link.springer.com

Models of the rhizosphere - Plant and Soil

  • ️Darrah, P. R.
  • ️Sun Dec 01 1991

Abstract

A mathematical model is outlined which is capable of simulating the radial and vertical distribution of soluble carbon, and of microbial biomass and necromass around a root growing through the soil. An alternating-direction implicit finite difference method is used to simulate the movement of soluble C by diffusion and convection in the rhizosphere cylinder surrounding the root. Results are presented which suggest that microbial populations in the rhizosphere of a growing root may vary considerably with distance along the root with the precise distribution of soluble C and biomass depending on the pattern of exudate release along the root length.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barraclough P B 1984 The growth and activity of winter wheat roots in the field: Root growth of high-yielding crops in relation to shoot growth. J. Agric. Sci. Camb. 103, 439–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns R G 1985 The rhizosphere: Microbial and enzymic gradients and prospects for manipulation. Pedologie 25, 283–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarholm M 1981 Protozoan grazing of bacteria in soil: H Impact and importance. Microbial Ecology 7, 343–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarholm M 1985 Possible roles for roots, bacteria, protozoa and fungi in supplying nitrogen to plants. In Ecological Interactions in Soil. Ed. A H Fitter. pp 355–366. Special Pub. British Ecol. Soc. 4. Blackwell Science Publications, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman D C, Ingham R E, McClellan J F and Trofymow J A 1984 Soil nutrient transformations in the rhizosphere via animal-microbial interactions. In Invertebrate-Microbial Interactions. Ed. J M Anderson, A D M Rayner, and D W H Walton. pp 35–58. Cambridge University Press.

  • Curl E A and Truelove B The Rhizosphere. Adv. Ser. Agric. Sci. 15. Springer-Verlag, New York.

  • Darrah P R 1991 Models of the rhizosphere. I. Microbial population dynamics around a root releasing soluble and insoluble carbon. Plant and Soil 133, 187–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaworzewska E T and Carlile M J 1982 Positive chemotaxis of Rhizobium leguminosarum and other bacteria towards root exudates from legumes and other plants. J. Gen. Microb. 128, 1179–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klepper B 1987 Origin, branching and distribution of root systems. In Root Development and Function. Eds. P J Gregory, J V Lake and D A Rose. pp 103–124. Soc Exp. Biol. Seminar Series 30, Cambridge University Press.

  • Louw H A 1970 A study of phosphate-dissolving bacteria in the root region of wheat and lupin. Phytophylactica 2, 21–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch J M and Bragg E 1985 Micro-organisms and soil aggregate stability. Adv. Soil Science 2, 133–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLeod R D and Thompson A 1979 Development of lateral root primordia in Vicia fabia, Pisum sativum, Zea mays and Phaseolus vulgaris: Rates of primordium formation and cell doubling times. Ann. Bot. 44, 435–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin J K 1973 The influence of rhizosphere microflora on the availability of 32P myoinositol hexaphosphate phosphorus phorus to wheat. Soil Biol. Biochem. 5, 473–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDougall B M and Rovira A D 1970 Sites of exudation of 14C-labelled compounds from wheat roots. New Phytol. 69, 999–1003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milthorpe F L and Moorby J 1979 An Introduction Crop Physiology. p 203, 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press.

  • Newman E I and Watson A 1977 Microbial abundance in the rhizosphere: A computer model Plant and Soil 48, 17–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacemann D W and Rachford H H 1955 The numerical solution of parabolic and elliptical differential equations. J. Soc. Indust. Appl. Mathem. 3, 28–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridge E H and Rovira A D 1971 Phosphatase activity of intact young wheat roots under sterile and non-sterile conditions. New Phytol. 70, 1017–1026.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith G D 1978 Numerical solution of partial differential equations: Finite difference methods. Oxford Applied Math. and Comp. Ser. 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press.

  • Stevenson F J 1986 Cycles of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Micronutrients. p 271. Wiley Inter-science, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trofymow J A, Coleman D C and Cambardella C 1987 Rates or rhizodeposition and ammonium depletion in the rhizosphere of axenic oat roots. Plant and Soil 97, 333–344.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Science Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3PF, Oxford, UK

    P. R. Darrah

Authors

  1. P. R. Darrah

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Darrah, P.R. Models of the rhizosphere. Plant Soil 138, 147–158 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012241

Download citation

  • Received: 24 September 1990

  • Issue Date: December 1991

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012241

Key words