AOBPreview originally published online on January 8, 2003
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Annals of Botany 91: 383-390, 2003
© 2003 Annals of Botany Company
Modelling Cereal Root Systems for Water and Nitrogen Capture: Towards an Economic Optimum
1 ADAS Ltd, Boxworth Research Centre, Boxworth, Cambridge CB3 8NN, UK, 2 IGER, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, UK, 3 Scottish Agricultural College, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, UK, 4 Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK, 5 Department of Soil Science, University of Reading, PO Box 233, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6DW, UK and 6 Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
* For correspondence. Fax + 44 (0)1954 268268, e-mail john.king{at}adas.co.uk
Received: 23 May 2002; Returned for revision: 20 September 2002; Accepted: 15 November 2002 Published electronically: 8 January 2003
A quantitative model of wheat root systems is developed that links the size and distribution of the root system to the capture of water and nitrogen (which are assumed to be evenly distributed with depth) during grain filling, and allows estimates of the economic consequences of this capture to be assessed. A particular feature of the model is its use of summarizing concepts, and reliance on only the minimum number of parameters (each with a clear biological meaning). The model is then used to provide an economic sensitivity analysis of possible target characteristics for manipulating root systems. These characteristics were: root distribution with depth, proportional dry matter partitioning to roots, resource capture coefficients, shoot dry weight at anthesis, specific root weight and water use efficiency. From the current estimates of parameters it is concluded that a larger investment by the crop in fine roots at depth in the soil, and less proliferation of roots in surface layers, would improve yields by accessing extra resources. The economic return on investment in roots for water capture was twice that of the same amount invested for nitrogen capture.
Key words: Economic model, nitrogen, root depth, root distribution, water, wheat, barley, yield, Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare.
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