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Dual-labeling with 15N and H2 18O to investigate water and N uptake of wheat under different water regimes

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Abstract

Background and aims

Water and nitrogen are essential for plant growth and yield. Plants depend on surface roots for nutrient uptake, but frequently rely on deep root systems for water uptake, especially in semi-arid, rain fed crop production systems.

Methods

We used H2 18O and 15NH4 + tracers in pots to determine water and NH4 + uptake at depth by two wheat genotypes watered from the surface or from the bottom. Root traits and transpiration rates were related to water and NH4 + uptake.

Results

We observed a significant positive relationship between transpiration rate and water uptake measured by H2 18O tracer (R2 = 0.91), confirming that the H2 18O tracer method was successful. Surface soil drying (bottom watering) decreased both water and NH4 + uptake from the top soil. However, increased water availability with bottom watering increased water uptake from the bottom soil layer, but not NH4 + uptake from the bottom soil layer. Water uptake was positively related to total root length, while NH4 + uptake was positively related to root biomass.

Conclusions

With surface soil drying, plants grew more and longer roots in the bottom soil layer, shifting water uptake from the top to the bottom soil, while N uptake was reduced in the top soil because of a decrease in root biomass. Different root traits need to be considered when optimizing water and NH4 + uptake by wheat in water deficient seasons.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Hero Tahaei for laboratory assistance. This research was supported by Grains Research and Development Cooperation (US00061).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Sydney, 380 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia

    Shiva Bakhshandeh, Michael A. Kertesz, Paola E. Corneo & Feike A. Dijkstra

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  1. Shiva Bakhshandeh
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  2. Michael A. Kertesz
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  3. Paola E. Corneo
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  4. Feike A. Dijkstra
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Correspondence to Shiva Bakhshandeh.

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Bakhshandeh, S., Kertesz, M.A., Corneo, P.E. et al. Dual-labeling with 15N and H2 18O to investigate water and N uptake of wheat under different water regimes. Plant Soil 408, 429–441 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2944-8

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