Mechanistic framework to link root growth models with weather and soil physical properties, including example applications to soybean growth in Brazil

Background and aims Root elongation is generally limited by a combination of mechanical impedance and water stress in most arable soils. However, dynamic changes of soil penetration resistance with soil water content are rarely included in models for predicting root growth. Better modelling framewor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 2018-07, Vol.428 (1/2), p.67-92
Main Authors: de Moraes, Moacir Tuzzin, Bengough, A. Glyn, Debiasi, Henrique, Franchini, Julio Cezar, Levien, Renato, Schnepf, Andrea, Leitner, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arable land
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate models
Climatic conditions
Computer simulation
Drought
Ecology
Elongation
Environmental aspects
Genotypes
Growth models
Hydraulic properties
Hypoxia
Life Sciences
Mathematical models
Mechanical impedance
Moisture content
Penetration
Penetration resistance
Physical characteristics
Physical properties
Plant growth
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Plant-soil relationships
Properties
Rain
Rainfall
Regular Article
Roots (Botany)
Soil compaction
Soil conditions
Soil dynamics
Soil layers
Soil management
Soil mechanics
Soil physical properties
Soil properties
Soil resistance
Soil Science & Conservation
Soil stresses
Soil water
Soils
Soybeans
Tillage
Water content
Water resistance
Water stress
Water uptake
Weather
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Summary:Background and aims Root elongation is generally limited by a combination of mechanical impedance and water stress in most arable soils. However, dynamic changes of soil penetration resistance with soil water content are rarely included in models for predicting root growth. Better modelling frameworks are needed to understand root growth interactions between plant genotype, soil management, and climate. Aim of paper is to describe a new model of root elongation in relation to soil physical characteristics like penetration resistance, matric potential, and hypoxia. Methods A new diagrammatic framework is proposed to illustrate the interaction between root elongation, soil management, and climatic conditions. The new model was written in Matlab®, using the root architecture model RootBox and a model that solves the ID Richards equations for water flux in soil. Inputs: root architectural parameters for Soybean; soil hydraulic properties; root water uptake function in relation to matric flux potential; root elongation rate as a function of soil physical characteristics. Simulation scenarios: (a) compact soil layer at 16 to 20 cm; (b) test against a field experiment in Brazil during contrasting drought and normal rainfall seasons. Results (a) Soil compaction substantially slowed root growth into and below the compact layer. (b) Simulated root length density was very similar to field measurements, which was influenced greatly by drought. The main factor slowing root elongation in the simulations was evaluated using a stress reduction function. Conclusion The proposed framework offers a way to explore the interaction between soil physical properties, weather and root growth. It may be applied to most root elongation models, and offers the potential to evaluate likely factors limiting root growth in different soils and tillage regimes.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1007/s11104-018-3656-z