Distribution of roots and root length density in a maize/soybean strip intercropping system

Gao, Yang; Duan, Aiwang; Qiu, Xinqiang; Liu, Zugui; Sun, Jingsheng; Zhang, Junpeng; Wang, Hezhou

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2010.08.021

Cited by 205 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The root length density of 2.0 cm cm (3 scored here for 0Á15 cm depth below the shoot base at 25 DAP corresponds well to published values of 1.8 cm cm (3 for maize at 52 DAP within the row (Gao et al 2010) and 2.0 cm cm (3 for maize at 97 DAP within the row (McGonigle and Miller 1993).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…Whereas most studies quantify roots of maize with depth across coarse intervals of 10 cm (Gao et al 2010) or 20 cm (Tardieu 1988), Taboada andAlvarez (2008) recorded maize roots at anthesis using the profile wall method with root abundance scores averaged across multiple plots at each of three sites as 4.2, 3.4, and 2.7, for respective depths of 0Á5 cm, 5Á10 cm, and 10Á15 cm. Thus, even at close to maximum root production, earlier development of root length in the upper profile is still manifest in terms of decreasing quantity of root with increasing depth as designated with the intervals here studied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation in potassium and calcium uptake with time and root depth

McGonigleT.

GrantC.

2015

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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McGonigle, T. P. and Grant, C. A. 2015. Variation in potassium and calcium uptake with time and root depth. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 771Á777. Root uptake of calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) with depth in soil and through time are of interest not only as fundamental processes of plant physiology but also for the practical application of crop management. For K specifically, depth of band placement for fertilizer should be optimized for crop uptake. Environmentally rare strontium (Sr) and rubidium (Rb) are used as root activity tracers for Ca and K, respectively. We applied Sr and Rb to field microplots at depths 0Á5 cm, 5Á10 cm, and 10Á15 cm. Tracer application throughout the entire rooting volume for a given depth interval eliminated confounding effects of age-related lateral root spread seen with point application. Soil analyses confirmed there was no within-profile movement of amendments. Maize (Zea mays L.) shoot Sr concentration was greatest at 16 d of growth for amendment to 0Á5 cm, in keeping with expected restriction of Ca uptake to root tips. In contrast, maximum shoot Rb concentration was at 24 d and with amendment to 5Á10 cm, indicating more proximal root uptake of K. Uptake of Sr and Rb was sustained for a longer period from 5 to 15 cm than from 0 to 5 cm, so that most of the Ca and K in shoots likely comes from this greater depth interval. Soil pasteurization reduced colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but had no impact on tracer uptake, indicating these fungi do not influence uptake of Ca and K. Studies on maize root activity using Sr and Rb should apply tracers in the 5-to 15-cm depth interval and harvest shoots between 3 and 7 wk after planting. Based on Sr uptake, determination of soil Ca levels to predict early-season uptake by maize should focus on the 5-to 15-cm depth interval. Based on Rb uptake, banded application of K fertilizer is expected to be most effective to promote early-season growth when band placement is within 5-to 15-cm depth.Key words: Strontium, rubidium, tracer, mycorrhiza, calcium, potassium McGonigle, T. P. et Grant, C. A. 2015. Variation de l'absorption du potassium et du calcium avec le temps et la profondeur des racines. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 771Á777. La variation de l'absorption du calcium (Ca) et du potassium (K) par les racines en fonction de leur profondeur et du temps pre´sente de l'inte´reˆt non seulement en tant que processus fondamental en physiologie ve´ge´tale, mais aussi sur le plan pratique, en gestion agricole. En ce qui concerne le K, spe´cifiquement, il conviendrait d'optimiser la profondeur a`laquelle on applique l'engrais en bandes late´rales afin que la culture l'absorbe mieux. Le strontium (Sr) et le rubidium (Rb), deux e´le´ments rares dans la nature, ont respectivement e´te´employe´s comme traceurs pour ve´rifier l'activite´des racines en rapport avec le Ca et le K. Les auteurs ont applique´du Sr et du Rb a`une profondeur de 0Á5 cm, de 5Á10 cm et de 10Á15 cm sur des micro-parcelles, au champ. L'application du traceur a`la masse de racines, dans ...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in potassium and calcium uptake with time and root depth

McGonigleT.

GrantC.

2015

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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“…To study the effect of the soil water content on root growth, root measurements for all three treatments (T1, T2, and T3) were taken in July during both seasons. Horizontal and vertical root distributions of corn and tomato were obtained from a soil transect (Ozier-Lafontaine et al, 1999;Adiku et al, 2001;Gao et al, 2010), which was dug between the tomato and corn strips, and which was on one side of the 60 cm long, 100 cm wide, and 100 cm deep trench (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Root Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the thermal effects of SWC on soil temperature in a soil system with plastic mulch have been studied by many scientists (Mahrer et al, 1984;Hunt et al, 2010), much less similar work has been done for drip-irrigated intercropping systems with plastic mulch. Such systems are much more complicated because the spatial distribution of SWCs is affected by the different water consumptions of two crop species and their overlapping or not overlapping root systems, depending on crop species and their particular growing periods (Gao et al, 2010). The SWCs and root distribution in a dripirrigated intercropping field are thus influenced not only by drip wetting patterns, but also by the root water uptake competition between two crops (Gao et al, 2010;Sampathkumar et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such systems are much more complicated because the spatial distribution of SWCs is affected by the different water consumptions of two crop species and their overlapping or not overlapping root systems, depending on crop species and their particular growing periods (Gao et al, 2010). The SWCs and root distribution in a dripirrigated intercropping field are thus influenced not only by drip wetting patterns, but also by the root water uptake competition between two crops (Gao et al, 2010;Sampathkumar et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of soil water, soil temperature, and plant roots in a drip-irrigated intercropping field with plastic mulch

Šimůnek

Shi

et al. 2017

European Journal of Agronomy

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a b s t r a c tIntercropping and drip irrigation with plastic mulch are two agricultural practices used worldwide. Coupling of these two practices may further increase crop yields and land and water use efficiencies when an optimal spatial distribution of soil water contents (SWC), soil temperatures, and plant roots is achieved. However, this coupling causes the distribution of SWCs, soil temperatures, and plant roots to be more complex than when only one of these agricultural practices are used. The objective of this study thus was to investigate the effects of different irrigation treatments on spatial distributions of SWCs, soil temperatures, and root growth in a drip-irrigated intercropping field with plastic mulch. Three field experiments with different irrigation treatments (high T1, moderate T2, and low T3) were conducted to evaluate the spatial distribution of SWCs, soil temperatures, and plant roots with respect to dripper lines and plant locations. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in SWCs in the 0-40 cm soil layer for different irrigation treatments and between different locations. The maximum SWC was measured under the plant/mulch for the T1 treatment, while the minimum SWC was measured under the bare soil surface for the T3 treatment. This was mainly due to the location of drippers and mulch. However, no differences in SWCs were measured in the 60 100 cm soil layer. Significant differences in soil temperatures were measured in the 0 5 cm soil layer between different irrigation treatments and different locations. The soil temperature in the subsoil (15 25 cm) under mulch was higher than under the bare surface. The overlaps of two plant root systems in an intercropping field gradually increased and then decreased during the growing season. The roots in the 0 30 cm soil layer accounted for about 60% 70% of all roots. Higher irrigation rates produced higher root length and weight densities in the 0 30 cm soil layer and lower densities in the 30 100 cm soil layers. Spatial distributions of SWCs, soil temperatures, and plant roots in the intercropping field under drip irrigation were significantly influenced by irrigation treatments and plastic mulch. Collected experimental data may contribute to designing an optimal irrigation program for a drip-irrigated intercropping field with plastic mulch.

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