Precision Farming of the Hidden Half: Integrating Roots into Agriculture using Remote Sensing

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Carbon (C) source and sink strength imbalances are a major limit on agricultural crop growth, and the lack of monitoring tools for root sink strength (e.g., biomass and activity) are a critical knowledge gap that hinders efforts to maximize yields. While precision farming aims to optimize inputs to plant needs, the suite of biotic variables used to estimate plant demands are based on half of the plant, despite that fact that the "hidden half" (i.e., roots) play a stronger role in nutrient uptake and there are several mechanisms through which root sink strength regulates photosynthesis and limits growth. Delineating underperforming areas through source-focused metrics of aboveground biomass and photosynthesis will perpetuate the current situation where nutrient uptake and fertilizer application remain unsynchronized and stewardship targets are not met, particularly in the Great Lakes region where phosphorus loading has increased. Despite the development of mappable proxies for root system traits, there are missing linkages to root biomass and exudation due to the lack of tandem above and belowground observations at high spatial-temporal frequency. Until these knowledge gaps are filled, the effects of agricultural practices and root system responses cannot be resolved. This research program will improve our understanding of environmental modulation of root sink strength through a high frequency tandem above and belowground monitoring program deploying automatic minirhizotrons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in relation to farming practices and within field heterogeneity. Over the course of the growing season, root sink strength dynamics, biomass, exudation, photosynthesis, and soil microbial community respiration will be tracked to inform the development of remote sensing tools to define root inclusive management zones based on root uptake capacities. Models remain the best available tools to assess the efficacy of management strategies, however they are dependent on the available data sets and only as accurate as our process understanding. Controlled environment rhizotron experiments allow precise manipulation of environmental modulators for the study of root-soil-microbial interactions incorporating covariance with regulators. Improved understanding of root-soil-microbial interactions benefit policy makers and growers, by resolving the cause of growth limitations, improving nutrient uptake strategies, highlighting sub-field areas for crop yield improvements, and enabling long-term food security in the face of future change. The unique monitoring data sets generated will be beneficial to government (AAFC and ECCC), local landowners, and industry (seed growers and Biotech). These groups and other  stakeholders will be engaged in the development of remote sensing services for root inclusive precision farming which are envisioned in the future to be developed into a commercial product that supports decision making on input application rates.