黄土高原半干旱区沙棘林净初级生产量与耗水量研究

本文以吴旗飞播和人工建造的沙棘林14年定位试验研究资料为依据,论述了黄土高原半干旱区沙棘成林特点、生物量、蒸腾强度、耗水量和林地土壤水分动态。研究结果表明:3～4龄沙棘开始根蘖繁殖,8龄林密度达最大值,随着对水、光的竞争,密度又趋变小,其密度、生物量因水分条件不同而不同。5～13龄沙棘林地年平均总耗水量为362mm,较同期平均年降水量355mm略高。其中平均年蒸腾耗水量262mm,占总耗水量的72.4%。对照荒山平均年耗水量366mm,其中蒸腾耗水量仅占13.9%。荒山植被生产1g干物质的总耗水量是沙棘的6倍。5～13龄沙棘林净地上初级生产量是荒山植被的5.8倍。沙棘林地3～5m深土层储水严重亏缺,但1～2m土层水分可得以补偿,且持水量较荒山高,所以不仅沙棘可正常生长,其林下草被生长亦较对照荒山植被为好。     

水分胁迫下氮素增加对玉米生长的抑制作用

水分和氮素是影响玉米生长发育的重要因子。在干旱和土壤贫瘠条件下,作物的生长和生理过程受到水分和氮素的交互作用。因此,研究水分胁迫下不同施氮水平对玉米叶片光合生理及根系形态的影响可以为玉米栽培中水氮的高效管理提供科学理论依据。利用温室盆栽试验,在中度水分胁迫(W1,40%～50%田间持水量)、轻度水分胁迫(W2,60%～70%田间持水量)和充足供水(W3,75%～90%田间持水量)三个水分处理下设置低氮(N1,1.0g·盆~(-1))、中氮(N2.5,2.5g·盆~(-1))和高氮(N5,5.0g·盆~(-1))三个施氮水平,研究玉米的生长状况、叶片气体交换参数、光和二氧化碳响应曲线和根系形态等。结果表明:在不同水分条件下玉米对氮素的生理响应过程不同。水分胁迫下根长和根系比表面积较充足供水处理显著增加,增幅分别为106.39%～208.82%和45.81%～105.85%,根干重在中度水分胁迫下降低23.94%～36.61%;此时增加施氮量尤其是高氮处理,玉米的根长和根系比表面积比水分胁迫下低氮处理显著降低41.85%～54.10%和18.68%,根干重比中度水分胁迫下低氮处理显著降低33.75%。因此,水分胁迫下施氮加剧了根际的水分胁迫,造成根水势下降,进而影响地上部分叶片的气孔导度(G_s)及二氧化碳和光的利用效率。水分胁迫和施氮处理均影响玉米叶片的光和CO_2响应曲线,水分处理的影响更显著。相同施氮水平下,随着水分胁迫程度的加剧,光响应曲线参数暗呼吸速率(R_d)、最大净光合速率(A_(max))和饱和光强(Q_(sat))以及CO_2响应曲线参数初始羧化效率(a)、光呼吸速率(R_p)、光合能力(A_(max))和高氮条件下的饱和胞间CO_2浓度(C_(isat))均呈下降趋势,前者参数变化显著,而且中度水分胁迫下,增加施氮量进一步降低了这些参数,即水分胁迫下氮素进一步抑制了植株的光合性能;同时,中度水分胁迫下叶片G_s和光合速率(A_n)分别显著降低32.37%～51.97%和41.85%～56.14%,而中度水分胁迫下增加施氮量尤其是高氮处理可以使G_s和A_n较低氮处理分别降低35.81%和30.71%。水分胁迫促进根长和根系比表面积增加,而水分胁迫下,增施氮肥不仅未缓解水分胁迫,反而抑制根长和根系比表面积的增加,加剧了根系的水分胁迫,造成根水势降低,进而影响了地上部分叶片的G_s,并削弱了叶片的光合性能即降低了对CO_2和光能的利用能力,这些气孔和非气孔因素最终抑制了光合作用,导致光合碳同化能力降低,影响了根系生物量的积累。     

不同年份地下水位大麦参数模型与产量动态模拟

本文研究了不同地下水位下大麦生长期叶面积指数、地上部各营养器官、储藏器官、总生物量干重的变化动态,植株各器官的干物质积累量和分配率,不同时期植株各器官的氮素含量和可溶性糖含量的变化动态;运用模型对大麦各器官干物质重及产量动态进行了模拟,并对模拟结果与实测结果进行了相关性分析,最后对大麦产量进行了模拟,结果得到各个不同年份不同地下水位处理大麦的产量与降水量之间存在着比较明显的负相关。     

水分胁迫对冬小麦光合及生物学特性的影响

利用阜康绿洲农田的田间灌水试验，研究了不同水分胁迫程度、不同水分胁迫时期对冬小麦光合，茎秆生长、地上和地下干物质累积以及籽粒产量的影响。结果表明；随着水分胁迫程度的加剧。冬小麦光合作用、株高、干物质累积、根系生长以及籽粒产量受到的抑制作用逐渐增强；灌水量为田间持水量40％的处理在成熟期时根干重要大于其它处理。是由于干旱胁迫促进了新生根的生长．从而可使根系充分吸收中下层土壤贮水。这是减少灌水次数和提高水分利用效率的一个有效途径，冬小麦灌浆期受到重度的水分胁迫，籽粒产量明显下降．而拔节期遭受轻度的水分胁迫在恢复灌水后产量反而要高于其它处理。     

不同水分状况下施锌对玉米生长和锌吸收的影响

选择潮土(砂壤)和土(粘壤)两种质地不同的土壤,进行盆栽试验,研究不同土壤水分条件下施锌对玉米生长和锌吸收的影响。结果表明,施锌显著增加了玉米植株根、茎、叶以及整株干物质重;缺锌条件下玉米植株根冠比、根叶比和根茎比趋向增大。施锌显著提高了玉米植株各器官中锌的浓度和吸收量,并明显促进锌向地上部运移。干旱胁迫抑制了玉米植株生长,根冠比、根茎比、根叶比增大;随着土壤水分供应增加,植株生长加快,各器官生物量以茎和叶增加大于根。水分胁迫下,在潮土上玉米叶片中锌浓度上升;在土上叶片中锌浓度下降。但增施锌后,根和茎锌浓度增加幅度较大,叶片增加幅度较小;施锌和水分胁迫对根和茎锌浓度的交互作用极显著。水分胁迫下,玉米植株对锌的吸收总量减少。水分胁迫和锌肥施用对玉米叶片、茎锌吸收量的交互作用十分显著,但对根锌吸收量的交互影响不显著。     

冬春季不同遮荫水平对香蕉假植苗单株生物量的影响

将从培养瓶中移出的冬季（12－1月）或春季（3－4月）的香蕉组培苗置于大棚内，并在4种蔗荫水平下进行假植炼苗，相以强分别为100％（S100），33％（S33），10％（S10），3（S3）的光照条件。结果表明，不同光照强度下，单株香蕉苗的鲜茎重、鲜叶重、鲜根重、总鲜重、干茎重、干叶重、干根重和总干重都存在显著差异，但不同的生物量性状对光照强度的反应程度不同，冬季或春季遮荫均不利于单株香蕉苗的物质生产，且随遮荫程度的加重，影响愈大，同时荫还改变物质运输分配到各器官的比例。此外，春季与冬季相比，春季地上部各器官物质积累大于冬季，而冬季地下部根系的物质积累又要大于春季地下部的物质积累。     

三江平原小叶樟湿地植物-土壤系统中硫素分布及季节变化动态

选择三江平原小叶樟湿地为研究对象,在生长季逐月采集土壤和植物样品,测定和分析植物-土壤系统硫素分布特征和季节动态,结果表明在生长季小叶樟植物体不同器官总硫含量存在差异,表现为根>叶>叶鞘>茎,这种分布和植物各器官的功能相一致。植物各器官总硫含量均具有季节变化特征,地上各器官总硫含量在生长季内均单调下降。根中总硫含量呈波动性变化,这种变化与植物的生长节律相一致,根中总硫含量明显高于植物地上各器官总硫的含量,即根是硫的重要储库。小叶樟湿地土壤总硫和有效硫含量具有明显的分层性,即沿着剖面由上到下逐渐降低,这种变化和土壤有机质的分布密切相关。不同层次土壤总硫、有效硫含量均具有明显的季节变化,其中植物的生长过程是影响这种变化的主要因素。     

土壤湿度驱动WOFOST模型及其适应性

WOFOST作物生长模型是以日降水量表征降水输入参数,通过推算土壤相对湿度实现作物生长模拟。由于日降水量随机性较大,很难通过控制日降水量实现不同土壤干旱等级情景设置,限制了WOFOST作物生长模型在不同水分胁迫下对作物生长的模拟,也影响了模拟试验的精度。本文提出以土壤相对湿度直接驱动WOFOST作物生长模型,并以Compaq Visual Fortran 6.5为开发平台,采用Fortran语言对WOFOST作物生长模型的源代码进行修改,将驱动模块中的日降水量文件替换为土壤相对湿度驱动文件。以2013年山东省夏津农业气象试验站玉米出苗-拔节期和抽雄-成熟期水分胁迫和整个生育期自然降水处理（对照）的试验数据为例,对修改后的WOFOST作物生长模型进行了模拟试验。结果显示,采用修订后的模型输出的实测鲜叶干重、鲜茎干重、营养器官干重、地上物质总重和叶面积指数等生物量指标均较原模型输出结果,不仅精度明显提高,而且,由于土壤湿度变化较平稳,较容易地实现了不同水分胁迫情景设置,进而实现不同土壤干旱等级条件下玉米生长的模拟,为分析不同程度干旱对玉米生长的影响及确定其生长发育指标提供了便利条件。     

土壤持水量对生菜生长和镉浓度的影响

通过不同水分含量处理的盆栽试验和培养试验,探索土壤持水量对生菜生物量与Cd浓度,土壤pH和土壤Cd有效态的影响。结果表明,土壤持水量显著影响生菜的生物量,75%田间持水量（water holding capacity,WHC）处理生菜地上部鲜重最高,生菜鲜重与土壤持水量呈倒V型关系。土壤持水量也显著影响生菜地上部及根中Cd浓度,2者均与土壤持水量呈显著负相关关系,土壤持水量从45%WHC增加到65%WHC,地上部Cd浓度降低41%,生菜Cd含量从超过无公害标准到低于标准。盆栽试验中,乙酸铵-Cd浓度与水分处理水平没有显著相关性,生菜地上部Cd浓度与土壤的乙酸铵-Cd态也没有显著相关性。水分对土壤pH没有显著影响,但培养试验中土壤乙酸铵-Cd与水分处理水平显著负相关。初步推测土壤水分影响生菜地上部Cd浓度,不是通过影响土壤pH和Cd有效态来实现的。因此,可以通过调节土壤水分来控制中轻度重金属污染的设施菜地上叶菜可食部分的Cd浓度,这是一种具有较好应用前景的绿色调控措施。     

不同施肥模式对桃幼树根系生长与氮素吸收分配的影响

采用盆栽试验,应用15 N同位素示踪技术,研究了不同施肥模式对桃幼树根系生长与氮素吸收分配的影响。结果表明,与不施肥(CK)相比,单施化肥(MF)、生化黄腐酸钾配施化肥(BFA)及有机肥配施化肥(OF)3种施肥模式均显著提高了根系总长度、平均直径、根系表面积、根系体积、根尖数、分枝数和交叉数,其中BFA处理显著提高了根系平均直径,OF处理增加根系生物量的效果最好,并且OF处理更有利于诱导细根(d≤2mm)的发生和生长,而BFA处理更有利于诱导根系的加粗生长,增加中粗根(2mmd≤4.5mm)和粗根(d4.5mm)的长度。BFA处理的根系活力显著高于其它各处理,且根系SOD、POD、CAT酶活性显著高于其它处理,MDA含量显著低于其它处理,表现为BFA处理延缓根系衰老效果最好。不同施肥模式处理的桃幼树各器官Ndff%差异显著,BFA处理各器官Ndff%显著高于其它处理。BFA处理的15 N利用率为13.53%,显著高于OF(11.77%)和MF(10.60%)处理。不同施肥模式处理均在一定程度上促进了桃幼树地上部的生长,且BFA处理更能显著促进地上部新梢的加粗和加长生长,这与BFA处理对根系加粗生长的影响表现出一致性。综上可见,生化黄腐酸钾配施化肥(BFA)能显著促进根系生长,促进根系加粗生长,增加粗根的长度,提高根系活力,延缓根系衰老进程,同时还能显著提高根系氮素利用效率,促进桃幼树地上部的生长。     

不同水分处理下基于辐热积的温室番茄干物质生产及分配模型

为了探讨干物质生产及分配模型在西北地区温室环境不同水分处理的使用性,以番茄为材料,于2013-2015年在陕西省杨凌区温室内进行亏水处理试验,设置全生育期充分灌水处理、仅苗期亏水50%处理、苗期开花期连续亏水50%和全部亏水50%共4种水分处理,通过2013-2014年温室试验分析不同水分处理条件下番茄茎、叶、果实和根系的动态变化,建立了基于番茄耗水量、地上部和根系分配指数、地上部各器官分配指数的番茄干物质生产及分配模型;利用2014-2015年试验数据对干物质生产及分配模型进行验证。结果表明,利用累积辐热积与干物质总量进行拟合得到的关系式,可以利用累积辐热积较为准确地模拟不同水分处理下番茄干物质总量。番茄干物质总量受累积辐热积和水分影响较大,而干物质总量在地上部、根系及地上部各器官的分配指数只随辐热积变化,不随灌水量发生显著的变化。运用番茄耗水量、累积辐热积、经验公式和经验系数得到的干物质生产及分配模型,通过该模型估算不同水分处理番茄茎、叶、果实和根系干物质的预测值和实测值拟合度较高,其绝对误差为0.24~9.46 g/株,均方根误差为0.35~10.01 g/株和决定系数为0.78~0.89,可以用该模型预测肥料充分条件下各水分处理温室番茄各器官的干物质生产及分配,为温室番茄不同水分条件下番茄生产提供理论依据。     

羊草、针茅对高CO2浓度及土壤干旱的响应

通过人工模拟试验分析了CO2浓度升高对羊草、针茅的"施肥效应"。结果表明生物量随CO2浓度的升高而增加;总生物量分别增加40.0%和45.0%。土壤干旱对羊草、针茅的生长及干物质积累为负效应且随干旱程度的增加负效应增强。轻度干旱时总生物量分别减少16%和30%左右,严重干旱下降44%和35%左右。在土壤发生干旱条件下,CO2的"施肥效应"有所减弱,羊草比针茅更为明显。     

HIGH FERTILIZER RATES INCREASE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF TEA TO WATER STRESS

A study to determine the association of fertilizer with soil water deficit in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] was conducted in a rain-out shelter using potted plants, in which five rates of fertilizer (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg Nitrogen ha^?1) and six levels of soil water content (38, 34, 30, 26, 22 and 18% v/v) were applied in a complete randomized design and replicated three times. The soil water treatment was maintained for a period of 12 weeks during which shoot growth, plant water relations, and dry matter partitioning in tea were determined. A parallel field experiment with the above fertilizer rates was conducted at three sites in which shoot density and shoot weight were determined during the dry season. Fertilizer improved leaf-to-root and leaf-to-total mass ratios (P < 0.001), reduced shoot growth, shoot water potential and specific leaf area (P < 0.001). The fertilizer exacerbated drought effect on tea through disproportionate assimilate partitioning which consequently weakened the ability of tea to tolerate water stress. Results suggest an indirect contribution of fertilizer supply to drought susceptibility in tea.     

膜下滴灌水氮耦合对棉花干物质积累和氮素吸收及水氮利用效率的影响

在膜下滴灌条件下,设3个氮素水平和2个水分水平,研究了水氮耦合对棉花干物质积累、氮素吸收及产量、水氮利用效率的影响。结果表明,增加水分或氮素供应,花铃期根冠生物量和氮素吸收增加; 增加灌水量,吐絮期地上部干物质和氮素积累量增加,根干物质积累量在低氮或高氮下增加,中氮降低; 产量和氮素利用效率增加,水分利用效率下降。水分胁迫条件下,增加氮素的供应吐絮期地上部干物质、氮素积累量、产量差异不大,根干物质积累量以N276处理最高,氮素利用率下降,水分利用率增加。水分充分条件下,增加氮素的供应吐絮期根干物质下降,地上部干物质、氮素积累、产量和水氮利用效率以N276处理最高。水分不足或高氮限制了干物质在花铃期至吐絮期的积累、导致棉花提早衰退,引起产量下降。     

增加烟草一级和二级侧根是抵御干旱的生理机制

【目的】 挖掘植物自身的抗旱能力是提高农业水分利用效率的有效措施。本研究通过比较水分胁迫处理下 5 个烤烟品种苗期根系发生和伸长以及叶片光合特性的变化,探讨烤烟抗旱能力差异的生理机制,为烟草生产的可持续发展提供理论依据。 【方法】 采用水培试验,设置对照和水分胁迫处理 (添加 2.5% PEG 处理来模拟中度干旱),研究 5 个烤烟品种苗期的地上部和根系的生物量、一级和二级侧根的发生和伸长,利用 Li-Cor 6400 光合测定系统测定叶片的光合速率和气孔导度等参数,利用 FLIR 手持式红外热成像仪测定新展开叶的叶片温度,分析烟草抗旱能力差异明显的生理机制。 【结果】 水分胁迫条件下 5 个烤烟品种的生长差异明显。与对照处理相比,水分胁迫对大平板和农大 202 的生长影响不明显,但柳叶尖、金星 6007 和中烟 100 的地上部和根系生物量显著被抑制,降幅范围在 66%～83%,达到差异极显著水平。水分胁迫抑制 5 个烤烟品种一级和二级侧根的伸长,但大平板和农大 202 的一级侧根数目和二级侧根密度显著增加,最终导致根系生物量没有下降;另外 3 个烟草品种柳叶尖、金星 6007 和中烟 100 的侧根发生增加趋势不明显。水分胁迫处理下抗旱能力强的大平板和农大 202 地上部生物量和叶片温度变化不明显,而叶片的净光合速率显著下降,但其降幅显著低于 3 个抗旱能力弱的烤烟品种。与对照处理相比,抗旱能力弱的柳叶尖、金星 6007 和中烟 100 叶片的气孔导度和蒸腾速率显著下降,叶片温度上升 5～7℃。进一步的研究表明,PEG处理下耐旱能力强烤烟品种侧根数目的显著增加是地上部维持较强光合能力的主要原因。 【结论】 抗旱能力强的烟草品种苗期受到水分胁迫时其一级和二级侧根显著增加,进而能保持较高的光合特性。      

Adaptive attributes of tropical forage species to acid soils I. Differences in plant growth,nutrient acquisition and nutrient utilization among C4 grasses and C3 legumes

Low supply of nutrients is a major limitation of forage adaptation and production in acid soils of the tropics. A glasshouse study was conducted to find differences in plant growth, nutrient acquisition and use, among species of tropical forage grasses (with C₄ pathway of photosynthesis) and legumes (with C₃), when grown in two acid soils of contrasting texture and fertility. Twelve tropical forage legumes and seven tropical forage grasses were grown in sandy loam and clay loam Oxisols at low and high levels of soil fertility. After 83 days of growth, dry matter distribution among plant leaves, stems, and roots, leaf area production, shoot and root nutrient composition, shoot nutrient uptake, and nutrient use efficiency were measured. Soil type and fertility affected biomass production and dry matter partitioning between roots and shoots. The allocation of dry matter to root production was greater with low soil fertility, particularly in sandy loam. The grasses responded more than the legumes to increased soil fertility in both shoot and root biomass production. Leaf area production and the use of leaf biomass for leaf expansion (specific leaf area) were greater in legumes than in grasses, irrespective of soil type and fertility. But soil type affected shoot biomass production and nutrient uptake of the grasses more than those of the legumes. There were significant interspecific differences in terms of shoot nutrient uptake. The grasses were more efficient than legumes in nutrient use (grams of shoot biomass produced per gram of total nutrient uptake) particularly for nitrogen (N) and calcium (Ca).     

干旱对夏玉米碳素同化、运转与分配的影响研究

试验研究全生育期干旱对夏玉米光合特性及C素同化、运转及分配的影响结果表明,水分胁迫对夏玉米各生育期C素代谢的自身规律影响较小,主要是改变C素同化、运转、分配的绝对量和分配率。水分胁迫下夏玉米干物质及其各器官干物质累积速率降低,总量减少,且不同器官干物质转移率、转移量及其对雌穗重的贡献发生改变,叶面积系数、叶绿素含量和光合速率减少,分配、转移到生殖器官的同化物减少。充分供水处理具有最大的干物质累积量和正常的C素代谢,合理的水分供应促进玉米植株生育前期总生物量的积累以及生育后期干物质从营养体向籽粒的转移,成熟期营养器官中的非结构性碳水化合物滞留少,向籽粒中的运转彻底,可获得较高籽粒产量。     

Partitioning of biomass in water‐ and nitrogen‐stressed cotton during pre‐bloom stage

The partitioning of biomass between aboveground parts and roots, and between vegetative and reproductive plant parts plays a major role in determining the ability of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to produce a crop in a given environment. We evaluated the single and combined effects of water and N supply on the partitioning of biomass in cotton plants exposed to two N supply levels, 0 and 12 mM of N, and two water regimes, well irrigated and water‐stressed at an early reproductive stage. The N treatments began when the third true leaf was visible, while water deficit treatments were imposed over the N treatments when the plants were transferred into controlled‐environment chambers at a leaf area near 0.05 m². Both water deficits and N deficits inhibited total biomass accumulation and its partitioning in cotton. Water deficit alone and N deficit alone inhibited the growth of leaves, petioles, and branches, but did not inhibit growth of the stem and enhanced the accumulation of biomass in squares. When water deficit was superimposed on N deficit, leaf growth was inhibited, although to a lesser extent than when it was the sole stress factor, and the accumulation of biomass in squares was also inhibited. Yet, the dry weight of squares in plants exposed to water and N deficits was greater than that of non‐stressed plants. Water and N deficits, either alone or in combination, did not inhibit the growth of the tap root. Growth of lateral roots was not inhibited either by water deficit alone or in combination with N deficit, but was enhanced when plants were exposed to N deficit alone. Exposure to water deficit alone or in combination with N deficit decreased the shoot:root ratio through the inhibition of shoot growth. Exposure to N deficit alone decreased the shoot:root ratio through the combination of shoot growth inhibition and root growth enhancement.     

大气CO2浓度的升高、施氮及土壤水分对春小麦干物质积累和氮吸收的影响

Spring wheat (Thiticum aestivum L.cv.Dingxi No.8654) was treated with two concentrations of atmospheric CO2 (350 and 700 μmol mol^-1),two levels of soil moisture (well-watered and drought) and five rates of nitrogen fertilizer(0,50,100,150,and 200 mg kg^-1 soil) to study the atmospheric CO2 concentration effect on dry matter accumulation and N uptake of spring wheat.The effects of CO2 enrichment of the shoot and total mass depended largely on soil nitrogen level,and the shoot and total mass increased significantly in the moderate to high N treatments but did not increase significantly in the low N treatment.Enriched CO2 concentration did not increase more shoot and total mass in the drought treatment than in the well-watered treatment.Thus,elevated CO2 did not ameliorate the depressive effects of drought and nitrogen stress.In addition,root mass decreased slightly and root/shoot ratio decreased significantly due to CO2 enrichment in no N treatment under well-watered condition.Enriched CO2 decreased shoot N content and shoot and total N uptake;but it reduced root N content and uptake slightly.Shoot critical N concentration was lower for spring wheat grown at 700 μmol mol^-1 CO2 than at 350μmol mol^-1 CO2 in both well-watered and drought treatments. The critical N concentrations were 16 and 19 g kg^-1 for the well-watered treatment and drought treatment at elevated CO2 and 21 and 26 g kg^-1 at ambient CO2,respectively. The reductions in the movement of nutrients to the plant roots through mass flow due to the enhancement in WUE (water use efficiency) and the increase in N use efficiency at elevated CO2 could elucidate the reduction of shoot and root N concentrations.     

Seedball‐induced changes of root growth and physico‐chemical properties—a case study with pearl millet

Seedball is a cheap “seed‐pelleting‐technique” that combines local materials, seeds and optionally additives such as mineral fertilizer to enhance pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Brown) early growth under poor soil conditions. The major objective here was to study the mechanisms behind positive seedball effects. Chemical effects in the rhizosphere and early root development of seedball‐derived pearl millet seedlings were monitored using micro‐suction‐cups to extract soil solutions and X‐ray tomography to visualize early root growth. Pearl millet (single seedling) was grown in soil columns in a sandy soil substrate. Root and shoot biomass were sampled. X‐ray tomography imaging revealed intense development of fine roots within the nutrient‐amended seedball. Seedball and seedball+NPK treatments, respectively, were 65% and 165% higher in shoot fresh weight, and 108% and 227% higher in shoot dry matter than the control treatment. Seedball+NPK seedlings showed promoted root growth in the upper compartment and 105% and 30% increments in root fresh and dry weights. Soil solution concentrations indicate that fine root growth ass stimulated by release of nutrients from the seedballs to their direct proximity. Under real field conditions, the higher root length density and finer roots could improve seedlings survival under early drought conditions due to better ability to extract water and nutrients from a greater soil volume.