Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Root-derived carbon (C) inputs are increasingly recognized as important precursors to soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the extent to which these inputs can be influenced by nitrogen (N) fertilizer management and plant stature remains poorly understood. This study investigated how N fertilization rate and maize hybrid stature trade off between above- and belowground performance, including investment in root traits, exudation, and soil microbial C pools. Methods Tall- and short-stature maize (Zea mays) hybrids, from Bayer’s breeding pipeline, were grown in a pot experiment in two soil matrices (sandy and loamy), with N fertilization rates of 0, 90, 180, and 270 kg N ha⁻ 1 . C pools in above- and belowground compartments were assessed, including root exudates, root biomass and length, soil microbial biomass C, and total soil C. Results Soil matrix and maize hybrids of different stature primarily explained differences in root exudation and belowground C inputs. Short-stature maize produced 22% greater dry root biomass than tall maize across N treatments. Loamy soils accumulated higher soil microbial biomass C and peaked at intermediate N rates, where fertilization achieved the greatest response in root biomass and C inputs. The highest N rates resulted in lower belowground C investment (particularly > 180 kg N ha⁻ 1 in loamy soil). Conclusion Maize hybrid selection and N fertilization interaction influenced root-derived C inputs and soil microbial biomass, with short-stature hybrids and moderate N rates enhancing belowground C allocation. These findings suggest that short-stature maize and avoiding excessive N fertilizer rates can enhance root contributions to key soil C pools.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Soil matrix and maize hybrid stature primarily explained differences in root exudation and belowground C inputs.
- Material
- maize hybrids of different staturee0
- Treatment
- Soil matrixe0
- Outcome
- root exudation and belowground C inputse0
Zea maysNot reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil matrix and maize hybrids of different stature primarily explained differences in root exudation and belowground C inputs”
Claim · model-written summary
Short-stature maize produced 22% greater dry root biomass than tall maize across N treatments.
- Material
- Short-stature maizee0
- Outcome
- dry root biomasse0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- 22%e0
- Qualifier
- across N treatmentse0
- Comparator
- tall maizee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Short-stature maize produced 22% greater dry root biomass than tall maize across N treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
Loamy soils accumulated higher soil microbial biomass C.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Loamy soils accumulated higher soil microbial biomass C”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil microbial biomass C peaked at intermediate N rates.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Loamy soils accumulated higher soil microbial biomass C and peaked at intermediate N rates”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Intermediate N rates gave the greatest response in root biomass and C inputs.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“where fertilization achieved the greatest response in root biomass and C inputs”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The highest N rates resulted in lower belowground C investment, particularly above 180 kg N ha⁻ 1 in loamy soil.
- Treatment
- The highest N ratese0
- Outcome
- belowground C investmente0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Qualifier
- particularly > 180 kg N ha⁻ 1e0
- Setting
- loamy soile0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest N rates resulted in lower belowground C investment (particularly > 180 kg N ha⁻ 1 in loamy soil)”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize hybrid selection and N fertilization interacted to influence root-derived C inputs and soil microbial biomass.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize hybrid selection and N fertilization interaction influenced root-derived C inputs and soil microbial biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest short-stature maize and avoiding excessive N fertilizer rates can enhance root contributions to key soil C pools.
- Outcome
- root contributions to key soil C poolse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“short-stature maize and avoiding excessive N fertilizer rates can enhance root contributions to key soil C pools”