mechanical resistance and phosphate supply on morphology and function of corn roots. Plant and Soil 63, 77–81.
Vine P N, Lal R and Payne D 1981 The influence of sands and gravels on root growth of maize seedlings. Soil Sci. 131, 124–129.
Voorhees W B, Carlson V A and Hallauer E A 1980 Root length measurements with a computer controlled digital scanning microdensitometer. Agron. J. 72, 847–851.
Voorhees W B, Farrell D A and Larson W E 1975 Soil strength and aeration effects on root elongation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 39, 948–953.
Wiersum L K 1957 The relationship of the size and structural rigidity of pores to their penetration by roots. Plant and Soil 9, 75–85.
Wilson A J, Robards A W and Goss M J 1977 Effects of mechanical impedance on root growth in barley. II. Effects on cell development in seminal roots. J. Exp. Bot. 28, 1216–1227.
Wingstrand G and Lindberg S 1982 Effects of phloridzin, metavanadate and oligomycin on membrane bound (Na++K++Mg2+) ATPase activity in sugar beet roots. Physiol. Plant. 56, 333–338.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lindberg, S., Pettersson, S. Effects of mechanical stress on uptake and distribution of nutrients in barley. Plant Soil 83, 295–309 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184300
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184300