title: Effects of the duration and inorganic nitrogen composition of a nutrient-rich patch on soil exploration by the roots of Lolium perenne in a heterogeneous environment.
abstract: We investigated the growth of and soil exploration by Lolium perenne under a heterogeneous environment before its roots reached a nutrient-rich patch. Temporal changes in the distribution of inorganic nitrogen, i.e., NO(3)(-)-N and NH(4)(+)-N, in the heterogeneous environment during the experimental period were also examined. The results showed that roots randomly explored soil, irrespective of the patchy distribution of inorganic nitrogen and differences in the chemical composition of inorganic nitrogen distribution between heterogeneous and homogeneous environments. We have also elucidated the potential effects of patch duration and inorganic nitrogen distribution on soil exploration by roots and thus on plant growth.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kachi
authors.forename: J-I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D008129:Lolium / Q000254:growth & development*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D009584:Nitrogen