Competition for phosphorus: differential uptake from dual-isotope-labeled soil interspaces between shrub and grass

Journal Article · Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.229.4711.384· OSTI ID:6236801

Caldwell, M M; Eissenstat, D M; Richards, J H; Allen, M F

Two species of Agropyron grass differed strikingly in their capacity to compete for phosphate in soil interspaces shared with a common competitor, the sagebrush Artemisia tridentata. Of the total phosphorus-32 and -33 absorbed by Artemisia, 86% was from the interspace shared with Agropyron spicatum and only 14% from that shared with Agropyron desertorum. Actively absorbing mycorrhizal roots of Agropyron and Artemisia were present in both interspaces, where competition for the labeled phosphate occurred. The results have important implications about the way in which plants compete for resources below ground in both natural plant communities and agricultural intercropping systems.

• Research Organization: Utah State Univ., Logan
• OSTI ID: 6236801
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 229
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PHOSPHATES
UPTAKE
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS 33
SOILS
CONTAMINATION
GRASS
SHRUBS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
PLANTS
RADIOISOTOPES
510101* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (-1989)