Elucidating the effects of root responses to moderate soil nutrient limitation on mineral bioweathering processes
EMSL Project ID
60372
Abstract
The excessive use of mineral fertilizer has become a critical contributor to global environmental issues. To control the environmental impacts of agricultural expansion, we need a significant paradigm shift that will harness soil-root-plant interactions benefits to build resilience and sustainability in agroecosystems. By integrating cutting-edge EMSL's expertise and facilities to study feedback effects between soil biogeochemical properties, soil rhizosphere processes, and soil microscale weathering processes, we aim to test how increased root exudation rates induced by soil P limitation can favor mechanisms involved in nutrient acquisition and the formation of organo-mineral associations. Our interdisciplinary and multiple scales research approach requires the integration of knowledge and hands-on experience from "Plant and Ecosystem Phenotyping" and "Biogeochemical Transformations" IRPs at EMSL. This will allow us to relate changes in soil P limitation to the expression of root traits that are directed towards specific bioweathering processes. We aim to better understand root adaptation to soil nutrient limitation to take advantage of root-induced bioweathering promoted by the exudation of carboxylates for designing crop systems with superior nutrient-use efficiency and soil C storage ability. With our advanced knowledge combining expertise in microscale soil processes, environmental geochemistry, microbiology and plant physiology, the research outcomes will contribute greatly to a new, sustainable paradigm of crop nutrient-use efficiency that will enable adaptation and mitigation to climate changes.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2022-10-01
End Date
N/A
Status
Active
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members