Effects of nutrient heterogeneity on root foraging and plant growth at the individual and community level

Author:

Wang Peng1ORCID,Mou Pu2,Hu Lingyan1,Hu Shuijin13

Affiliation:

1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095 , China

2. College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China

3. Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, NC 27695 , USA

Abstract

Abstract Plants enhance nutrient uptake in heterogeneous nutrient environments through selective root placement. Many studies have documented that plants grow better under heterogeneous than under homogeneous nutrient distribution, but comprehensive syntheses are relatively few. In a meta-analysis, we examined the effects of patch scale and contrast on plant responses by synthesizing the effects of nutrient heterogeneity on root foraging and plant growth in 131 comparative studies. Plant responses to nutrient heterogeneity were phylogenetically conserved, and the response in shoot biomass was significantly correlated with the response in root biomass but not with root foraging precision. Root precision depended on the competition regime, and plants had lower precision in interspecific than in conspecific competition. Community-level growth was significantly promoted by nutrient heterogeneity and was less variable than individual-level responses. Along with increasing patch scale, overall shoot and root responses of individuals increased but root foraging precision declined. In addition, moderate patch contrast induced the highest root responses. Our results indicate that plants optimize nutrient acquisition from heterogeneous patches mainly through increasing root growth, and plant communities exploit heterogeneous nutrients more effectively than individuals. Understanding the roles of patch attributes in nutrient-heterogeneity effects may help in designing fertilization practices to promote productivity and conserve biodiversity.

Funder

National Natural Science Foundation of China

Jiangsu Shuangchuang Talent Program

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Plant Science,Physiology

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