Can previous cultivation of grass affect rice rooting depth and nitrogen uptake?

• Grant number: 18/12775-0
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Ciro Antonio Rosolem
• Grantee: Carlos Antonio Costa Do Nascimento
• Supervisor abroad: Adam Price
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Local de pesquisa : University of Aberdeen, Scotland
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/12317-7 - Nucleus: a virtual joint centre to deliver enhanced nitrogen use efficiency via an integrated soil-plant systems approach for the UK and Brazil, BP.PD

Abstract

Growing grasses such as those of the genus Urochloa can improve soil properties leading to both higher N uptake and cash crop yield, but the mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear. However, soil structure improvement seems to have a key role on the process. Thus, U. ruziziensis and U. brizantha will be grown in columns and rhizotrons filled with soil, and rice will be grown thereafter.. X- ray Computed Tomography and Winrhizo will be the tools to evaluate the rice root system and soil structure. In addition, the nitrogen balance in the soil-plant system will be evaluated These evaluations will allow the assessment of both the interaction of roots with soil structure and the effect of grasses on root growth and N uptake by rice.