Work

Experimental insights into mucilage-mediated nutrient diffusion in different soil textures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background and Aims Volumetric soil water content ( $${\theta }_{v}$$ θ v ) strongly regulates nutrient diffusion, particularly under drying conditions. This study investigates how plant-derived mucilage alters water retention and the effective diffusion coefficient ( $${D}_{s}$$ D s ) of calcium (Ca 2 ⁺) in soils with contrasting textures (sand, sandy loam, and loam) under varying $${\theta }_{v}$$ θ v . Methods We amended soils with maize mucilage at contents ( $${C}_{m}$$ C m ) of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/g adjusted them to three $${\theta }_{v}$$ θ v levels. A 45 Ca tracer and phosphor imaging were used to track Ca 2 ⁺ diffusion over time. $${D}_{s}$$ D s was estimated from the 45 Ca distribution, allowing evaluation of mucilage effects on water retention and solute transport. Results Mucilage effects were strongly texture- and $${\theta }_{v}$$ θ v -dependent. In loam, mucilage enhanced $${\theta }_{v}$$ θ v and $${D}_{s}$$ D s at the same soil matric potential ( $${\psi }_{soil}$$ ψ soil ); for example, at a $${\theta }_{v}$$ θ v of 0.125 cm 3 /cm 3 ( $${\psi }_{soil}$$ ψ soil = $$-$$ - 23,608 cm), $${D}_{s}$$ D s increased by more than eightfold at the $${

Source: Plant and Soil

DOI: 10.1007/s11104-025-08046-6