Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile
The role of a plant root system in resource acquisition is relevant to confront drought events caused by climate change. Accordingly, nursery practices like phosphorous (P) fertilization and root pruning have been shown to modify root architecture; however, their combined benefits require further in...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Fiorella Calderón-Ureña Carolina Álvarez-Maldini Manuel Acevedo Manuel E. Sánchez-Olate R. Kasten Dumroese Antay Sierra-Olea Juan F. Ovalle Edwin Esquivel-Segura |
| author_facet | Fiorella Calderón-Ureña Carolina Álvarez-Maldini Manuel Acevedo Manuel E. Sánchez-Olate R. Kasten Dumroese Antay Sierra-Olea Juan F. Ovalle Edwin Esquivel-Segura |
| author_sort | Fiorella Calderón-Ureña |
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| description | The role of a plant root system in resource acquisition is relevant to confront drought events caused by climate change. Accordingly, nursery practices like phosphorous (P) fertilization and root pruning have been shown to modify root architecture; however, their combined benefits require further investigation in Mediterranean species. We evaluated the effect of applied P concentrations (0, 15, 60, and 120 mg L<sup>−1</sup> P) with or without chemical (copper) root pruning (WCu, WoCu, respectively) in <i>Aristotelia chilensis</i> and <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> on morpho-physiological and root architecture traits. Higher P concentration increased nutrient content in both species concurrent with higher growth. In <i>A. chilensis</i>, higher P concentrations only increased the length and volume of medium roots. In <i>Q. saponaria</i>, P additions increased root length and diameter and the length and volume of fine and medium roots. The root-to-shoot ratio declined with WCu in <i>A. chilensis</i> (23.1%) and <i>Q. saponaria</i> (15.7%). Unlike our hypothesis, fine root architecture remained unaffected with root pruning in <i>A. chilensis</i>, while fine root length and volume decreased with increasing P concentrations in <i>Q. saponaria</i>. Thus, P fertilization enhances root development more consistently than root pruning, highlighting the need for further testing under water deficit conditions to optimize nursery practices. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6ba5fea9de34bb0bc1424eefc42d8e72025-01-24T13:46:42ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114219510.3390/plants14020195Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central ChileFiorella Calderón-Ureña0Carolina Álvarez-Maldini1Manuel Acevedo2Manuel E. Sánchez-Olate3R. Kasten Dumroese4Antay Sierra-Olea5Juan F. Ovalle6Edwin Esquivel-Segura7Departamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070374, ChileDepartamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070374, ChileCentro Tecnológico de la Planta Forestal, Instituto Forestal, Sede Biobío, San Pedro de la Paz 4130946, ChileDepartamento de Silvicultura, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070374, ChileUSDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID 83843, USACentro Tecnológico de la Planta Forestal, Instituto Forestal, Sede Biobío, San Pedro de la Paz 4130946, ChileLaboratorio de Restauración de Bosques, Departamento de Silvicultura y Conservación de la Naturaleza, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileEscuela de Ingeniería en Agronomía, Campus Tecnológico Local San Carlos, Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Alajuela 22321001, Costa RicaThe role of a plant root system in resource acquisition is relevant to confront drought events caused by climate change. Accordingly, nursery practices like phosphorous (P) fertilization and root pruning have been shown to modify root architecture; however, their combined benefits require further investigation in Mediterranean species. We evaluated the effect of applied P concentrations (0, 15, 60, and 120 mg L<sup>−1</sup> P) with or without chemical (copper) root pruning (WCu, WoCu, respectively) in <i>Aristotelia chilensis</i> and <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> on morpho-physiological and root architecture traits. Higher P concentration increased nutrient content in both species concurrent with higher growth. In <i>A. chilensis</i>, higher P concentrations only increased the length and volume of medium roots. In <i>Q. saponaria</i>, P additions increased root length and diameter and the length and volume of fine and medium roots. The root-to-shoot ratio declined with WCu in <i>A. chilensis</i> (23.1%) and <i>Q. saponaria</i> (15.7%). Unlike our hypothesis, fine root architecture remained unaffected with root pruning in <i>A. chilensis</i>, while fine root length and volume decreased with increasing P concentrations in <i>Q. saponaria</i>. Thus, P fertilization enhances root development more consistently than root pruning, highlighting the need for further testing under water deficit conditions to optimize nursery practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/195fine rootsspecific root lengthroot architecturemaquiquillay |
| spellingShingle | Fiorella Calderón-Ureña Carolina Álvarez-Maldini Manuel Acevedo Manuel E. Sánchez-Olate R. Kasten Dumroese Antay Sierra-Olea Juan F. Ovalle Edwin Esquivel-Segura Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile Plants fine roots specific root length root architecture maqui quillay |
| title | Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile |
| title_full | Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile |
| title_fullStr | Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile |
| title_short | Phosphorus Fertilization and Chemical Root Pruning: Effects on Root Traits During the Nursery Stage in Two Mediterranean Species from Central Chile |
| title_sort | phosphorus fertilization and chemical root pruning effects on root traits during the nursery stage in two mediterranean species from central chile |
| topic | fine roots specific root length root architecture maqui quillay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/195 |
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