Roots from different plants compete for prime real estate underground

Mathematical modeling and greenhouse studies show complex interactions keep roots productive When it comes to plants, the roots hidden underground are as importantif not more importantthan whats visible above ground. Now researchers have figured out how roots from different plants divide up the space between them. Because roots hidden in soil are hard to monitor, researchers first developed a mathematical model that predicted how roots might grow with and without competition from an adjacent plant. Then