title: Ideotype root architecture for efficient nitrogen acquisition by maize in intensive cropping systems.
abstract: The use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers has contributed to the production of a food supply sufficient for both animals and humans despite some negative environmental impact. Sustaining food production by increasing N use efficiency in intensive cropping systems has become a major concern for scientists, environmental groups, and agricultural policymakers worldwide. In high-yielding maize systems the major method of N loss is nitrate leaching. In this review paper, the characteristic of nitrate movement in the soil, N uptake by maize as well as the regulation of root growth by soil N availability are discussed. We suggest that an ideotype root architecture for efficient N acquisition in maize should include (i) deeper roots with high activity that are able to uptake nitrate before it moves downward into deep soil; (ii) vigorous lateral root growth under high N input conditions so as to increase spatial N availability in the soil; and (iii) strong response of lateral root growth to localized nitrogen supply so as to utilize unevenly distributed nitrate especially under limited N conditions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, MOA, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Fanjun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiuping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ningwei
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Lixing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Fusuo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005308:Fertilizers; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D009566:Nitrates; D009584:Nitrogen