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Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 60))

Abstract

Root architecture is an important component of nutrient uptake and may be sensitive to carbon allocational changes brought about by rising CO2. We describe a deformable geometric model of root growth, SimRoot, for the dynamic morphological and physiological simulation of root architectures. Using SimRoot, and measurements of root biomass deposition, respiration and exudation, carbon/phosphorus budgets were developed for three contrasting root architectures. Carbon allocation patterns and phosphorus acquisition efficiencies were estimated for Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings with either a dichotomous, herringbone, or empirically determined bean root architecture. Carbon allocation to biomass, respiration, and exudation varied significantly among architectures. Root systems also varied in the relationship between C expenditure and P acquisition, providing evidence for the importance of architecture in nutrient acquisition efficiency.

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Peter S. Curtis Elizabeth G. O’Neill James A. Teeri D. R. Zak K. S. Pregitzer

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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Nielsen, K.L., Lynch, J.P., Jablokow, A.G., Curtis, P.S. (1994). Carbon cost of root systems: an architectural approach. In: Curtis, P.S., O’Neill, E.G., Teeri, J.A., Zak, D.R., Pregitzer, K.S. (eds) Belowground Responses to Rising Atmospheric CO2: Implications for Plants, Soil Biota, and Ecosystem Processes. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 60. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0851-7_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0851-7_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4415-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0851-7

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