The combination of localized phosphorus and water supply indicates a high potential for savings of irrigation water and phosphorus fertilizer |
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| Authors: | Ai Zhan Xinping Chen Shiqing Li |
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| Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China;2. College of Resource and Environment, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China |
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| Abstract: | Water and phosphorus (P) are often unevenly distributed in the soil profile, thus limiting water and P uptake and plant growth. A soil column and a split‐root experiment were conducted to quantify the effect of localized water and P supply on shoot growth, root morphology, specific P uptake (SPU), P‐use efficiency (PUE), and water‐use efficiency (WUE) of maize (Zea mays L.). Our results indicate that roots preferentially grow in the layer or compartment with both adequate water and P supply, subsequently stimulating SPU, PUE, and WUE, and enhancing shoot growth. Compared with the treatments in which both layers and compartments were supplied with adequate P and/or water, the growth of maize was maintained or minimally affected. SPU, PUE, and WUE were increased when both P and water were supplied in one layer or one compartment only. These findings show that normal plant growth with an adequate P uptake was achieved even if part of the roots were supplied with 2/3 (soil column experiment) and 1/2 (split‐root experiment) of the phosphorus and water supplied in the full‐phosphorus and full‐water treatment. Changes in root morphology under water stress conditions induced by the application of phosphorus and water in deeper soil layers or to a part of the roots may have substantial practical implications for agricultural production and environmental protection. |
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| Keywords: | phosphorus‐use efficiency root morphology water‐use efficiency Zea mays |
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