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Zhang S, Li S, Meng L, Liu X, Zhang Y, Zhao S, Zhao H. Root exudation under maize/soybean intercropping system mediates the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity and improves the plant growth. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1375194. [PMID: 38947945 PMCID: PMC11211593 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1375194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Maize/soybean intercropping is a common cropping practice in Chinese agriculture, known to boost crop yield and enhance soil fertility. However, the role of below-ground interactions, particularly root exudates, in maintaining intercropping advantages in soybean/maize intercropping systems remains unclear. Methods This study aimed to investigate the differences in root exudates between intercropping and monocropping systems through two pot experiments using metabolomics methods. Multiple omics analyses were conducted to explore correlations between differential metabolites and the community of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), shedding light on the mechanisms underlying the dominance of intercropping from the perspective of root exudates-soil microorganism interactions. Results and discussion The study revealed that intercropping significantly increased the types and contents of root exudates, lowered soil pH, increased the availability of nutrients like available nitrogen (AN) and available phosphorus (AP), and enhanced AMF colonization, resulting in improving the community composition of AMF. Besides, root exudates in intercropping systems differed significantly from those in monocropping, with 41 and 39 differential metabolites identified in the root exudates of soybean/maize, predominantly amino acids and organic acids. The total amount of amino acids in the root exudates of soybean intercropping was 3.61 times higher than in monocropping. Additionally, the addition of root exudates significantly improved the growth of soybean/maize and AMF colonization, with the mycorrhizal colonization rate in intercropping increased by 105.99% and 111.18% compared to monocropping, respectively. The identified metabolic pathways associated with root exudates were closely linked to plant growth, soil fertility improvement, and the formation of AMF. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship (P < 0.05) between certain metabolites such as tartaric acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, aspartic acid, alanine, and the AMF community. Notably, the photosynthetic carbon fixation pathway involving aspartic acid showed a strong association with the function of Glomus_f_Glomerace, the dominant genus of AMF. A combined analysis of metabolomics and high throughput sequencing revealed that the root exudates of soybean/maize intercropping have direct or indirect connections with AMF and soil nutrients. Conclusion This suggests that the increased root exudates of the soybean/maize intercropping system mediate an improvement in AMF community composition, thereby influencing soil fertility and maintaining the advantage of intercropping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhang
- Resource and Environmental College, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shumin Li
- Resource and Environmental College, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lingbo Meng
- School of Geography and Tourism, Harbin University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaodan Liu
- Resource and Environmental College, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- Resource and Environmental College, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shuchang Zhao
- Resource and Environmental College, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Haobing Zhao
- Resource and Environmental College, Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang, China
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Wang C, Ma Y, Zhao R, Sun Z, Wang X, Gao F. The Effect of Nutrient Deficiencies on the Annual Yield and Root Growth of Summer Corn in a Double-Cropping System. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:682. [PMID: 38475527 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The North China Plain has a typical winter wheat-summer corn double-cropping pattern. The effects of nutrient deficiency conditions on the root characteristics and yield of summer corn in the double-cropping system were studied for four years. Long-term monotonous fertilization patterns undermine crop rotation systems and are detrimental to the sustainability of agricultural production. To complement the development of rational fertilization strategies by exploring the response of crop rotation systems to nutrient deficiencies, an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design consisting of five treatments with three replicates for each treatment: (1) an adequate supply of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and potash-deficient treatment (T1); (2) an adequate supply of nitrogen and potash fertilizers and phosphorus-deficient treatment (T2); (3) an adequate supply of phosphorus and potash fertilizers and nitrogen-deficient treatment (T3); (4) nutrient-sufficient treatment for crop growth (T4); and (5) no-fertilizer treatment (CK). The results showed that different nutrient treatments had significant effects on the root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSAD), and root dry weight density (RDWD) in summer corn. At the physiological maturity stage (R6), the root indexes of RLD, RSAD, and RDWD were significantly higher in the 0-20 cm soil layer in T4 compared to CK, with an increase of 86.2%, 131.4%, and 100.0%, respectively. Similarly, in the 20-40 cm soil layer, the root indexes of T4 were 85.7%, 61.3%, and 50.0% higher than CK, with varied differences observed in the other nutrient-deficient treatments. However, there was no significant difference among the treatments in the 40-60 cm layer except for T4, whose root index showed a difference. The root fresh weight and root dry matter in T4, T3, T2, and T1 were increased to different degrees compared with CK. In addition, these differences in root indexes affected the annual yield of crops, which increased by 20.96%, 21.95%, and 8.14% in T4, T2, and T1, respectively, compared to CK. The spike number and the number of grains per spike of T4 were 10.8% and 8.3% higher than those of CK, which led to the differences in summer corn yields. The 1000-kernel weight of T4, T2, and T1 were 9.5%, 8.8%, and 7.4% higher than that of CK, whereas the determining nutrient was nitrogen fertilizer, and phosphorus fertilizer had a higher effect on yield than potassium fertilizer. This provides a theoretical basis for the effect of nutrient deficiency conditions on yield stability in a double-cropping system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuangyun Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Yankun Ma
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Rong Zhao
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Zheng Sun
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China
| | - Xiaofen Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fei Gao
- College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, China
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Liu J, Shui J, Xu C, Cai X, Wang Q, Wang X. Temporal phenotypic variation of spinach root traits and its relation to shoot performance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3233. [PMID: 38332007 PMCID: PMC10853530 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53798-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The root system is important for the growth and development of spinach. To reveal the temporal variability of the spinach root system, root traits of 40 spinach accessions were measured at three imaging times (20, 30, and 43 days after transplanting) in this study using a non-destructive and non-invasive root analysis system. Results showed that five root traits were reliably measured by this system (RootViz FS), and two of which were highly correlated with manually measured traits. Root traits had higher variations than shoot traits among spinach accessions, and the trait of mean growth rate of total root length had the largest coefficients of variation across the three imaging times. During the early stage, only tap root length was weakly correlated with shoot traits (plant height, leaf width, and object area (equivalent to plant surface area)), whereas in the third imaging, root fresh weight, total root length, and root area were strongly correlated with shoot biomass-related traits. Five root traits (total root length, tap root length, total root area, root tissue density, and maximal root width) showed high variations with coefficients of variation values (CV ≥ 0.3, except maximal root width) and high heritability (H2 > 0.6) among the three stages. The 40 spinach accessions were classified into five subgroups with different growth dynamics of the primary and lateral roots by cluster analysis. Our results demonstrated the potential of in-situ phenotyping to assess dynamic root growth in spinach and provide new perspectives for biomass breeding based on root system ideotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Liu
- Development and Collaborative Innovation Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Jiapeng Shui
- Development and Collaborative Innovation Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Chenxi Xu
- Development and Collaborative Innovation Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Xiaofeng Cai
- Development and Collaborative Innovation Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Quanhua Wang
- Development and Collaborative Innovation Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Development and Collaborative Innovation Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China.
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Weitzman JN, Brooks JR, Compton JE, Faulkner BR, Mayer PM, Peachey RE, Rugh WD, Coulombe RA, Hatteberg B, Hutchins SR. Deep soil nitrogen storage slows nitrate leaching through the vadose zone. AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 332:1-13. [PMID: 35400773 DOI: 10.23719/1524264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications are important for agricultural yield, yet not all the applied N is taken up by crops, leading to surplus N storage in soil or leaching to groundwater and surface water. Leaching loss of fertilizer N represents a cost for farmers and has consequences for human health and the environment, especially in the southern Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, where groundwater nitrate contamination is prevalent. While improved nutrient management and conservation practices have been implemented to minimize leaching, nitrate levels in groundwater continue to increase in many long-term monitoring wells. To elucidate controls on leaching rates and N dynamics in agricultural soils across soil depths, and in response to seasonal and annual variation in management (e.g., fertilizer input amount and summer irrigation), we intensively monitored the transport of water and nitrate every two weeks for four years through the vadose zone at three depths (0.8, 1.5, and 3.0 m) in a sweet corn (maize) field. Though nitrate leaching was highly variable among lysimeters at the same depth and across years, a strong pattern emerged: annual nitrate leaching significantly decreased with depth across the study, averaging ~104 kg N ha-1 yr-1 near the surface (0.8 m) versus ~56 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in the deep soil (3.0 m), a 54% reduction in leaching between the soil layers. Even though crops were irrigated in summer, most leaching (~72% below 3.0 m) occurred during the wet fall and winter. Based on steady state assumptions, a net equivalent of ~29% of surface N inputs leached below 3.0 m into the deeper soil and groundwater, while ~44% was removed in crop harvest, indicating considerable N retention in the soil (~27% of inputs or approximately 58 kg N ha-1 yr-1). The accumulation and long-term dynamics of deep soil N is a legacy of agricultural management that should be further studied to better manage and reduce nitrate loss to groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie N Weitzman
- ORISE Fellow at Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - J Renée Brooks
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - Jana E Compton
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - Barton R Faulkner
- Groundwater Characterization and Remediation Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 919 Kerr Research Drive, Ada, OK, 74820, USA
| | - Paul M Mayer
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - Ronald E Peachey
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, 4045 Agriculture and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - William D Rugh
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen R Hutchins
- Groundwater Characterization and Remediation Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 919 Kerr Research Drive, Ada, OK, 74820, USA
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5
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Weitzman JN, Brooks JR, Compton JE, Faulkner BR, Mayer PM, Peachey RE, Rugh WD, Coulombe RA, Hatteberg B, Hutchins SR. Deep soil nitrogen storage slows nitrate leaching through the vadose zone. AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 332:1-13. [PMID: 35400773 PMCID: PMC8988158 DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2022.107949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications are important for agricultural yield, yet not all the applied N is taken up by crops, leading to surplus N storage in soil or leaching to groundwater and surface water. Leaching loss of fertilizer N represents a cost for farmers and has consequences for human health and the environment, especially in the southern Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA, where groundwater nitrate contamination is prevalent. While improved nutrient management and conservation practices have been implemented to minimize leaching, nitrate levels in groundwater continue to increase in many long-term monitoring wells. To elucidate controls on leaching rates and N dynamics in agricultural soils across soil depths, and in response to seasonal and annual variation in management (e.g., fertilizer input amount and summer irrigation), we intensively monitored the transport of water and nitrate every two weeks for four years through the vadose zone at three depths (0.8, 1.5, and 3.0 m) in a sweet corn (maize) field. Though nitrate leaching was highly variable among lysimeters at the same depth and across years, a strong pattern emerged: annual nitrate leaching significantly decreased with depth across the study, averaging ~104 kg N ha-1 yr-1 near the surface (0.8 m) versus ~56 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in the deep soil (3.0 m), a 54% reduction in leaching between the soil layers. Even though crops were irrigated in summer, most leaching (~72% below 3.0 m) occurred during the wet fall and winter. Based on steady state assumptions, a net equivalent of ~29% of surface N inputs leached below 3.0 m into the deeper soil and groundwater, while ~44% was removed in crop harvest, indicating considerable N retention in the soil (~27% of inputs or approximately 58 kg N ha-1 yr-1). The accumulation and long-term dynamics of deep soil N is a legacy of agricultural management that should be further studied to better manage and reduce nitrate loss to groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie N. Weitzman
- ORISE Fellow at Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - J. Renée Brooks
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - Jana E. Compton
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - Barton R. Faulkner
- Groundwater Characterization and Remediation Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 919 Kerr Research Drive, Ada, OK, 74820, USA
| | - Paul M. Mayer
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | - Ronald E. Peachey
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, 4045 Agriculture and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - William D. Rugh
- Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen R. Hutchins
- Groundwater Characterization and Remediation Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 919 Kerr Research Drive, Ada, OK, 74820, USA
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6
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Wang Z, Jia Y, Fu J, Qu Z, Wang X, Zou D, Wang J, Liu H, Zheng H, Wang J, Yang L, Xu H, Zhao H. An Analysis Based on Japonica Rice Root Characteristics and Crop Growth Under the Interaction of Irrigation and Nitrogen Methods. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:890983. [PMID: 35845668 PMCID: PMC9277566 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.890983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water shortages and nitrogen (N) fertilizer overuse limit japonica rice production in Northeastern China. The interactions between water-saving irrigation and nitrogen management on rice root and shoot growth is still our research focus. Here, japonica rice (DN425) was subjected to the irrigation methods W1 (flooding irrigation), W2 [mild alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD); -10 kPa], W3 (severe AWD; -30 kPa), and different N fertilizer ratios were applied in different growth stages, namely, N1 (6:3:1:0), N2 (5:3:1:1), and N3 (4:3:2:1). From jointing to full heading stages, the highest photosynthate production capacity and root activity were obtained under W1N2. AWD markedly affected the root system and resulted in root senescence at later growth stages. Grain yield and N utilization efficiency were closely and positively correlated with the relative water content, crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area duration (LAD), the increase rate of root length density, root surface area density, and root volume density (RVD) from the jointing to full heading stages. This positive correlation was also observed in the increased rate of root bleeding sap (RBS) under W1N2 and CGR under W2N3. From full heading to maturity stages, N2 could promote root growth, LAD, and CGR under AWD to a greater extent than those under the other treatments. Water use efficiency (WUE) and N uptake efficiency (NUpE) were both negatively associated with the decreased rate of RVD, root dry weight (RDW), and RBS. They were closely and positively correlated with the increased rate of RDW and CGR. Our results suggested that W2N2 treatment delayed root senescence, maintained leaf photosynthesis, optimized the crop growth rate from full heading to maturity stages, and improved grain yield. The optimal grain yield, WUE, and NUpE were achieved at the irrigation water amount and topdressing fertilizer ratio of 41.40-50.34 × 102 and 31.20-34.83 kg ha-1, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoqian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Jinxu Fu
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhaojun Qu
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinpeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Detang Zou
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Jingguo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Hualong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongliang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Bei Da Huang Kenfeng Seed Limited Company, Harbin, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Agricultural College, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Huimin Xu
- College of Arts and Sciences, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Enhancement, Physiology and Ecology of Food Crops in Cold Region, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
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Lopez G, Ahmadi SH, Amelung W, Athmann M, Ewert F, Gaiser T, Gocke MI, Kautz T, Postma J, Rachmilevitch S, Schaaf G, Schnepf A, Stoschus A, Watt M, Yu P, Seidel SJ. Nutrient deficiency effects on root architecture and root-to-shoot ratio in arable crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1067498. [PMID: 36684760 PMCID: PMC9846339 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1067498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant root traits play a crucial role in resource acquisition and crop performance when soil nutrient availability is low. However, the respective trait responses are complex, particularly at the field scale, and poorly understood due to difficulties in root phenotyping monitoring, inaccurate sampling, and environmental conditions. Here, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 50 field studies to identify the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), or potassium (K) deficiencies on the root systems of common crops. Root length and biomass were generally reduced, while root length per shoot biomass was enhanced under N and P deficiency. Root length decreased by 9% under N deficiency and by 14% under P deficiency, while root biomass was reduced by 7% in N-deficient and by 25% in P-deficient soils. Root length per shoot biomass increased by 33% in N deficient and 51% in P deficient soils. The root-to-shoot ratio was often enhanced (44%) under N-poor conditions, but no consistent response of the root-to-shoot ratio to P-deficiency was found. Only a few K-deficiency studies suited our approach and, in those cases, no differences in morphological traits were reported. We encountered the following drawbacks when performing this analysis: limited number of root traits investigated at field scale, differences in the timing and severity of nutrient deficiencies, missing data (e.g., soil nutrient status and time of stress), and the impact of other conditions in the field. Nevertheless, our analysis indicates that, in general, nutrient deficiencies increased the root-length-to-shoot-biomass ratios of crops, with impacts decreasing in the order deficient P > deficient N > deficient K. Our review resolved inconsistencies that were often found in the individual field experiments, and led to a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying root plasticity in fields with low nutrient availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Lopez
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- *Correspondence: Gina Lopez, ; Sabine Julia Seidel,
| | - Seyed Hamid Ahmadi
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Water Engineering Department, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
- Drought Research Center, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Wulf Amelung
- Soil Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Miriam Athmann
- Organic Farming and Cropping Systems, University of Kassel, Witzenhausen, Germany
| | - Frank Ewert
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Directorate, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Müncheberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Gaiser
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martina I. Gocke
- Soil Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Timo Kautz
- Crop Science, Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Postma
- Institute of Bio-Geosciences (IBG-2, Plant Sciences), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Shimon Rachmilevitch
- Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Gabriel Schaaf
- Plant Nutrition Group, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andrea Schnepf
- Institute for Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-3, Agrosphere), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Alixandrine Stoschus
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michelle Watt
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peng Yu
- Crop Functional Genomics, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Emmy Noether Group Root Functional Biology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sabine Julia Seidel
- Crop Science, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- *Correspondence: Gina Lopez, ; Sabine Julia Seidel,
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Optimization of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application with Climate-Smart Agriculture in the North China Plain. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13233415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Long−term excessive nitrogen fertilizer input has resulted in several environmental problems, including an increase in N2O emissions and the aggravation of nitrate leaching; monitoring nitrogen fertilizer is crucial for maize with high yield. This study aimed to optimize the amount of nitrogen applied to maize by Climate−Smart Agriculture (CSA) so as to continuously improve agricultural productivity and reduce or eliminate N2O emissions as much as possible. Field experiments with a completely randomized design were conducted to examine the effects of six nitrogen treatments (N application levels of 0, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360 kg·ha−1, respectively) on N2O emissions, residual concentration of nitrate and ammonium nitrogen, maize yield, and nitrogen utilization efficiency in 2018 and 2019. The results indicated that the residual concentration of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-−N) in the two seasons significantly increased; N2O emissions significantly increased, and the nitrogen fertilizer agronomic efficiency and partial productivity of maize fell dramatically as the nitrogen application rate increased. The maize grain yield rose when the N application amount was raised (N application amount <300 kg·ha−1) but decreased when the N application amount > 300 kg·ha−1. An increase in the nitrogen application rate can decrease nitrogen use efficiency, increase soil NO3-−N residual, and N2O emissions. Reasonable nitrogen application can increase maize yield and reduce N2O emissions and be conducive to improving nitrogen use efficiency. By considering summer maize yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and farmland ecological environment, 173.94~178.34 kg N kg·ha−1 could be utilized as the nitrogen threshold for summer maize in the North China Plain.
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van Duijnen R, Uther H, Härdtle W, Temperton VM, Kumar A. Timing matters: Distinct effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application timing on root system architecture responses. PLANT-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2021; 2:194-205. [PMID: 37283701 PMCID: PMC10168076 DOI: 10.1002/pei3.10057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Aims Although different plant foraging responses to the two macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are well researched, the effect of timing of fertilizer application on root system architecture (RSA) remains largely unknown. We, therefore, aimed to understand how RSA of Hordeum vulgare L. responds to timing of N and P application. Methods Plants were grown in rhizoboxes for 38 days in nutrient-poor soil and watered with nutrient solution, lacking either N or P, with the absent nutrient applied once either 2/3/4 weeks after sowing. Positive controls were continuously receiving N and P and a negative control receiving both N and P only after 3 weeks. We tracked root growth over time, measured plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Results Late N application strongly reduced total root biomass and visible root length compared with continuous NP and late P application. Root mass fractions (total root biomass/total plant biomass) remained similar over all treatments, but relative allocation (% of total root biomass) was higher in lower depth with late N application. Shoot P concentrations remained relatively stable, but the plants receiving P later had higher N concentrations. Conclusions Late N application had overall more negative effects on early plant growth compared with late P. We propose that future studies under field conditions should try to disentangle the effect of timing from the nutrient availability on RSA responses and hence ultimately plant performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard van Duijnen
- Institute of EcologyFaculty of SustainabilityLeuphana University LüneburgLüneburgGermany
| | - Hannah Uther
- Institute of EcologyFaculty of SustainabilityLeuphana University LüneburgLüneburgGermany
| | - Werner Härdtle
- Institute of EcologyFaculty of SustainabilityLeuphana University LüneburgLüneburgGermany
| | - Vicky M. Temperton
- Institute of EcologyFaculty of SustainabilityLeuphana University LüneburgLüneburgGermany
| | - Amit Kumar
- Institute of EcologyFaculty of SustainabilityLeuphana University LüneburgLüneburgGermany
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10
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Tufail MA, Touceda-González M, Pertot I, Ehlers RU. Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pal5 Enhances Plant Robustness Status under the Combination of Moderate Drought and Low Nitrogen Stress in Zea mays L. Microorganisms 2021; 9:870. [PMID: 33920684 PMCID: PMC8073419 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria, which can fix nitrogen, plays a vital role in plant growth promotion. Previous authors have evaluated the effect of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pal5 inoculation on plants subjected to different sources of abiotic stress on an individual basis. The present study aimed to appraise the effect of G. diazotrophicus inoculation on the amelioration of the individual and combined effects of drought and nitrogen stress in maize plants (Zea mays L.). A pot experiment was conducted whereby treatments consisted of maize plants cultivated under drought stress, in soil with a low nitrogen concentration and these two stress sources combined, with and without G. diazotrophicus seed inoculation. The inoculated plants showed increased plant biomass, chlorophyll content, plant nitrogen uptake, and water use efficiency. A general increase in copy numbers of G. diazotrophicus, based on 16S rRNA gene quantification, was detected under combined moderate stress, in addition to an increase in the abundance of genes involved in N fixation (nifH). Endophytic colonization of bacteria was negatively affected by severe stress treatments. Overall, G. diazotrophicus Pal5 can be considered as an effective tool to increase maize crop production under drought conditions with low application of nitrogen fertilizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Aammar Tufail
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy
- e-nema Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie und Biologischen Pflanzenschutz mbH, Klausdorfer Str. 28-36, 24223 Schwentinental, Germany; (M.T.-G.); (R.-U.E.)
- Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy;
| | - María Touceda-González
- e-nema Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie und Biologischen Pflanzenschutz mbH, Klausdorfer Str. 28-36, 24223 Schwentinental, Germany; (M.T.-G.); (R.-U.E.)
| | - Ilaria Pertot
- Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy;
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Ralf-Udo Ehlers
- e-nema Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie und Biologischen Pflanzenschutz mbH, Klausdorfer Str. 28-36, 24223 Schwentinental, Germany; (M.T.-G.); (R.-U.E.)
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11
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Su W, Ahmad S, Ahmad I, Han Q. Nitrogen fertilization affects maize grain yield through regulating nitrogen uptake, radiation and water use efficiency, photosynthesis and root distribution. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10291. [PMID: 33240631 PMCID: PMC7676353 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
High external nitrogen (N) inputs can maximize maize yield but can cause a subsequent reduction in N use efficiency (NUE). Thus, it is necessary to identify the minimum effective N fertilizer input that does not affect maize grain yield (GY) and to investigate the photosynthetic and root system consequences of this optimal dose. We conducted a 4-year field experiment from 2014 to 2017 with four N application rates: 300 (N300), 225 (N225), 150 (N150), and 0 Kg ha-1 (N0) in the Northwest of China. GY was assessed by measuring the photosynthetic capacity and root system (root volume, surface area, length density and distribution). Grain yield decreased by -3%, 7.7%, and 21.9% when the N application rates decreased by 25%, 50%, and 100% from 300 Kg ha-1. We found that yield reduction driven by N reduction was primarily due to decreased radiation use efficiency (RUE) and WUE instead of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation and evapotranspiration. In the N225 treatment, GY, WUE, and RUE were not significantly reduced, or in some cases, were greater than those of the N300 treatment. This pattern was also observed with relevant photosynthetic and root attributes (i.e., high net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and root weight, as well as deep root distribution). Our results suggest that application of N at 225 Kg ha-1 can increased yield by improving the RUE, WUE, and NUE in semi-arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wennan Su
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semi-arid Areas, Ministry of Education/Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,Key Laboratory of Crop Physio-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture/College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semi-arid Areas, Ministry of Education/Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,Key Laboratory of Crop Physio-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture/College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China
| | - Irshad Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semi-arid Areas, Ministry of Education/Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,Key Laboratory of Crop Physio-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture/College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China
| | - Qingfang Han
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semi-arid Areas, Ministry of Education/Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,Key Laboratory of Crop Physio-ecology and Tillage Science in North-western Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture/College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,College of Agronomy, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China
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12
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Nasielski J, Earl H, Deen B. Which plant traits are most strongly related to post-silking nitrogen uptake in maize under water and/or nitrogen stress? JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 244:153059. [PMID: 31775101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2019.153059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The impact of grain yield on post-silking N uptake (PostN) in maize has been a major focus of previous studies, although results are mixed as to the direction and magnitude of the relationship between these two variables. The objective of this study was to understand how grain yield and other plant traits interact with exogenous N and water availability to regulate PostN in maize. In a greenhouse experiment, maize was subjected to high or low levels of N and water supply pre-silking during vegetative growth, which created large variations in source and sink components such as ear size and leaf area. Notably, these large differences in source and sink components were generated not by cutting off plant organs but instead by relying on maize response to vegetative-stage N and water stress. These plants were then subject to high and low levels of N and water supply post-silking, and the relationship between plant traits and PostN was characterized. Final grain yield was irrevocably reduced in the treatments where pre-silking water stress occurred compared to the well-watered pre-silking treatments (30 g plant-1-1 vs. 106 g plant-1). Because of the reduced ear sink strength in the treatments experiencing pre-silking water stress, post-silking biomass (PostBM) and PostN accumulated in vegetative organs. This resulted in greater PostN at maturity in the lower yielding treatments when post-silking water and/or N stress occurred (1.1 vs. 0.6 g N plant-1). Due to the shift in assimilate and N partitioning towards vegetative organs, leaf CER and root dry weight during grain-fill were better maintained in the lower yielding treatments. We conclude that while biomass accumulation (PostBM) regulates PostN, under post-silking N or water stress, shifting sink organs from the grain to vegetative structures increases PostN by improving vegetative organ function and enhancing post-silking source-sink ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Nasielski
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Hugh Earl
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Bill Deen
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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13
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Xue YF, Yue SC, Liu DY, Zhang W, Chen XP, Zou CQ. Dynamic Zinc Accumulation and Contributions of Pre- and/or Post-Silking Zinc Uptake to Grain Zinc of Maize as Affected by Nitrogen Supply. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1203. [PMID: 31632429 PMCID: PMC6785940 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) supply could improve the grain yield of maize, which is of great importance to provide calories and nutrients in the diets of both humans and animals. Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to investigate dynamic zinc (Zn) accumulation and the pre-silking and post-silking Zn uptake and their contributions to grain Zn accumulation of maize with different N supply under field conditions. Results showed that only 1.2% to 39.4% of grain Zn accumulation derived from pre-silking Zn uptake, with Zn remobilization being negatively affected by increasing N supply. However, post-silking Zn uptake (0.8-2.3 mg plant-1) and its substantial contribution to grain Zn accumulation (60.6%-98.8%) were progressively enhanced with the increasing N supply. Furthermore, grain Zn concentration was positively associated with grain N concentration (r = 0.752***), post-silking N uptake (r = 0.695***), and post-silking Zn uptake (r = 738***). A significant positive relationship was also found between post-silking uptake of N and Zn (r = 0.775***). These results suggest that N nutrition is a critical factor for shoot Zn uptake and its allocation to maize grain. Dry weight, and N and Zn concentration of grain and straw were significantly enhanced with the increasing N from "no N" to "optimal N" supply (150 kg N ha-1 in 2009 and 105 kg N ha-1 in 2010), but further increasing N supply (250 kg N ha-1) generally resulted in a non-significant increase in both cropping seasons. During the grain development, N supply also generally tended to improve grain N and Zn concentrations, but decrease phosphorus (P) concentration and the molar ratio of P to Zn compared with null N application. These results suggest that grain Zn accumulation mainly originates from post-silking Zn uptake. Applying N at optimal rates ensures better shoot Zn nutrition and contributes to post-silking Zn uptake, maintaining higher grain Zn availability by decreasing the molar ratio of P to Zn, and resulting in benefits to human nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Fang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Maize/Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Northern Yellow-huai River Plain, Ministry of Agriculture, Jinan, China
| | - Shan-Chao Yue
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Dun-Yi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin-Ping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chun-Qin Zou
- Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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14
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Growth and Distribution of Maize Roots in Response to Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil Profiles after Long-Term Fertilization Management on a Calcareous Soil. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10114315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The replacement of inorganic fertilizer nitrogen by manure is highlighted to have great potential to maintain crop yield while delivering multiple functions, including the improvement of soil quality. However, information on the dynamics of root distributions in response to chemical fertilizers and manure along the soil profile is still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal-spatial root distributions of summer maize (Zea mays L.) from 2013 to 2015 under four treatments (unfertilized control (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), manure + 70% NPK (NPKM), and NPKM + straw (NPKMS)). Root efficiency for shoot N accumulation was increased by 89% in the NPKM treatment compared with the NPK treatment at V12 (the emergence of the twelfth leaf) of 2014. Root growth at 40–60 cm was consistently stimulated after manure and/or straw additions, especially at V12 and R3 (the milk stage) across three years. Root length density (RLD) in the diameter <0.2 mm at 0–20 cm was significantly positively correlated with soil water content and negatively with soil mineral N contents in 2015. The RLD in the diameter >0.4 mm at 20–60 cm, and RLD <0.2 mm, was positively correlated with shoot N uptake in 2015. The root length density was insensitive in response to fertilization treatments, but the variations in RLD along the soil profile in response to fertilization implies that there is a great potential to manipulate N supply levels and rooting depths to increase nutrient use efficiency. The importance of incorporating a manure application together with straw to increase soil fertility in the North China Plain (NCP) needs further studies.
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15
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Wang H, Zheng H, Jiang Z, Dai Y, Liu G, Chen L, Luo X, Liu M, Wang Z. Efficacies of biochar and biochar-based amendment on vegetable yield and nitrogen utilization in four consecutive planting seasons. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 593-594:124-133. [PMID: 28342413 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has been suggested as a potential tailored technology for mediating soil conditions and improving crop yields. However, the efficacies of biochar and biochar-based amendments (e.g., composted biochar) in agricultural soils under a rotation system remain uncertain. In this study, an arable soil was subjected to peanut shell biochar (PBC) and biochar-based amendment (PAD) combined with or without nitrogen (N) fertilizer to evaluate their effects on vegetable yield, N bioavailability, and their relative contribution to vegetable biomass in four consecutive planting seasons. PBC alone or in co-application with N fertilizer had little effect on vegetable yield, while PAD co-application with N fertilizer decreased vegetable biomass because of the inhibition of root morphology by excessive nutrient supply. PBC and PAD applications increased rhizosphere soil pH due to OH- and HCO3- release and NO3--N uptake. Although the addition of PAD increased soil N contents due to its high contents in PAD, it had little effects on N utilization efficiency (NUE) in the four seasons. The relative contribution of PBC, PAD, and their interaction with N fertilizer to biomass yield was maintained at a low level. Our results indicated that a biochar-based amendment (e.g., PAD) was a potential alternative to N fertilizer, but the ratio of biochar to additives should be managed carefully to generate optimal benefits. Notably, the efficacy of PAD on plant growth was closely associated with plant species, and further related research on different plants is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hefang Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
| | - Zhixiang Jiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yanhui Dai
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Guocheng Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Lei Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xianxiang Luo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Minhui Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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16
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Wang C, White PJ, Li C. Colonization and community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in maize roots at different depths in the soil profile respond differently to phosphorus inputs on a long-term experimental site. MYCORRHIZA 2017; 27:369-381. [PMID: 28039601 DOI: 10.1007/s00572-016-0757-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Effects of soil depth and plant growth stages on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization and community structure in maize roots and their potential contribution to host plant phosphorus (P) nutrition under different P-fertilizer inputs were studied. Research was conducted on a long-term field experiment over 3 years. AMF colonization was assessed by AM colonization rate and arbuscule abundances and their potential contribution to host P nutrition by intensity of fungal alkaline phosphatase (ALP)/acid phosphatase (ACP) activities and expressions of ZmPht1;6 and ZmCCD8a in roots from the topsoil and subsoil layer at different growth stages. AMF community structure was determined by specific amplification of 18S rDNA. Increasing P inputs up to 75-100 kg ha-1 yr-1 increased shoot biomass and P content but decreased AMF colonization and interactions between AMF and roots. AM colonization rate, intensity of fungal ACP/ALP activities, and expression of ZmPht1;6 in roots from the subsoil were greater than those from topsoil at elongation and silking but not at the dough stage when plants received adequate or excessive P inputs. Neither P input nor soil depth influenced the number of AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present in roots, but P-fertilizer input, in particular, influenced community composition and relative AMF abundance. In conclusion, although increasing P inputs reduce AMF colonization and influence AMF community structure, AMF can potentially contribute to plant P nutrition even in well-fertilized soils, depending on the soil layer in which roots are located and the growth stage of host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Philip J White
- Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK
- Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chunjian Li
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Le Marié C, Kirchgessner N, Flütsch P, Pfeifer J, Walter A, Hund A. RADIX: rhizoslide platform allowing high throughput digital image analysis of root system expansion. PLANT METHODS 2016; 12:40. [PMID: 27602051 PMCID: PMC5011878 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-016-0140-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenotyping of genotype-by-environment interactions in the root-zone is of major importance for crop improvement as the spatial distribution of a plant's root system is crucial for a plant to access water and nutrient resources of the soil. However, so far it is unclear to what extent genetic variations in root system responses to spatially varying soil resources can be utilized for breeding applications. Among others, one limiting factor is the absence of phenotyping platforms allowing the analysis of such interactions. RESULTS We developed a system that is able to (a) monitor root and shoot growth synchronously, (b) investigate their dynamic responses and (c) analyse the effect of heterogeneous N distribution to parts of the root system in a split-nutrient setup with a throughput (200 individual maize plants at once) sufficient for mapping of quantitative trait loci or for screens of multiple environmental factors. In a test trial, 24 maize genotypes were grown under split nitrogen conditions and the response of shoot and root growth was investigated. An almost double elongation rate of crown and lateral roots was observed under high N for all genotypes. The intensity of genotype-specific responses varied strongly. For example, elongation of crown roots differed almost two times between the fastest and slowest growing genotype. A stronger selective root placement in the high-N compartment was related to an increased shoot development indicating that early vigour might be related to a more intense foraging behaviour. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, RADIX is the only system currently existing which allows studying the differential response of crown roots to split-nutrient application to quantify foraging behaviour in genome mapping or selection experiments. In doing so, changes in root and shoot development and the connection to plant performance can be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Le Marié
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Kirchgessner
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Flütsch
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Pfeifer
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Achim Walter
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hund
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Agatz A, Ashauer R, Sweeney P, Brown CD. Prediction of pest pressure on corn root nodes: the POPP-Corn model. JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE 2016; 90:161-172. [PMID: 28217038 PMCID: PMC5290061 DOI: 10.1007/s10340-016-0788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A model for the corn rootworm Diabrotica spp. combined with a temporally explicit model for development of corn roots across the soil profile was developed to link pest ecology, root damage and yield loss. Development of the model focused on simulating root damage from rootworm feeding in accordance with observations in the field to allow the virtual testing of efficacy from management interventions in the future. We present the model and demonstrate its applicability for simulating root damage by comparison between observed and simulated pest development and root damage (assessed according to the node injury scale from 0 to 3) for field studies from the literature conducted in Urbana, Illinois (US), between 1991 and 2014. The model simulated the first appearance of larvae and adults to within a week of that observed in 88 and 71 % of all years, respectively, and in all cases to within 2 weeks of the first sightings recorded for central Illinois. Furthermore, in 73 % of all years simulated root damage differed by <0.5 node injury scale points compared to the observations made in the field between 2005 and 2014 even though accurate information for initial pest pressure (i.e. number of eggs in the soil) was not measured at the sites or available from nearby locations. This is, to our knowledge, the first time that pest ecology, root damage and yield loss have been successfully interlinked to produce a virtual field. There are potential applications in investigating efficacy of different pest control measures and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Agatz
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Roman Ashauer
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | | | - Colin D. Brown
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
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19
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Rellán-Álvarez R, Lobet G, Dinneny JR. Environmental Control of Root System Biology. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 67:619-42. [PMID: 26905656 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-043015-111848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The plant root system traverses one of the most complex environments on earth. Understanding how roots support plant life on land requires knowing how soil properties affect the availability of nutrients and water and how roots manipulate the soil environment to optimize acquisition of these resources. Imaging of roots in soil allows the integrated analysis and modeling of environmental interactions occurring at micro- to macroscales. Advances in phenotyping of root systems is driving innovation in cross-platform-compatible methods for data analysis. Root systems acclimate to the environment through architectural changes that act at the root-type level as well as through tissue-specific changes that affect the metabolic needs of the root and the efficiency of nutrient uptake. A molecular understanding of the signaling mechanisms that guide local and systemic signaling is providing insight into the regulatory logic of environmental responses and has identified points where crosstalk between pathways occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Rellán-Álvarez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (Langebio), Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato, Guanajuato 36821, Mexico;
| | - Guillaume Lobet
- PhytoSYSTEMS, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
- Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften: Agrosphäre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - José R Dinneny
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305;
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Chen Z, Wang H, Liu X, Liu Y, Gao S, Zhou J. The Effect of N Fertilizer Placement on the Fate of Urea-15N and Yield of Winter Wheat in Southeast China. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153701. [PMID: 27082246 PMCID: PMC4833380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A field micro-plot experiment using nitrogen isotope (15N) labeling was conducted to determine the effects of placement methods (broadcast and band) and N rates (60, 150 and 240 kg ha–1) on the fate of urea-15N in the wheat–soil system in Guangde County of Anhui Province, China. N fertilizer applied in bands increased grain yield by 15% compared with broadcast application. The N fertilizer application rate had a significant effect on grain yield, straw yield and aboveground biomass, as well as on N uptake and N concentration of wheat. The recovery of urea-15N was a little higher for broadcast (34.0–39.0%) than for band treatment (31.2–38.2%). Most of the soil residual N was retained in the 0–20 cm soil layer. At the N rates of 60 and 240 kg ha–1, the residual 15N was higher for band (34.4 and 108.7 kg ha–1, respectively) than for broadcast application (29.6 and 88.4 kg ha–1, respectively). Compared with broadcast treatment, banded placement of N fertilizer decreased the N loss in the wheat–soil system. Band application one time is an alternative N management practice for winter wheat in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Huoyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yongzhe Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, China
| | - Shuaishuai Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianmin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210018, China
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Yu P, Hochholdinger F, Li C. Root-type-specific plasticity in response to localized high nitrate supply in maize (Zea mays). ANNALS OF BOTANY 2015; 116:751-62. [PMID: 26346717 PMCID: PMC4590331 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcv127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Shoot-borne roots contribute to most of the nutrient uptake throughout the life cycle of maize (Zea mays). Compared with numerous studies with embryonic roots, detailed information on the phenotypic plasticity of shoot-borne roots in response to a heterogeneous nitrogen supply is scarce. The present study therefore provides a comprehensive profile of fine-scale plastic responses of distinct root types to localized high nitrate supply. METHODS Seedlings of the maize inbred line B73 were grown in split-root systems. The anatomy and morphological plasticity of the primary root and the roots initiated from the 2nd, 5th and 7th shoot nodes, and their lateral roots, were studied in response to local high nitrate supply to one side of the root system. KEY RESULTS In contrast to the insensitivity of axial roots, local high nitrate supply increased the length of 1st-order lateral roots on the primary root and the three whorls of shoot-borne roots at different growth stages, and increased the density of 1st-order lateral roots on the 7th shoot-borne root after silking. The length and density of 2nd-order lateral roots on the three whorls of shoot-borne roots displayed a more flexible response to local high nitrate than 1st-order lateral roots. Root diameter and number, and total area and diameter of metaxylem vessels increased from the primary root to early and then later developed shoot-borne roots, which showed a positive relationship with shoot growth and N accumulation. CONCLUSIONS Maize axial roots and lateral roots responded differently to local high nitrate, and this was related to their function. The extent of morphological plasticity of lateral roots in response to local high nitrate depended on the initiation time of the shoot-borne roots on which the lateral roots developed. Morphological plasticity was higher on 2nd-order than on 1st-order lateral roots. The results suggest that higher order lateral root branching might be a potential target for genetic improvement in future maize breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, PR China and Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Division of Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, D-53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank Hochholdinger
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Division of Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, D-53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Chunjian Li
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, PR China and
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Yu P, Li X, White PJ, Li C. A large and deep root system underlies high nitrogen-use efficiency in maize production. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126293. [PMID: 25978356 PMCID: PMC4433229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive N fertilization results in low N-use efficiency (NUE) without any yield benefits and can have profound, long-term environmental consequences including soil acidification, N leaching and increased production of greenhouse gases. Improving NUE in crop production has been a longstanding, worldwide challenge. A crucial strategy to improve NUE is to enhance N uptake by roots. Taking maize as a model crop, we have compared root dry weight (RDW), root/shoot biomass ratio (R/S), and NUE of maize grown in the field in China and in western countries using data from 106 studies published since 1959. Detailed analysis revealed that the differences in the RDW and R/S of maize at silking in China and the western countries were not derived from variations in climate, geography, and stress factors. Instead, NUE was positively correlated with R/S and RDW; R/S and NUE of maize varieties grown in western countries were significantly greater than those grown in China. We then testified this conclusion by conducting field trials with representative maize hybrids in China (ZD958 and XY335) and the US (P32D79). We found that US P32D79 had a better root architecture for increased N uptake and removed more mineral N than Chinese cultivars from the 0-60 cm soil profile. Reported data and our field results demonstrate that a large and deep root, with an appropriate architecture and higher stress tolerance (higher plant density, drought and N deficiency), underlies high NUE in maize production. We recommend breeding for these traits to reduce the N-fertilizer use and thus N-leaching in maize production and paying more attention to increase tolerance to stresses in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xuexian Li
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Philip J. White
- Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, United Kingdom
| | - Chunjian Li
- Department of Plant Nutrition, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- * E-mail:
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Ning P, Li S, White PJ, Li C. Maize varieties released in different eras have similar root length density distributions in the soil, which are negatively correlated with local concentrations of soil mineral nitrogen. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121892. [PMID: 25799291 PMCID: PMC4370465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Larger, and deeper, root systems of new maize varieties, compared to older varieties, are thought to have enabled improved acquisition of soil resources and, consequently, greater grain yields. To compare the spatial distributions of the root systems of new and old maize varieties and their relationships with spatial variations in soil concentrations of available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), two years of field experiments were performed using six Chinese maize varieties released in different eras. Vertical distributions of roots, and available N, P and K in the 0-60 cm soil profile were determined in excavated soil monoliths at silking and maturity. The results demonstrated that new maize varieties had larger root dry weight, higher grain yield and greater nutrient accumulation than older varieties. All varieties had similar total root length and vertical root distribution at silking, but newer varieties maintained greater total root length and had more roots in the 30-60 cm soil layers at maturity. The spatial variation of soil mineral N (Nmin) in each soil horizon was larger than that of Olsen-P and ammonium-acetate-extractable K, and was inversely correlated with root length density (RLD), especially in the 0-20 cm soil layer. It was concluded that greater acquisition of mineral nutrients and higher yields of newer varieties were associated with greater total root length at maturity. The negative relationship between RLD and soil Nmin at harvest for all varieties suggests the importance of the spatial distribution of the root system for N uptake by maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ning
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Sa Li
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Philip J. White
- Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Chunjian Li
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Yu P, White PJ, Hochholdinger F, Li C. Phenotypic plasticity of the maize root system in response to heterogeneous nitrogen availability. PLANTA 2014; 240:667-78. [PMID: 25143250 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-014-2150-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Mineral nutrients are distributed in a non-uniform manner in the soil. Plasticity in root responses to the availability of mineral nutrients is believed to be important for optimizing nutrient acquisition. The response of root architecture to heterogeneous nutrient availability has been documented in various plant species, and the molecular mechanisms coordinating these responses have been investigated particularly in Arabidopsis, a model dicotyledonous plant. Recently, progress has been made in describing the phenotypic plasticity of root architecture in maize, a monocotyledonous crop. This article reviews aspects of phenotypic plasticity of maize root system architecture, with special emphasis on describing (1) the development of its complex root system; (2) phenotypic responses in root system architecture to heterogeneous N availability; (3) the importance of phenotypic plasticity for N acquisition; (4) different regulation of root growth and nutrients uptake by shoot; and (5) root traits in maize breeding. This knowledge will inform breeding strategies for root traits enabling more efficient acquisition of soil resources and synchronizing crop growth demand, root resource acquisition and fertilizer application during crop growing season, thereby maximizing crop yields and nutrient-use efficiency and minimizing environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
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Maize yield response to water supply and fertilizer input in a semi-arid environment of Northeast China. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86099. [PMID: 24465896 PMCID: PMC3896526 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Maize grain yield varies highly with water availability as well as with fertilization and relevant agricultural management practices. With a 311-A optimized saturation design, field experiments were conducted between 2006 and 2009 to examine the yield response of spring maize (Zhengdan 958, Zea mays L) to irrigation (I), nitrogen fertilization (total nitrogen, urea-46% nitrogen,) and phosphorus fertilization (P2O5, calcium superphosphate-13% P2O5) in a semi-arid area environment of Northeast China. According to our estimated yield function, the results showed that N is the dominant factor in determining maize grain yield followed by I, while P plays a relatively minor role. The strength of interaction effects among I, N and P on maize grain yield follows the sequence N+I >P+I>N+P. Individually, the interaction effects of N+I and N+P on maize grain yield are positive, whereas that of P+I is negative. To achieve maximum grain yield (10506.0 kg·ha−1) for spring maize in the study area, the optimum application rates of I, N and P are 930.4 m3·ha−1, 304.9 kg·ha−1 and 133.2 kg·ha−1 respectively that leads to a possible economic profit (EP) of 10548.4 CNY·ha−1 (CNY, Chinese Yuan). Alternately, to obtain the best EP (10827.3 CNY·ha−1), the optimum application rates of I, N and P are 682.4 m3·ha−1, 241.0 kg·ha−1 and 111.7 kg·ha−1 respectively that produces a potential grain yield of 10289.5 kg·ha−1.
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26
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Yu P, Li X, Yuan L, Li C. A novel morphological response of maize (Zea mays) adult roots to heterogeneous nitrate supply revealed by a split-root experiment. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2014; 150:133-44. [PMID: 23724916 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 35-55% of total nitrogen (N) in maize plants is taken up by the root at the reproductive stage. Little is known about how the root of an adult plant responds to heterogeneous nutrient supply. In this study, root morphological and physiological adaptations to nitrate-rich and nitrate-poor patches and corresponding gene expression of ZmNrt2.1 and ZmNrt2.2 of maize seedlings and adult plants were characterized. Local high nitrate (LoHN) supply increased both lateral root length (LRL) and density of the treated nodal roots of adult maize plants, but only increased LRL of the treated primary roots of seedlings. LoHN also increased plant total N acquisition but not N influx rate of the treated roots, when expressed as per unit of root length. Furthermore, LoHN markedly increased specific root length (m g(-1)) of the treated roots but significantly inhibited the growth of the lateral roots outside of the nitrate-rich patches, suggesting a systemic carbon saving strategy within a whole root system. Surprisingly, local low nitrate (LoLN) supply stimulated nodal root growth of adult plants although LoLN inhibited growth of primary roots of seedlings. LoLN inhibited the N influx rate of the treated roots and did not change plant total N content. The gene expression of ZmNrt2.1 and ZmNrt2.2 of the treated roots of seedlings and adult plants was inhibited by LoHN but enhanced by LoLN. In conclusion, maize adult roots responded to nitrate-rich and nitrate-poor patches by adaptive morphological alterations and displayed carbon saving strategies in response to heterogeneous nitrate supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- Department of Plant Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing, 100193, PR China
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27
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Peng Y, Li C, Fritschi FB. Apoplastic infusion of sucrose into stem internodes during female flowering does not increase grain yield in maize plants grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2013; 148:470-480. [PMID: 23061679 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2012.01711.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2012] [Revised: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) limitation reduces leaf growth and photosynthetic rates of maize (Zea mays), and constrains photosynthate translocation to developing ears. Additionally, the period from about 1 week before to 2 weeks after silking is critical for establishing the reproductive sink capacity necessary to attain maximum yield. To investigate the influence of carbohydrate availability in plants of differing N status, a greenhouse study was performed in which exogenous sucrose (Suc) was infused around the time of silking into maize stems grown under different N regimes. N deficiency significantly reduced leaf area, leaf longevity, leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. High N-delayed leaf senescence, particularly of the six uppermost leaves, compared to the other two N treatments. While N application increased ear leaf soluble protein concentration, it did not influence glucose and suc concentrations. Interestingly, ear leaf starch concentration decreased with increasing N application. Infusion of exogenous suc tended to increase non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in the developing ears of all N treatments at silking and 6 days after silking. However, leaf photosynthetic rates were not affected by suc infusion, and suc infusion failed to increase grain yield in any N treatment. The lack of an effect of suc infusion on ear growth and the high ear leaf starch concentration of N-deficient maize, suggest that yield reduction under N deficiency may not be due to insufficient photosynthate availability to the developing ear during silking, and that yield reduction under N deficiency may be determined at an earlier growth stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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