US EPA

6977554 

Journal Article 

Review 

Ideotype root architecture for efficient nitrogen acquisition by maize in intensive cropping systems 

Mi GuoHua; Chen FanJun; Wu QiuPing; Lai NingWei; Yuan LiXing; Zhang FuSuo; , 

2010 

1 

Science China Life Sciences
ISSN: 1674-7305 

SCIENCE PRESS 

BEIJING 

53 

12 

1369-1373 

English 

21181338 

10.1007/s11427-010-4097-y 

WOS:000285448400001 

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.