Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1003-1022 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
| Volume | 57 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
In arable farming systems, the term 'subsoil' refers to the soil beneath the tilled or formerly tilled soil horizon whereas the latter one is denoted as 'topsoil'. To date, most agronomic and plant nutrition studies have widely neglected subsoil processes involved in nutrient acquisition by crop roots. Based on our current knowledge it can be assumed that subsoil properties such as comparatively high bulk density, low air permeability, and poverty of organic matter, nutrients and microbial biomass are obviously adverse for nutrient acquisition, and sometimes subsoils provide as little as less than 10% of annual nutrient uptake in fertilised arable fields. Nevertheless, there is also strong evidence indicating that subsoil can contribute to more than two-thirds of the plant nutrition of N, P and K, especially when the topsoil is dry or nutrient-depleted. Based on the existing literature, nutrient acquisition from arable subsoils may be conceptualised into three major process components: (I) mobilisation from the subsoil, (II) translocation to the shoot and long-term accumulation in the Ap horizon and (III) re-allocation to the subsoil. The quantitative estimation of nutrient acquisition from the subsoil requires the linking of field experiments with mathematical modelling approaches on different spatial scales including Process Based Models for the field scale and Functional-Structural Plant Models for the plant scale. Possibilities to modify subsoil properties by means of agronomic management are limited, but 'subsoiling' - i.e. deep mechanical loosening - as well as the promotion of biopore formation are two potential strategies for increasing access to subsoil resources for crop roots in arable soils. The quantitative role of biopores in the nutrient acquisition from the subsoil is still unclear, and more research is needed to determine the bioaccessibility of nutrients in subsoil horizons.
Keywords
- Biopore formation, Drilosphere, Microbial activity, Rhizodeposition, Root growth, Structure dynamics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Microbiology(all)
- Microbiology
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
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In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Vol. 57, 02.2013, p. 1003-1022.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nutrient acquisition from arable subsoils in temperate climates
T2 - A review
AU - Kautz, Timo
AU - Amelung, Wulf
AU - Ewert, Frank
AU - Gaiser, Thomas
AU - Horn, Rainer
AU - Jahn, Reinhold
AU - Javaux, Mathieu
AU - Kemna, Andreas
AU - Kuzyakov, Yakov
AU - Munch, Jean Charles
AU - Pätzold, Stefan
AU - Peth, Stephan
AU - Scherer, Heinrich W.
AU - Schloter, Michael
AU - Schneider, Heike
AU - Vanderborght, Jan
AU - Vetterlein, Doris
AU - Walter, Achim
AU - Wiesenberg, Guido L.B.
AU - Köpke, Ulrich
N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge funding by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the Research Unit 1320. The anonymous reviewers are thanked for their constructive advice.
PY - 2013/2
Y1 - 2013/2
N2 - In arable farming systems, the term 'subsoil' refers to the soil beneath the tilled or formerly tilled soil horizon whereas the latter one is denoted as 'topsoil'. To date, most agronomic and plant nutrition studies have widely neglected subsoil processes involved in nutrient acquisition by crop roots. Based on our current knowledge it can be assumed that subsoil properties such as comparatively high bulk density, low air permeability, and poverty of organic matter, nutrients and microbial biomass are obviously adverse for nutrient acquisition, and sometimes subsoils provide as little as less than 10% of annual nutrient uptake in fertilised arable fields. Nevertheless, there is also strong evidence indicating that subsoil can contribute to more than two-thirds of the plant nutrition of N, P and K, especially when the topsoil is dry or nutrient-depleted. Based on the existing literature, nutrient acquisition from arable subsoils may be conceptualised into three major process components: (I) mobilisation from the subsoil, (II) translocation to the shoot and long-term accumulation in the Ap horizon and (III) re-allocation to the subsoil. The quantitative estimation of nutrient acquisition from the subsoil requires the linking of field experiments with mathematical modelling approaches on different spatial scales including Process Based Models for the field scale and Functional-Structural Plant Models for the plant scale. Possibilities to modify subsoil properties by means of agronomic management are limited, but 'subsoiling' - i.e. deep mechanical loosening - as well as the promotion of biopore formation are two potential strategies for increasing access to subsoil resources for crop roots in arable soils. The quantitative role of biopores in the nutrient acquisition from the subsoil is still unclear, and more research is needed to determine the bioaccessibility of nutrients in subsoil horizons.
AB - In arable farming systems, the term 'subsoil' refers to the soil beneath the tilled or formerly tilled soil horizon whereas the latter one is denoted as 'topsoil'. To date, most agronomic and plant nutrition studies have widely neglected subsoil processes involved in nutrient acquisition by crop roots. Based on our current knowledge it can be assumed that subsoil properties such as comparatively high bulk density, low air permeability, and poverty of organic matter, nutrients and microbial biomass are obviously adverse for nutrient acquisition, and sometimes subsoils provide as little as less than 10% of annual nutrient uptake in fertilised arable fields. Nevertheless, there is also strong evidence indicating that subsoil can contribute to more than two-thirds of the plant nutrition of N, P and K, especially when the topsoil is dry or nutrient-depleted. Based on the existing literature, nutrient acquisition from arable subsoils may be conceptualised into three major process components: (I) mobilisation from the subsoil, (II) translocation to the shoot and long-term accumulation in the Ap horizon and (III) re-allocation to the subsoil. The quantitative estimation of nutrient acquisition from the subsoil requires the linking of field experiments with mathematical modelling approaches on different spatial scales including Process Based Models for the field scale and Functional-Structural Plant Models for the plant scale. Possibilities to modify subsoil properties by means of agronomic management are limited, but 'subsoiling' - i.e. deep mechanical loosening - as well as the promotion of biopore formation are two potential strategies for increasing access to subsoil resources for crop roots in arable soils. The quantitative role of biopores in the nutrient acquisition from the subsoil is still unclear, and more research is needed to determine the bioaccessibility of nutrients in subsoil horizons.
KW - Biopore formation
KW - Drilosphere
KW - Microbial activity
KW - Rhizodeposition
KW - Root growth
KW - Structure dynamics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873317456&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.09.014
DO - 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.09.014
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84873317456
VL - 57
SP - 1003
EP - 1022
JO - Soil Biology and Biochemistry
JF - Soil Biology and Biochemistry
SN - 0038-0717
ER -