Root biomass plasticity in response to nitrogen fertilization and soil fertility in sugarcane cropping systems

IF 4.5 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

European Journal of Agronomy Pub Date : 2025-02-21 DOI:10.1016/j.eja.2025.127549

Léa Chevalier , Mathias Christina , Marion Ramos , Benjamin Heuclin , Amélie Février , Christophe Jourdan , Daniel Poultney , Antoine Versini

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Soil fertility is crucial for plant growth as it influences root development, nutrient uptake, and overall plant health. Optimizing fertilization practices is essential for productivity and sustainability in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) cropping systems, especially on Reunion Island, where soil types and climatic conditions vary. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of mineral nitrogen fertilization and soil fertility on sugarcane root development, with particular focus on root biomass production and distribution. The study was conducted across ten sites on Reunion Island, each site representative of one of five soil types in two distinct climatic zones. Using a mechanical auger, root biomass and distribution were measured in fertilized and unfertilized plots down to a depth of 50 cm and at three distances from the row of sugarcane at harvest. Root biomass varied markedly depending on the site: it ranged from 4 to 12 Mg ha⁻¹, corresponding to root-to-shoot ratios varying from 0.10 to 0.43. Root biomass increased by 15 % and root nitrogen concentration decreased by 9 % in unfertilized plots, while root nitrogen mass was not affected. Root biomass was influenced by chemical soil fertility and decreased with declining P availability. Chemical and physical soil properties also influenced the proportion of roots in the superficial soil layers. These findings underscore the plasticity of root biomass allocation in response to soil fertility and fertilization. Given the significant role of roots in soil carbon sequestration, understanding their dynamics is crucial for refining fertilization strategies and enhancing the sustainability of sugarcane cropping systems.

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来源期刊

European Journal of Agronomy 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

7.70%

发文量

187

审稿时长

4.5 months

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Agronomy, the official journal of the European Society for Agronomy, publishes original research papers reporting experimental and theoretical contributions to field-based agronomy and crop science. The journal will consider research at the field level for agricultural, horticultural and tree crops, that uses comprehensive and explanatory approaches. The EJA covers the following topics: crop physiology crop production and management including irrigation, fertilization and soil management agroclimatology and modelling plant-soil relationships crop quality and post-harvest physiology farming and cropping systems agroecosystems and the environment crop-weed interactions and management organic farming horticultural crops papers from the European Society for Agronomy bi-annual meetings In determining the suitability of submitted articles for publication, particular scrutiny is placed on the degree of novelty and significance of the research and the extent to which it adds to existing knowledge in agronomy.