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Variation in fine root traits reveals nutrient-specific acquisition strategies in agroforestry systems

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Abstract

Aims

Changes in root functional traits reveal important nutrient acquisition strategies, with well documented patterns in root trait expression within complex communities or along gradients of singular nutrients. In this field study, we investigate intra-root functional trait expression with six soil macro- and micro-nutrients in Theobroma cacao agroforestry systems.

Methods

Using image, chemical, and spatial analysis, the fine root distribution, architecture, and morphology of T. cacao were compared to localized soil nutrients on two-dimensional soil profiles with conspecific and heterospecific neighbours.

Results

Fine-scale variation in soil nutrients was observed within the range of T. cacao root systems. Higher NH4+ and Ca2+ was associated with greater root length and biomass densities, coupled with greater investment to individual roots, expressed as increased fine root tissue density and diameter and lower specific root length. Conversely, NO3− had the opposite effect. Overall, roots tended towards higher acquisitive trait values when next to a shade tree.

Conclusions

Plants generally employ several concomitant and at times opposing strategies for nutrient acquisition in heterogeneous soils. We show that fine-scale root plasticity is highly linked to localized nutrient-specific and neighbour-specific effects, driving patterns of nutrient acquisition in agroforestry systems.

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Abbreviations

A:T:

Ratio of absorptive to transport fine root length

D:

Average root diameter

FRLD:

Fine root length density

FRBD:

Fine root biomass density

RTD:

Fine root tissue density

SRL:

Specific root length

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Luke Anglaaere at the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana as well as Agyeman Kofi and community members of South Formangso for assistance in the field. We thank Stephanie Gagliardi, Serra Buchanan, and Luzianne Reid at University of Toronto Scarborough for assistance with laboratory work. We thank the editors and three anonymous reviewers whose valuable comments and suggestions greatly enhanced the quality of the manuscript. We are grateful for funding support from the Canada Research Chairs program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto, 100 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G3, Canada

    Kira A. Borden & Marney E. Isaac

  2. Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada

    Kira A. Borden & Marney E. Isaac

  3. Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B3, Canada

    Sean C. Thomas

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  1. Kira A. Borden
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Correspondence to Marney E. Isaac.

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Responsible Editor: Zhun Mao.

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Borden, K.A., Thomas, S.C. & Isaac, M.E. Variation in fine root traits reveals nutrient-specific acquisition strategies in agroforestry systems. Plant Soil 453, 139–151 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04003-2

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