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A dual porosity model of nutrient uptake by root hairs

A dual porosity model of nutrient uptake by root hairs
A dual porosity model of nutrient uptake by root hairs
The importance of root hairs in the uptake of sparingly soluble nutrients is understood qualitatively, but not quantitatively, and this limits efforts to breed plants tolerant of nutrient-deficient soils.

Here, we develop a mathematical model of nutrient uptake by root hairs allowing for hair geometry and the details of nutrient transport through soil, including diffusion within and between soil particles. We give illustrative results for phosphate uptake.

Compared with conventional 'single porosity' models, this 'dual porosity' model predicts greater root uptake because more nutrient is available by slow release from within soil particles. Also the effect of soil moisture is less important with the dual porosity model because the effective volume available for diffusion in the soil is larger, and the predicted effects of hair length and density are different.

Consistent with experimental observations, with the dual porosity model, increases in hair length give greater increases in uptake than increases in hair density per unit main root length. The effect of hair density is less in dry soil because the minimum concentration in solution for net influx is reached more rapidly. The effect of hair length is much less sensitive to soil moisture.
mathematical model, nutrient uptake, phosphate, rhizosphere, root hairs
0028-646X
676-688
Zygalakis, K.C.
d7813741-9885-4221-8c45-d964716c0add
Kirk, G.J.D.
f7f5cb71-77f7-44f3-842c-ca6a6090b98c
Jones, D.L.
4c7d0ebb-b7e3-4afc-adbc-ece2ba1fc54f
Wissuwa, M.
f038da67-0eb0-42f7-9ba3-ce74d2f5ca21
Roose, T.
3581ab5b-71e1-4897-8d88-59f13f3bccfe
Zygalakis, K.C.
d7813741-9885-4221-8c45-d964716c0add
Kirk, G.J.D.
f7f5cb71-77f7-44f3-842c-ca6a6090b98c
Jones, D.L.
4c7d0ebb-b7e3-4afc-adbc-ece2ba1fc54f
Wissuwa, M.
f038da67-0eb0-42f7-9ba3-ce74d2f5ca21
Roose, T.
3581ab5b-71e1-4897-8d88-59f13f3bccfe

Zygalakis, K.C., Kirk, G.J.D., Jones, D.L., Wissuwa, M. and Roose, T. (2011) A dual porosity model of nutrient uptake by root hairs. New Phytologist, 192 (3), 676-688. (doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03840.x). (PMID:21827499)

Record type: Article

Abstract

The importance of root hairs in the uptake of sparingly soluble nutrients is understood qualitatively, but not quantitatively, and this limits efforts to breed plants tolerant of nutrient-deficient soils.

Here, we develop a mathematical model of nutrient uptake by root hairs allowing for hair geometry and the details of nutrient transport through soil, including diffusion within and between soil particles. We give illustrative results for phosphate uptake.

Compared with conventional 'single porosity' models, this 'dual porosity' model predicts greater root uptake because more nutrient is available by slow release from within soil particles. Also the effect of soil moisture is less important with the dual porosity model because the effective volume available for diffusion in the soil is larger, and the predicted effects of hair length and density are different.

Consistent with experimental observations, with the dual porosity model, increases in hair length give greater increases in uptake than increases in hair density per unit main root length. The effect of hair density is less in dry soil because the minimum concentration in solution for net influx is reached more rapidly. The effect of hair length is much less sensitive to soil moisture.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 9 August 2011
Published date: November 2011
Keywords: mathematical model, nutrient uptake, phosphate, rhizosphere, root hairs
Organisations: Bioengineering Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 201901
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/201901
ISSN: 0028-646X
PURE UUID: afcc5f7e-4a3b-4bd1-9fd7-6d3292e370aa
ORCID for T. Roose: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8710-1063

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 Nov 2011 12:12
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:31

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Contributors

Author: K.C. Zygalakis
Author: G.J.D. Kirk
Author: D.L. Jones
Author: M. Wissuwa
Author: T. Roose ORCID iD

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