Tradeoffs among phosphorus-acquisition root traits of crop species for agroecological intensification

• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-020-04584-3
• Publication Date: 2020-06-03T15:59:11Z
• Authors: Nicolas Honvault; David Houben; Cécile Nobile; Stéphane Firmin; Hans Lambers; Michel-Pierre Faucon
• Keywords: [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment; 2. Zero hunger; [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; [SDV.SA.AGRO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Agronomy; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; 15. Life on land; environment

Plant P acquisition strategies are driven by multiple belowground morphological and physiological traits as well as interactions among these traits. This study aimed to characterize the relationships among traits involved in P acquisition to explore tradeoffs and the main P-acquisition strategies and their mediation by soil type. Ten morphological and physiological traits involved in P acquisition were measured across 13 species grown in controlled conditions in two contrasting soils with moderate P limitation. Tradeoffs between thicker and thinner roots were observed, with thicker roots exhibiting greater carboxylate release or phosphatase activity in the rhizosheath. Tradeoffs and coordination amongst traits were strongly mediated by soil type. Multivariate analysis of functional traits involved in P acquisition highlighted four main P-acquisition strategies relying primarily on morphological traits, physiological traits or a combination thereof. The diversity of strategies demonstrates a potential for functional diversity benefits in cultivated plant communities via preferential access to different P pools leading to complementarities and reduced competition for resource acquisition. Overall, our results underpin functionally-complementary multispecies crop designs, enhancing P availability and cycling efficiency.