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SUBSTRATE FLOW AND UTILIZATION IN THE RHIZOSPHERE OF CEREALS
Author(s) -
WHIPPS J. M.,
LYNCH J. M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1983.tb03525.x
Subject(s) - rhizosphere , microorganism , shoot , substrate (aquarium) , agronomy , botany , atmosphere (unit) , biology , carbon fibers , chemistry , environmental science , horticulture , bacteria , materials science , ecology , composite number , composite material , thermodynamics , genetics , physics
SUMMARY Wheat and barley plants were grown for 3 weeks with their roots in sterile or non‐sterile sand or irrandiated or non‐irradiated soil and with their shoots in an atmosphere containing 14 CO 2 at constant specific activity and at approximately atmospheric concentration. The sealed pots were regularly flushed with air and the total quantity of radioactivity lost from the pots as respiratory 14 CO 2 and the amounts present in the plant rhizoplane, rhizosphere and bulk soil were analysed. Measurements of bacterial numbers allowed calculations of the utilization of the carbon released from the roots of the sand‐grown plants. The relevance of the techniques used and the implications of carbon loss for the plant and associated microorganisms are discussed.