Roots as sinks and sources of nutrients and carbon in agricultural systems

Abstract

Roots are a special category of 'soil biota' being part of organisms that live in two very different types of environment, aboveground and belowground. As they belong to the organisms that form the main target of all agricultural interventions and are directly involved in the efficiency with which nutrients and water are used for crop production, root knowledge should be 'at the root' of any discussion on sustainable agriculture. Yet, little direct attention is given to roots, possibly because of a lack of (1) clear concepts on what to look for and (2) easy (be it quick and dirty) methods to observe the relevant properties in actual root systems