Plasticity of root traits in a seedling apple intercropping system driven by drought stress on the Loess Plateau of China

Zhao, Lianhao; He, Nana; Wang, Jianping; Siddique, Kadambot H. M.; Gao, Xiaodong; Zhao, Xining

doi:10.1007/s11104-022-05603-1

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Metcalfe et al [26] found that the fine-root biomass, length, and surface area gradually decreased when soil moisture decreased, but the specific root length (SRL) and SRA showed the opposite trend in Amazon rainforests. Zhao et al [27] found that intercropping improved the soil water status below 80 cm in depth and increased the deep fine-root biomass of apple trees (Malus domestica). Thus, according to existing research studies, we can only understand the potential response characteristics of tree roots relative to drought stress macroscopically.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, these studies have mainly focused on the Loess Plateau region of China and South America. For example, Zhao et al [27] found that shallow soil drought increased both the shallow and deep fine-root biomass of apple trees, while Ma et al [30] found that drought in both shallow and deep soil decreased the total amount of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) fine-root biomass but increased its maximum rooting depth. Adriano et al [31] found that soil drought enhanced root proliferation in the soil below 500 cm and increased the maximum rooting depth of orange trees (Citrus sinensis).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, observing and measuring deep roots is challenging, so most studies only measured the biomass rather than the morphological traits of deep roots, which hinders us from understanding the response of roots to environmental changes [38,39]. In addition, most existing studies are under the condition of shallow soil drought or drought in both shallow and deep soil, directly analyzing the effect of soil drought stress on fine roots [17,27,40,41]. However, there are no studies on the changes in the response characteristics of fine-root functional traits during the transition from shallow to deep soil drought based on in situ measurements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Fine-Root Traits of Populus tomentosa to Drought in Shallow and Deep Soil

Tan

Liu

et al. 2023

Forests

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Understanding the response characteristics of fine roots to soil drought of different degrees is essential for revealing the ecological adaptability of trees to different water environments and diverse plant resource absorption strategies. This study focused on a Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa) plantation stand, which gradually experienced the process of deep soil drying. In 2019 and 2021, by measuring the fine-root length density (FRLD), mean root diameter (MRD), specific root length (SRL), and root tissue density (RTD) of 1920 root samples and continuously monitoring the soil water content (SWC) in 0–600 cm soil layers, we explored the response characteristics of fine-root distributions and morphological traits relative to soil drought of different degrees. The results showed that P. tomentosa primarily changed the fine-root vertical distribution rather than the total amount of fine roots for coping with soil drought of different degrees. Shallow soil drought induced more fine-root distributions in the deep soil layer, while drought in both shallow and deep soil further aggravated this trend. Shallow soil drought restrained shallow fine-root growth, yet deep soil drought promoted deep fine-root growth. The very deep fine roots (400–600 cm) were more sensitive to soil drought than shallow fine roots. The shallow soil drought significantly increased the SRL of very deep fine roots; in contrast, when deep soil drought also occurred, the MRD and SRL significantly increased and decreased, respectively. In addition, fine-root morphological traits exhibited significant vertical spatial and temporal variation. MRD increased and then decreased, and the RTD gradually decreased with depth, while SRL had an increased trend in the very deep soil layer (400–600 cm). When the rainy season came, MRD and SRL increased and decreased, respectively. In conclusion, when facing gradual deep soil drying, P. tomentosa will use a large range of rooting patterns to meet the water demand of the canopy. These patterns range from “drought tolerant strategies” by distributing more fine roots in the deeper soil layer where water is abundant to “drought tolerant strategies” by changing very deep fine-root morphological traits to improve water-absorbing and transporting efficiencies. Our findings provide insight into the ecological adaption strategy of tree root systems relative to soil drought of different degrees in arid and semi-arid regions and provide crucial theoretical support for developing water management technologies to cope with deep soil drying under climate change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Fine-Root Traits of Populus tomentosa to Drought in Shallow and Deep Soil

Tan

Liu

et al. 2023

Forests

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“…The morphological and spatial distribution of roots effectively reflects the ability of crops to compete for nutrients and water in intercropping systems ( Ma et al., 2019 ; Zhao et al., 2022b ). The results supported the third objective, that is, the spatial distribution of root length density ( Figure 2 ), root surface area density ( Figure 3 ), and root diameter ( Figure 5 ) promoted the competitiveness of maize, and the spatial distributions of root surface area density and root diameter were suppressed in peanut, which was a weak competitor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Border row effects improved the spatial distributions of maize and peanut roots in an intercropping system, associated with improved yield

Dong,

Zhao,

Sun

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

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BackgroundBorder row effects impact the ecosystem functions of intercropping systems, with high direct interactions between neighboring row crops in light, water, and nutrients. However, previous studies have mostly focused on aboveground, whereas the effects of intercropping on the spatial distribution of the root system are poorly understood. Field experiments and planting box experiments were combined to explore the yield, dry matter accumulation, and spatial distribution of root morphological indexes, such as root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSAD), specific root length (SRL), and root diameter (RD), of maize and peanut and interspecific interactions at different soil depths in an intercropping system.ResultsIn the field experiments, the yield of intercropped maize significantly increased by 33.45%; however, the yield of intercropped peanut significantly decreased by 13.40%. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of the maize–peanut intercropping system was greater than 1, and the advantage of intercropping was significant. Maize was highly competitive (A = 0.94, CR=1.54), and the yield advantage is mainly attributed to maize. Intercropped maize had higher RLD, RSAD, and SRL than sole maize, and intercropped peanut had lower RLD, RSAD, and SRL than sole peanut. In the interspecific interaction zone, the increase in RLD, RSAD, SRL, and RD of intercropped maize was greater than that of intercropped peanut, and maize showed greater root morphological plasticity than peanut. A random forest model determined that RSAD significantly impacted yield at 15–60 cm, while SRL had a significant impact at 30–60 cm. Structural equation modeling revealed that root morphology indicators had a greater effect on yield at 30–45 cm, with interactions between indicators being more pronounced at this depth.ConclusionThese results show that border-row effects mediate the plasticity of root morphology, which could enhance resource use and increase productivity. Therefore, selecting optimal intercropping species and developing sustainable intercropping production systems is of great significance.

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“…Each fine root sample was dried at 65℃ to constant weight and weighed using an electronic balance with a precision of 0.0001 g to determine root dry weight. Finally, the fine root dry weight density (FRDWD) was calculated using the formula given by Zhao et al (2022).…”

Section: Basic Parameters Of Plantationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The degree and depth limitation of deep soil desiccation and its impact on xylem hydraulic conductivity in dryland tree plantations

Gao

Guo

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Abstract. In water-limited areas, planted trees can result in severe deep-layer (> 200 cm) soil desiccation due to excessive root water uptake in deep soils, threatening the sustainability of trees per se. However, it remains unclear about the limitation in relation to both degree and depth of deep-layer soil moisture (DSM) beyond which root water uptake ceases as well as its dependence on tree species and its effect on tree’s xylem hydraulic conductivity. Based on the published data and multiple field samplings on China’s Loess Plateau, we found that the permanent wilting point (PWP) is a good indicator of the degree limitation of DSM irrespective of tree species, with the corresponding maximum depth of soil moisture use reaching 18.0–22.0 m for these planted trees and even 25 m for black locust in the driest site. Furthermore, when the degree and depth limitations were reached, the percent loss of xylem hydraulic conductivity of planted tree’s shoots reached 74.9–96.5 %, indicating that tree mortality may occur. The findings will help to predict the sustainability of planted trees in semiarid regions with thick vadose zone.

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Plasticity of root traits in a seedling apple intercropping system driven by drought stress on the Loess Plateau of China

Cited by 9 publications

References 70 publications

Response of Fine-Root Traits of Populus tomentosa to Drought in Shallow and Deep Soil

Response of Fine-Root Traits of Populus tomentosa to Drought in Shallow and Deep Soil

Border row effects improved the spatial distributions of maize and peanut roots in an intercropping system, associated with improved yield

The degree and depth limitation of deep soil desiccation and its impact on xylem hydraulic conductivity in dryland tree plantations

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