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Ideotype root architecture for efficient nitrogen acquisition by maize in intensive cropping systems

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Abstract

The use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers has contributed to the production of a food supply sufficient for both animals and humans despite some negative environmental impact. Sustaining food production by increasing N use efficiency in intensive cropping systems has become a major concern for scientists, environmental groups, and agricultural policymakers worldwide. In high-yielding maize systems the major method of N loss is nitrate leaching. In this review paper, the characteristic of nitrate movement in the soil, N uptake by maize as well as the regulation of root growth by soil N availability are discussed. We suggest that an ideotype root architecture for efficient N acquisition in maize should include (i) deeper roots with high activity that are able to uptake nitrate before it moves downward into deep soil; (ii) vigorous lateral root growth under high N input conditions so as to increase spatial N availability in the soil; and (iii) strong response of lateral root growth to localized nitrogen supply so as to utilize unevenly distributed nitrate especially under limited N conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, MOA, Beijing, 100193, China

    GuoHua Mi, FanJun Chen, QiuPing Wu, NingWei Lai, LiXing Yuan & FuSuo Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interaction, MOE, Beijing, 100193, China

    GuoHua Mi, FanJun Chen, QiuPing Wu, NingWei Lai, LiXing Yuan & FuSuo Zhang

  3. College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    GuoHua Mi, FanJun Chen, QiuPing Wu, NingWei Lai, LiXing Yuan & FuSuo Zhang

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  1. GuoHua Mi
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Mi, G., Chen, F., Wu, Q. et al. Ideotype root architecture for efficient nitrogen acquisition by maize in intensive cropping systems. Sci. China Life Sci. 53, 1369–1373 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-010-4097-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-010-4097-y

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