Dynamics of root exuded carbon and its relationships with root traits of rapeseed and wheat

Abstract

Quantifying carbon in root exudates and exploring their influencing factors are essential to understand soil organic carbon dynamics in cropland. A pot experiment was carried out to explore quantitative relations between root exuded carbon and root traits in wheat and rapeseed. The result showed that rapeseed had a similar pattern in root carbon exudation intensity (EI) as the wheat, but its EI per plant was obviously higher than that in wheat. Rapeseed plants had higher EI per root biomass than wheat plants in the early growth period but lower in the late growth period. EI per root biomass in both crops had significant exponential relationships with the specific root length (RL), surface area (RSA), volume (RV), root C/N ratio and root soluble sugar content. However, EI per plant of both crops had a markedly quadratic relationship with RL, RSA, RV and root biomass. During the whole growth period, the rapeseed had cumulative root carbon exudation of 14.09 g/plant, which was almost twice of that in the wheat plant. Root traits had close relations to root carbon exudation in both crops. Quantitative regression models between them could be referred to estimate root C exudation in rapeseed and wheat farmland.