Root Foraging Behavior of Two Agronomical Herbs Subjected to Heterogeneous P Pattern and High Ca Stress

Ecosystems are vulnerable to large areas of rocky desertification, which results in patchy soils and stone-inlaid soils. Karst landforms typically characterized by heterogeneous phosphorus (P) distributions at high calcium (Ca), but root foraging behavior has not been fully documented agronomical plants. In this study, Bidens pilosa L. Plantago asiatica were raised pots a simulated soil environment with sands Ca (2 g kg−1) low (0.63 levels. Inner spaces divided into four sections receive P homogeneous (Homo.) (four quarters: 2 mg or heterogenous (Hete.) (one quarter: 8 kg−1; three no-P input) patterns. Both species had longer roots compared no sections. Foraging scale (highest length surface-area(SA)) was higher P. plants subjected the Hete. pattern than Homo. pots. precision (length SA differences between patches as proportion total) also for did change response level placement pattern. Overall, ability B. because levels from high-P (8 kg−1).