Using a rhizosheath selection tool to screen perennial ryegrass for root hair traits that reduce root competition against white clover. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeates, Rebecca M.; Crush, Jim R.; Nichols, Shirley N.; Clearwater, Mike J.
• Is Part Of: New Zealand journal of agricultural research. Volume 63:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 395
• Page End: 404
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Rhizosheath -- root hairs -- root competition -- soil phosphorus -- ryegrass -- white clover; Agriculture -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Animal culture -- Periodicals; Animal culture -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; 630.99305
• DOI: 10.1080/00288233.2019.1620295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-8233

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We tested whether selection of ryegrass for reduced root hair length and density would reduce root competition on white clover for phosphate (P). A Rhizosheath Selection Tool was used to select two ryegrass populations with contrasting root hair traits. These were grown at five soil P levels in a glasshouse experiment and rhizosheath trait selection had no effect on growth or shoot P concentrations. The ryegrass populations were also grown with white clover in soils with Olsen P12 or 19 mg L −1 . In the Olsen P12 soil, clover grown with the smaller rhizosheath ryegrass had significantly heavier shoots and contained more P than clover grown with the larger rhizosheath ryegrass. In the Olsen P19 soil differences in ryegrass rhizosheath had no effect on clover growth. The results showed that under the experimental conditions, grass-clover competition for soil P could be modified by the rhizosheath traits of ryegrass.