Corn Root Architecture and Nutrient Management

There have been many studies over the years documenting nutrient placement, rates, and several types of applications. It is not surprising that these must be conducted repeatedly because there has not been a definite answer to the “how, what and when” questions to nutrient management. In conjunction with nutrition, hybrid selection has also been vigorously evaluated. These studies usually compare offensive and defensive hybrids to certain applications. Is there a better way to portray which hybrid family does well to high fertility, drought conditions or sidedress applications etc.? Jim Schwartz, Beck’s Director of Research, Agronomy and PFR, has partnered with Dr. Fred Below, Professor at the University of Illinois, to understand how different root architectures and sizes affect nutrient management decisions.

The Root Reveal project is a new means of hybrid categorization. Its goal is to place each hybrid type into different root classes. A majority of the seed industry understands different root angles, but few have made the correlation between this and nutrient management on a per-farm basis. When selecting a nitrogen program, how often does the conversation happen discussing which hybrid will perform best with which fertilizer application? The common conversation is which hybrid efficiently uses higher rates of nitrogen or has little to no yield response to excessive amounts.  What Jim Schwartz and Dr. Fred Below are setting out to do is make the conversation, “This is the placement of the fertilizer that will most benefit this hybrid’s root architecture”.

To obtain the root architecture and root volume, each hybrid has been undergoing extensive observation. This has been conducted in several different ways. The first way is a more conventional method. The simple in-field root dig. After the root mass has surfaced, it is then photographed and documented. This, however, is not enough. So, it has been taken one step further by creating a photography chamber for each individual root. The chamber spins at high speeds, taking several pictures, giving a 3D makeup of each hybrid root. Researchers can collect the architecture and root volume of each hybrid root in the matter of a few minutes.

The third way to collect more data on each hybrid root type, is by utilizing Corn Root Boxes.  Beck’s Root Reveal Research is capable of growing an individual corn plant in an empty chemical tote.  “These empty chemical totes were shrink-wrapped, covered with boards, and filled with Turface Athletics™. They were then strung with line to help support and maintain the root architecture of the plant. Each cage contained an individual corn hybrid and was then watered and fed the same amount of nitrogen. Once the plants reached tassel, they were cur off form the water and nutrients and left to dry.” The results show how roots perform without restricting variables of different soil types, compaction, etc.

How will this impact nutrient management? Knowing a certain hybrid has a horizontal or vertical root development directs the grower to better management. Applications, such as nitrogen, are taken into the plant through a process called mass flow. Being an anion allows nitrogen to, mostly, move vertically in the soil profile. If we know where the roots will be, we know where to place the fertilizer. A vertical root system needs to be banded in or near the row. A horizontal root system does well with sidedress applications because it can reach below the application area. For more information visit: https://www.beckshybrids.com/about-us/media/becks-root-reveal-research-digs-deep-into-understanding-corn-root-architecture