AOBPreview published online on January 8, 2003
Annals of Botany, doi:10.1093/aob/mcg033
© 2003 by Annals of Botany Company
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Submitted on May 23, 2002
Affiliation of the authors:
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;
6 Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: john.king{at}adas.co.uk.
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.
Revised on September 20, 2002
Accepted on November 15, 2002
Modelling Cereal Root Systems for Water and Nitrogen Capture: Towards an Economic Optimum
JOHN KING1*,
Key words: Economic model, nitrogen, root depth, root distribution, water, wheat, barley, yield, Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare.
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