Root architecture of sorghum genotypes differing in root angles under different water regimes

Plant root architecture offers the potential for increasing soil water accessibility, particularly under water-limited conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the root architecture in two genotypes of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) differing in root angles and to assess the influence of different deficit irrigation regimes on root architecture. The response of two sorghum genotypes, ‘Early Hegari-Sart’ (EH; steep root angle) and ‘Bk7’ (shallow root angle) to four irrigation treatments was investigated in two replicated outdoor studies using large pots. The results indicated that EH possessed steeper brace and crown root angles, fewer brace roots, greater root biomass, and root length density than Bk7 at deeper soil depths (i.e., 15–30 and 30–45 cm) compared with a shallower depth (i.e., 0–15 cm). Across the soil profile, EH had greater root length density and length of roots of small diameter (<1 mm) than Bk7. Accordingly, EH showed more rapid soil-water capture than Bk7. Different levels of irrigation input greatly affected root architecture. Severe deficit irrigation (25% of full crop transpiration throughout the season) increased the angle and number of crown roots, root biomass, and root length density compared with 75 and 100% of full crop transpiration treatments. Consequently, root system architecture can be effectively manipulated through both genotypic selection and irrigation management to ensure optimal performance under different levels of soil available water.     

Association between root growth angle and root length density of a near-isogenic line of IR64 rice with DEEPER ROOTING 1 under different levels of soil compaction

DEEPER ROOTING 1 (DRO1) of rice controls the gravitropic response of root growth angle. In order to clarify the effects of DRO1 on root growth angle and root length density under different soil resistance to penetration, and to quantify the relationship between root growth angle and root length density, we assessed the root growth of Dro1-NIL (a near-isogenic line homozygous for the Kinandang Patong allele of DRO1 in the IR64 background) under upland Andosol field conditions in Japan in 2013 and 2014. The trial included three levels of soil compaction (none, moderate, and hard). Root length density at a depth of 30 to 60 cm was largest in Kinandang Patong, followed by Dro1-NIL, and was least in IR64 in both years and in all compaction treatments. Root length density at this depth decreased with hard compaction (to 70% of control) and increased with moderate compaction (to 135%). The number of roots with a deep angle (i.e. 45° to 90° from the horizontal) measured by the basket method was similar at maximum tillering and maturity stages, and its value as a proportion of the total number of roots was strongly correlated with the root length density at 30 to 60 cm in both years, which demonstrates the importance of a deep root angle for the development of deep roots. Dro1-NIL had a higher proportion of deep roots than IR64, but the difference was small under hard compaction, with a significant genotype × compaction interaction.     

Drought-induced root plasticity of two upland NERICA varieties under conditions with contrasting soil depth characteristics

To identify differences in root plasticity patterns of two upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties, NERICA 1 and 4, in response to drought under conditions with contrasting soil profile characteristics, soil moisture gradients were imposed using a sloping bed system with depths ranging 30–65 cm and a line-source sprinkler system with a uniformly shallow soil layer of 20 cm depth. Varietal differences in shoot and root growths were identified only under moderate drought conditions, 11–18% v/v soil moisture content. Further, under moderate drought soil conditions where roots could penetrate into the deep soil layer, deep root development was greater in NERICA 4 than in NERICA 1, which contributed to maintaining dry matter production. However, under soil conditions with underground impediment to deep root development, higher shoot dry weight was noted for NERICA 1 than for NERICA 4 at 11–18% v/v soil moisture content, which was attributed to increased lateral root development in the shallow soil layer in NERICA 1. Enhanced lateral root development in the 0–20-cm soil layer was identified in NERICA 1 even under soil conditions without an impediment to deep root development; however, this did not contribute to maintaining dry matter production in upland rice. Thus, we show different root developmental traits associated with drought avoidance in the two NERICA varieties, and that desirable root traits for upland rice cultivation vary depending on the target soil environment, such as the distribution of soil moisture and root penetration resistance.     

Physiology of the Potato: New Insights into Root System and Repercussions for Crop Management

Potato roots are concentrated mostly in the plow layer up to 30 cm in soil depth. Some roots extend up to 100 cm depth and the total root length throughout the soil profile reaches about 10–20 km m^?2 area. There are large differences in root mass (dry weight and length) in the plow layer between cultivars, breeding lines and wild relatives. The differences are generally stable across different environmental conditions, such as locations with different soil types, fertilizer rates and planting densities. Under favourable environmental conditions without severe shortage of water and nutrients, root mass differences between genotypes are related to maturity class: late genotypes continue root growth longer, and attain larger root mass and deeper rooting than early genotypes. Differences in root mass become clear at the start of flowering, much earlier than differences in shoot mass. Root mass is negatively correlated with early tuber bulking. However, root mass generally shows positive correlations with shoot mass and final tuber yield. Differences in root mass also exist amongst genotypes of the same maturity class. Using root mass in the plow layer and tuber yield as selection criteria, Konyu cultivars were bred in Japan. They showed significantly less reduction of leaf conductance and photosynthesis, leaf area and tuber yield than commercial cultivars under dry soil conditions. To assist breeding for root characters, new methods have been developed to assess the ability of roots to penetrate into hard soil layers using pots with paraffin-vaseline discs and the ability to absorb under low water potential in vitro. Physiological research on root characteristics contributed in the past, and will continue to do so in the future, to the development of new cultivars with high drought tolerance and to the improvement of irrigation practice.     

Deep rooting in winter wheat: rooting nodes of deep roots in two cultivars with deep and shallow root systems

Deep rooting of wheat has been suggested that it influences the tolerance to various environmental stresses. In this study, the nodes from which the deepest penetrated roots had emerged were examined in winter wheat. The wheat was grown in long tubes with or without mechanical stress and in large root boxes. The length and growth angle of each axile root were examined to analyze the difference in the vertical distribution of the roots between the two wheat cultivars, one with a deep and one with a shallow root system. In Shiroganekomugi, a Japanese winter wheat cultivar with a shallow root system, the rooting depths of the seminal and nodal roots decreased as the rooting nodes advanced acropetally. Six out of nine deepest roots were seminal root in the non-mechanical stress conditions. In Mutsubenkei, a Japanese winter wheat cultivar with a deep root system, grown in root boxes, not only the seminal roots but also the coleoptilar and the first nodal roots penetrated to a depth of more than 1.3 m in the root box, and became the deepest roots. In both cultivars, the seminal roots became the deepest roots under the mechanical stress conditions. There were no clear tendencies in the root growth angles among the rooting nodes in the wheat root system. This indicates that the length of the axile roots can explain the differences in the rooting depths among axile roots in a wheat root system. On the other hand, the axile roots of Mutsubenkei elongated significantly more vertically than those of Shiroganekomugi. This suggests that not only seminal but also nodal roots exhibit strong positive gravitropism and penetrate deeply in a cultivar with a deep root system. In wheat cultivars, it is likely that the extent of its Root Depth Index results partly from the gravitropic responses of both seminal and nodal roots.     

Evaluation of HYDRUS-2D model to simulate the loss of nitrate in subsurface controlled drainage in a physical model scale of paddy fields

Agriculture is a major source of nitrogen usage and release to environment. Due to the effect of water movement on solute transport, investigating the effect of different management scenarios of irrigation and drainage could be useful for reducing nitrate loss and environmental pollution. This study is a scientific attempt to assess the ability of HYDRUS-2D model to simulate the effect of subsurface controlled drainage on nitrate loss of paddy fields. So, two physical models with difference in depth of subsurface controlled drainage (40 and 60 cm) were constructed. The tanks were filled with loam silty soil texture and then transplanted rice. 90 kg/ha potassium nitrate fertilizer was added in two stages of rice growth. Mid-season drainage was applied 26 days after transplantation. After 17 days, drains were closed again and applied flooded irrigation with 5-cm water stagnant layer above soil surface. During experiment, nitrate concentration of drain water was measured. HYDRUS-2D was calibrated with measured data in 60 cm drain depth and validated with 40 cm drain depth. HYDRUS-2D could simulate nitrate concentration with the coefficient of determination 0.95 and 0.89 in calibration and validation stages, respectively. The comparison between the volume of drain water and nitrate concentration from the drains in the depths of 40 and 60 cm indicated lower nitrate load in depth of 40 cm. The results obtained proved that the presence of hardpan layer in depth of 25 cm rather than the absence of it causes increase in 3 % of average nitrate concentration and reduce in 17 % of water discharge.     

Below-Ground Competition in a Maize/Groundnut Intercropping System as Affected by the Rooting Soil Layer

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to compare the below-ground competition between the intercropped maize (Zea mays L.) and two groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) cultivars regarding the rooting soil layer. Three rows of each cultivar of groundnut (cvs. X-14 and Red Spanish) were planted in between two rows of maize (cv. Badra) with inter-row spacing of 30 cm and intra-row spacing of 15 cm. Aluminium sheets, 10 cm in height, were placed as a root barrier between the maize and groundnut rows at three depths, i.e., 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm from the soil surface. In the control plot, the soil was trenched and refilled without the aluminium partitions. The ear and total biomass yield of the maize intercropped with X-14 with the root barrier at 0-10 cm depth, were significantly larger than those with the root barriers at the depths of 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm and the control. The yield (crop or total biomass) of the maize intercropped with Red Spanish was not significantly affected by the root barrier. In conclusion, groundnut cultivar X-14 was more suitable for intercropping with maize than Red Spanish, probably due to the differences in the rooting properties in the top soil layer.     

Rooting Nodes of Deep Roots in Rice and Maize Grown in a Long Tube

Summary

Penetration of the roots deep into soil layer (deep roots) may alleviate growth inhibition under various soil stress conditions. In this study, the nodes from which deep roots had emerged were examined at the heading stage in rice and maize grown in a 2 m long tube. The effect of soil mechanical stress on the rooting nodes of deep roots was also examined. The roots that emerged in a relatively early growth stage, that is, the roots from coleoptilar, 1st and 2nd node in rice, and the seminal root and roots from the coleoptilar, 1st and 2nd nodes in maize, penetrated into the deep soil layer. The node which produced the highest number of deep roots was the 1st node in rice and the coleoptilar node in maize. Seminal root of rice and seminal adventitious roots of maize did not penetrate into the deep soil layer although they emerged at an early growth stage. In the rice root system, the nodal roots, emerged from the upper portion of the node, tended to penetrate deeper than the nodal roots emerged from the lower portion of the same node. Soil compaction did not affect these tendencies.     

Effect of nitrogen root zone fertilization on rice yield,uptake and utilization of macronutrient in lower reaches of Yangtze River,China

Improper application of nitrogen (N) has led to high N losses and low N use efficiency in the lower reaches of Yangtze River in China. An effective method to solve such problems is the deep fertilized N in root zone (RZF). Limited information is available on the effect of RZF on the uptake of macronutrients (N, P and K) and rice yield. Field experiments, conducted from 2014 to 2015, compared the farmer fertilizer practice (FFP, with 225 kg ha^?1 of N, split into three doses) and RZF using the same rate but placing N 5 cm away from rice roots in holes 10 cm deep (RZF10) or 5 cm deep (RZF5) as a single application. The highest mean yield (10.0 t ha^?1) was obtained in RZF10, which was 19.5% more than that in FFP. Root zone fertilization of urea (whether 10 cm deep or 5 cm deep) resulted in greater accumulation of N, P and K in stem, leaf sheaths, leaf blades and grains compared to that in FFP in sandy and in loam soils. The uptake of N, P and K was the highest in RZF10 (average at 176.7, 66.2 and 179.1 kg ha^?1, respectively), higher than that in FFP by 45.0, 17.0 and 22.6%, respectively. N apparent recovery efficiency was markedly higher in RZF10 (53.1%) than in FFP (27.5%). RZF10 significantly increased the N, P, K uptake compared with FFP under different N rates in both sandy and loam soils. These results suggest that the N, P and K input amount should be re-determined under RZF.     

The Effect of MSW Compost and Fertilizer on Extractable Soil Elements, Tuber Yield, and Elemental Concentrations in the Plant Tissue of Potato

Municipal solid waste (MSW) compost is readily available in eastern Canada and may be a good source of fertility. A 3-year experiment evaluated the effects of MSW compost and fertilizer on soil fertility, elemental composition and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown in a sandy loam soil. Three rates of compost (MSW1, MSW2, and MSW3), one rate of fertilizer (NPK), and one mixture of 1/2 MSW1 compost and 1/2 NPK fertilizer were applied annually to plots in a three-crop rotation; each year the MSW1 rate attempted to match the rate of P applied in the NPK treatment. Mehlich-3 extracts were evaluated for 11 elements at two soil depths (0?C15 and 15?C30 cm). Potato shoots and roots or whole plants were assessed for 16 elements. Treatments had no consistent significant influence on marketable tuber yields although the NPK treatment produced mathematically the highest yields. After 3 years, treatments had influenced soil concentrations of K, Ca, S, Cu, Zn, and Na in Mehlich-3 extracts at the 0?C15 cm depth, but only the concentration of Na at the 15?C30 cm depth. The concentration of Mg in the plant tissue was consistently highest in plants fertilized with NPK; this treatment also produced higher Mn concentrations in the last 2 years. Shoot Cu concentrations were highest in the MSW3 plots. The compost did not increase heavy metal concentrations in shoot, root or whole-plant tissue and would be safe to use at agronomic rates of application.     

田间条件下水稻根系分布及其与土壤容重的关系

 采用大田和筒栽方法研究了超高产三系杂交稻协优9308和两系杂交稻两优培九在穗分化期和开花期根系生长和分布及土壤容重对根系分布的影响。结果表明，在田间条件下，土层15 cm内水稻根系占根系总量的89%～98%，深层根系丛间比丛中比例高。不早衰的协优9308根系生长量较两优培九大。土壤容重提高，根系总生长量下降，且深层根系的量和比例下降。就深耕法对水稻根系生长和分布的影响进行了讨论。     

Influence of plant growth and root architecture of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) on N recovery during winter

Nitrate () leaching is an environmental and health concern. In grazed pasture systems, leaching primarily occurs beneath animal urine patch areas due to high nitrogen (N) loading and the inability of pasture plants to capture all of this N. This study investigated the relative importance of plant growth and root architecture to recover soil N. Herbage N recovery, dry matter (DM) yield and root architecture, following injections of ¹⁵N‐enriched urea at different soil depths (5, 25 and 45 cm), were measured for Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) grown in soil monolith lysimeters (18 cm diameter × 70 cm depth) under simulated South Island, New Zealand winter temperature and light levels. Total herbage N uptake and DM yield were on average 24 and 48% greater in L. multiflorum than F. arundinacea respectively. Root length density (cm cm^?3 soil) in the 5‐ to 25‐cm‐depth horizon was similar between species. In the 25‐ to 45‐cm‐depth horizon, F. arundinacea roots were found at higher densities than L. multiflorum. In the 45‐ to 65‐cm‐depth horizon, root length density was fourfold to ninefold higher for F. arundinacea than L. multiflorum, but N uptake efficiency was greater in L. multiflorum (0·48 mg ¹⁵N m^?1 root) than F. arundinacea (0·09 mg ¹⁵N m^?1 root). The results suggest that deep F. arundinacea roots are relatively inactive during the winter period and confirm that plant growth is more important than root architecture (e.g. deep roots) to recover soil N and ultimately reduce nitrate leaching losses.     

Variation of Germination Response to Temperature in Formosan Lily (Lilium formosanum Wall.) Collected from Different Latitudes and Elevations in Taiwan

Abstract

Deep penetration of an axile root is one of the important factors that allow crops to form deep root systems. In this study, the nodes from which the deepest penetrated roots had emerged were examined at the heading stage in upland rice and maize grown in large root boxes and in the field. Both experiments were designed to measure the direction, length, and rooting nodes of each root. In maize, the growth angles of axile roots increased with vertical elongation as rooting nodes acropetally advanced. The roots that emerged from the lower nodes, namely from coleoptilar to the second node, exhibited conspicuously horizontal elongation in the field, reaching 2.3 m in width at the maximum. The roots that emerged from higher than the fifth node were too short to penetrate deeply. Thus, these roots became the deepest root in less or no probability under field conditions. On the other hand, the fourth nodal root, which had an intermediate growth angle and length, had the highest probability. In upland rice, the deepest roots emerged from the nodes lower than the forth node on the main stem in the root boxes. In the field, however, the deepest roots emerged at later stages, that is, the roots from the middle nodes on the main stem and from the low nodes on the primary and secondary tillers were the deepest roots. Five out of nine of the deepest roots were from the prophyll nodes in three field-grown upland rice. The deepest roots from the same plant were estimated to have emerged and grown at approximately the same stage.     

Water use in rice crop through different methods of irrigation in a sodic soil

Sodic soils are characterized by high exchangeable sodium on exchange sites, soil pH greater than 8.5, relatively low electrical conductivity, low infiltration rate and dispersed clay. These characteristics restrict the capacity of soil to absorb water, resulting in poor infiltration. Evidently, these soils require application of irrigation water at shorter intervals for crop production. Thus, irrigation strategy for sodic soils differs from that of normal soils. An experiment to determine the suitable irrigation strategy along with methods of application namely: surface (farmer’s practice), sprinkler (double nozzle impact sprinkler), and low-energy water application device (LEWA) were initiated in the year 2012 for rice crop. Irrigation depths of 6 cm in case of surface method and 4 cm in case of sprinkler and LEWA methods were applied at each irrigation event. The irrigation events for rice were scheduled at 2-DAD (days after the disappearance of the ponded water), 3-DAD, and 4-DAD through surface method, and at daily, 1- and 2-day intervals (after initial ponding disappeared) by sprinkler and LEWA methods. Sprinkler and LEWA methods resulted in highest rice yield of 4.4 t ha^?1 in irrigated plots at the 2-day interval which was at par with the highest yielding surface-irrigated plot scheduled at 2-DAD. At the same time, irrigation strategy of 2-day interval through sprinkler and LEWA methods registered water saving to the extent of 30–40% over 2-DAD under surface irrigation method. Results revealed that there could be substantial saving of water and energy (electricity and diesel) through the use of sprinkling devices for irrigating rice under sodic soil environments.     

Development and Distribution of Root System in Two GrainSorghum Cultivars Originated from Sudan under Drought Stress

Abstract

The difference in rooting pattern between two grain sorghum cultivars differing in drought tolerance was investigated under drought stress. The cultivars, Gadambalia (drought-tolerant) and Tabat (droughtsusceptible), were grown in bottomless wooden or acrylic root boxes to examine root parameters. Gadambalia consistently exhibited higher dry matter production and leaf water potential than Tabat under drought stress in both root boxes. In the experiment with wooden root boxes, under a drought condition, Gadambalia extracted more water from deep soil layers (1.1-1.5 m), which was estimated from the reduction in soil water content, than Tabat. This was because Gadambalia had a significantly higher root length density in these soil layers. The high root length density was due to enhanced lateral root development in Gadambalia. In the other experiment with acrylic root boxes, though total root length in the upper soil layer (0-0.5 m) was declined by limited irrigation in both cultivars, the reduction in Gadambalia was moderate compared with that in Tabat owing to the maintenance of fine root growth. Unlike Tabat, Gadambalia had an ability to produce the nodal roots from higher internodes even under drought, which resulted in the high nodal root length of Gadambalia. The growth angle of nodal roots was significantly correlated with root diameter, and the nodal roots from the higher internodes had large diameters and penetrated into the soil more vertically. These results indicate that the responses of roots (i.e. branching and/or growth of lateral root, and nodal root emergence from higher internodes) to soil dryness could be associated with the drought tolerance of Gadambalia.     

Root growth,soil water variation,and grain yield response of winter wheat to supplemental irrigation

Water shortage threatens agricultural sustainability in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. Thus, we investigated the effect of supplemental irrigation (SI) on the root growth, soil water variation, and grain yield of winter wheat in this region by measuring the moisture content in different soil layers. Prior to SI, the soil water content (SWC) at given soil depths was monitored to calculate amount of irritation water that can rehydrate the soil to target SWC. The SWC before SI was monitored to depths of 20, 40, and 60 cm in treatments of W20, W40, and W60, respectively. Rainfed treatment with no irrigation as the control (W0). The mean root weight density (RWD), triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction activity (TTC reduction activity), soluble protein (SP) concentrations as well as catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in W40 and W60 treatments were significantly higher than those in W20. The RWD in 60–100 cm soil layers and the root activity, SP concentrations, CAT and SOD activities in 40–60 cm soil layers in W40 treatment were significantly higher than those in W20 and W60. W40 treatment is characterized by higher SWC in the upper soil layers but lower SWC in the 60–100-cm soil layers during grain filling. The soil water consumption (SWU) in the 60–100 cm soil layers from anthesis after SI to maturity was the highest in W40. The grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and irrigation water productivity were the highest in W40, with corresponding mean values of 9169 kg ha^?1, 20.8 kg ha^?1 mm^?1, and 35.5 kg ha^?1 mm^?1. The RWD, root activities, SP concentrations, CAT and SOD activities, and SWU were strongly positively correlated with grain yield and WUE. Therefore, the optimum soil layer for SI of winter wheat after jointing is 0–40 cm.     

Field level damage of deepwater rice by the 2011 Southeast Asian Flood in a flood plain of Tonle Sap Lake,Northwest Cambodia

The 2011 flood damaged about 11 % of planting area in Cambodia, but the damaged proportion reached 30 % in Sangke district, Battambang province, located in the flood plains of Tonle Sap Lake. The aim of this study was to characterize completely damaged deepwater rice production due to the flood along the transect from the town-side shallower fields to the lake-side deeper fields. The flooding water from Tonle Sap Lake rose with 7 cm/day in September and October in the deeper fields where floating rice was grown and 8–10 cm/day in October in the shallower fields where lowland rice was grown. The maximum water was recorded on 16 October with 3.2 and 2.0 m at the deepest and shallowest edge fields. The area was characterized as flatness with only 1.2 m elevation differences in 4.3 km distance along the transect. The flooding water took 13.7 h for approaching 100 m distance. Complete recession of flood water was end of November at the shallow edge and at late December in the deep edge in 2011. The flooding duration deeper than 50 cm was 2.5 month and nearly 3 months in the middle zone and deeper floating rice area, respectively. The complete submergence started first in some fields in the middle zone on 12 September, followed by the shallower lowland rice area, and finally in the deep floating rice area by 1 October. Countermeasures to improve rice production in deepwater rice area in the floodplain of Tonle Sap Lake were proposed.     

中国北方杂草稻深覆土条件下出苗动力源分析

 以盆栽的方式,采用不同的覆土深度,对中国北方杂草稻的出苗特性进行了研究,分析了杂草稻的出苗动力源。研究结果表明,在中国北方发现的部分杂草稻具有较强的中胚轴伸长特性和芽鞘节间伸长特性。在播种深度较浅时（3 cm）,杂草稻依赖于中胚轴的伸长顶土发芽;当覆土较深时（5 cm）,杂草稻中胚轴伸长特性更加明显,伸长长度加大,同时杂草稻的芽鞘节间也明显伸长,中胚轴和芽鞘节间的共同伸长为深覆土条件下杂草稻的出苗提供了动力基础。     

Utilizing rainfall and alternate wetting and drying irrigation for high water productivity in irrigated lowland paddy rice in southern Taiwan

Taiwan’s average annual rainfall is high compared to other countries around the world; however, it is considered a country with great demand for water resources. Rainfall along with alternate wetting and drying irrigation is proposed to minimize water demand and maximize water productivity for lowland paddy rice cultivation in southern Taiwan. A field experiment was conducted to determine the most suitable ponded water depth for enhancing water saving in paddy rice irrigation. Different ponded water depths treatments (T_2 cm, T_3 cm, T_4 cm and T_5 cm) were applied weekly from transplanting to early heading using a complete randomized block design with four replications. The highest rainwater productivity (2.07 kg/m³) was achieved in T_5 cm and the lowest in T_2 cm (1.62 kg/m³). The highest total water productivity, (0.75 kg/m³) and irrigation water productivity (1.40 kg/m³) was achieved in T_2 cm. The total amount of water saved in T_4 cm, T_3 cm and T_2 cm was 20, 40, and 60%, respectively. Weekly application of T_4 cm ponded water depth from transplanting to heading produced the lowest yield reduction (1.57%) and grain production loss (0.06 kg) having no significant impact on yield loss compared to T_5 cm. Thus, we assert that the weekly application of T_4 cm along with rainfall produced the best results for reducing lowland paddy rice irrigation water use and matching the required crop water.     

Effects of Subsoiling to the Non-tilled Field of Wheat-Soybean Rotation on the Root System Development,Water Uptake,and Yield

Abstract

We introduced subsoiling to a field of wheat-soybean rotation where no-tillage practice had been conducted for five years and whose yield tended to decrease or stagnate. By subsoiling a half of each plot just before wheat sowing, treatments of tillage/no-tillage × subsoiling/no-subsoiling were established. Root distribution, shoot growth, water uptake and yield of both crops were examined to elucidate whether the subsoiling improves the productivity such as shoot biomass and yield through the modification of root system development, and how differ the effects of subsoiling between tilled and non-tilled fields. In wheat, roots were less concentrated in surface (0 ? 5 cm) layer in no-tillage, and distributed more in deep (20 ? 25 cm) layer of the soil. Deuterium labeled heavy water analysis revealed that the subsoiling enhanced water uptake from the deep soil layer in the no-tillage field. Both the no-tillage and subsoiling showed positive and significant effect on total biomass and yield. The effect of subsoiling must be related to water supply by deep roots in spring. In soybean no-tillage significantly increased the productivity, but subsoiling did not though distribution of the roots was modified by both practices. Soybean in non-tilled accumulated roots in the surface soil layer, but subsoiling did not significantly modify the root distribution especially in the deep soil layer. Water uptake trend and yield was thus not changed significantly by subsoiling. Subsoiling in the non-tilled field increased rooting depth and showed the possibility of braking yield stagnation in long-term no-tillage cultivation in wheat, but not in soybean.