Nitrogen and potassium, but not boron, change the morphology, production and nutrient concentration of Tanzania guineagrass roots

Abstract

Plant shoot production is closely related to root development. To obtain greater grass persistence, nutrient uptake by roots and recovery after defoliation, it is necessary for the plants to have well developed root systems. The study aimed to evaluate the morphological, productive and nutritional characteristics of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania roots in response to combinations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and boron (B) rates in nutrient solution. Root dry mass, total root length, and total root surface increased with the combination of N and K rates. Boron rates did not affect any of the studied parameters. Greater concentrations of ammonium than nitrate were found in the root tissues. Root specific length and root specific surface decreased as rates of N and K increased. The N and K supply caused an increase in the morphological and productive aspects of the root system, thus enhancing the capacity for nutrient absorption.

Keywords:

• forage grass
• Panicum maximum
• root length
• root surface
• root system

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for doctoral scholarships.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.