TY - JOUR
T1 - Water sources for root water uptake
T2 - Using stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen as a research tool in agricultural and agroforestry systems
AU - Penna, Daniele
AU - Geris, Josie
AU - Hopp, Luisa
AU - Scandellari, Francesca
N1 - DP was supported by the autonomous Province of Bozen-Bolzano and Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy [grant number B83G13000420003]; JG was supported by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland [grant reference: RIG008284] and the UK Natural Environment Research Council [grant numbers: NE/N007611/1 and NE/S009167/1].
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - Understanding water sources for crop water uptake in agricultural and agroforestry systems is an essential step to develop more efficient and sustainable water management strategies, which is increasingly important in the light of current world population growth, changing climatic conditions and consequent growing pressures on agricultural- and agroforestry production. Stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in the water molecule are powerful and, nowadays, affordable tracers that can help to define the proportion of water sources accessed by plants. Yet, contrary to natural environments, their application is still relatively limited in agricultural and agroforestry research. In this work, we synthesize the advantages and the current knowledge deriving from the use of the stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, in support of more traditional techniques, to understand root water uptake dynamics in agricultural and agroforestry systems. We also underline the practical implications related to the application of this technique for management purposes, and provide a vision for new challenges and future research opportunities in exploring crop and plant water use based on isotopic data.
AB - Understanding water sources for crop water uptake in agricultural and agroforestry systems is an essential step to develop more efficient and sustainable water management strategies, which is increasingly important in the light of current world population growth, changing climatic conditions and consequent growing pressures on agricultural- and agroforestry production. Stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in the water molecule are powerful and, nowadays, affordable tracers that can help to define the proportion of water sources accessed by plants. Yet, contrary to natural environments, their application is still relatively limited in agricultural and agroforestry research. In this work, we synthesize the advantages and the current knowledge deriving from the use of the stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, in support of more traditional techniques, to understand root water uptake dynamics in agricultural and agroforestry systems. We also underline the practical implications related to the application of this technique for management purposes, and provide a vision for new challenges and future research opportunities in exploring crop and plant water use based on isotopic data.
KW - stable water isotopes
KW - root water uptake
KW - water sources
KW - water resources management
KW - irrigation
KW - agriculture and agroforestry systems
KW - Irrigation
KW - Water sources
KW - Water resources management
KW - Stable water isotopes
KW - Root water uptake
KW - Agriculture and agroforestry systems
KW - QUANTIFICATION
KW - COMPONENTS
KW - IRRIGATION
KW - WINTER-WHEAT
KW - TREES
KW - SUMMER MAIZE
KW - EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
KW - SOIL-WATER
KW - SEPARATION
KW - CONSUMPTION
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076945601&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106790
DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106790
M3 - Comment/debate
VL - 291
JO - Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment
JF - Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment
SN - 0167-8809
M1 - 106790
ER -