Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation

To investigate the impact of brackish water irrigation on the multidimensional root distribution and root-shoot characteristics of summer maize under different salt-tolerance-training modes, a micro-plot experiment was conducted from June to October in 2022 at the experimental station in Hohai Unive...

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Main Authors: Suhan Peng, Tao Ma, Teng Ma, Kaiwen Chen, Yan Dai, Jihui Ding, Pingru He, Shuang’en Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/18/3329
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author Suhan Peng
Tao Ma
Teng Ma
Kaiwen Chen
Yan Dai
Jihui Ding
Pingru He
Shuang’en Yu
author_facet Suhan Peng
Tao Ma
Teng Ma
Kaiwen Chen
Yan Dai
Jihui Ding
Pingru He
Shuang’en Yu
author_sort Suhan Peng
collection DOAJ
description To investigate the impact of brackish water irrigation on the multidimensional root distribution and root-shoot characteristics of summer maize under different salt-tolerance-training modes, a micro-plot experiment was conducted from June to October in 2022 at the experimental station in Hohai University, China. Freshwater irrigation was used as the control (CK), and different concentrations of brackish water (S0: 0.08 g·L<sup>−1</sup>, S1: 2.0 g·L<sup>−1</sup>, S2: 4.0 g·L<sup>−1</sup>, S3: 6.0 g·L<sup>−1</sup>) were irrigated at six-leaf stage, ten-leaf stage, and tasseling stage, constituting different salt tolerance training modes, referred to as S<sub>0-2-3</sub>, S<sub>0-3-3</sub>, S<sub>1-2-3</sub>, S<sub>1-3-3</sub>, S<sub>2-2-3</sub>, and S<sub>2-3-3</sub>. The results showed that although their fine root length density (FRLD) increased, the S<sub>0-2-3</sub> and S<sub>0-3-3</sub> treatments reduced the limit of root extension in the horizontal direction, causing the roots to be mainly distributed near the plants. This resulted in decreased leaf area and biomass accumulation, ultimately leading to significant yield reduction. Additionally, the S<sub>2-2-3</sub> and S<sub>2-3-3</sub> treatments stimulated the adaptive mechanism of maize roots, resulting in boosted fine root growth to increase the FRLD and develop into deeper soil layers. However, due to the prolonged exposure to a high level of salinity, their roots below 30 cm depth senesced prematurely, leading to an inhibition in shoot growth and also resulting in yield reduction of 10.99% and 11.75%, compared to CK, respectively. Furthermore, the S<sub>1-2-3</sub> and S<sub>1-3-3</sub> treatments produced more reasonable distributions of FRLD, which did not boost fine root growth but established fewer weak areas (FLRD < 0.66 cm<sup>−3</sup>) in their root systems. Moreover, the S<sub>1-2-3</sub> treatment contributed to increasing leaf development and biomass accumulation, compared to CK, whereas it allowed for minimizing yield reduction. Therefore, our study proposed the S<sub>1-2-3</sub> treatment as the recommended training mode for summer maize while utilizing brackish water resources.
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spelling doaj.art-35876850c7d7439495b4ecfdf52a1dfe2023-11-19T12:33:22ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-09-011218332910.3390/plants12183329Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water IrrigationSuhan Peng0Tao Ma1Teng Ma2Kaiwen Chen3Yan Dai4Jihui Ding5Pingru He6Shuang’en Yu7College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaTo investigate the impact of brackish water irrigation on the multidimensional root distribution and root-shoot characteristics of summer maize under different salt-tolerance-training modes, a micro-plot experiment was conducted from June to October in 2022 at the experimental station in Hohai University, China. Freshwater irrigation was used as the control (CK), and different concentrations of brackish water (S0: 0.08 g·L<sup>−1</sup>, S1: 2.0 g·L<sup>−1</sup>, S2: 4.0 g·L<sup>−1</sup>, S3: 6.0 g·L<sup>−1</sup>) were irrigated at six-leaf stage, ten-leaf stage, and tasseling stage, constituting different salt tolerance training modes, referred to as S<sub>0-2-3</sub>, S<sub>0-3-3</sub>, S<sub>1-2-3</sub>, S<sub>1-3-3</sub>, S<sub>2-2-3</sub>, and S<sub>2-3-3</sub>. The results showed that although their fine root length density (FRLD) increased, the S<sub>0-2-3</sub> and S<sub>0-3-3</sub> treatments reduced the limit of root extension in the horizontal direction, causing the roots to be mainly distributed near the plants. This resulted in decreased leaf area and biomass accumulation, ultimately leading to significant yield reduction. Additionally, the S<sub>2-2-3</sub> and S<sub>2-3-3</sub> treatments stimulated the adaptive mechanism of maize roots, resulting in boosted fine root growth to increase the FRLD and develop into deeper soil layers. However, due to the prolonged exposure to a high level of salinity, their roots below 30 cm depth senesced prematurely, leading to an inhibition in shoot growth and also resulting in yield reduction of 10.99% and 11.75%, compared to CK, respectively. Furthermore, the S<sub>1-2-3</sub> and S<sub>1-3-3</sub> treatments produced more reasonable distributions of FRLD, which did not boost fine root growth but established fewer weak areas (FLRD < 0.66 cm<sup>−3</sup>) in their root systems. Moreover, the S<sub>1-2-3</sub> treatment contributed to increasing leaf development and biomass accumulation, compared to CK, whereas it allowed for minimizing yield reduction. Therefore, our study proposed the S<sub>1-2-3</sub> treatment as the recommended training mode for summer maize while utilizing brackish water resources.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/18/3329summer maizebrackish water irrigationroot distributionroot-shoot characteristicssalt tolerance
spellingShingle Suhan Peng
Tao Ma
Teng Ma
Kaiwen Chen
Yan Dai
Jihui Ding
Pingru He
Shuang’en Yu
Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation
Plants
summer maize
brackish water irrigation
root distribution
root-shoot characteristics
salt tolerance
title Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation
title_full Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation
title_fullStr Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation
title_short Effects of Salt Tolerance Training on Multidimensional Root Distribution and Root-Shoot Characteristics of Summer Maize under Brackish Water Irrigation
title_sort effects of salt tolerance training on multidimensional root distribution and root shoot characteristics of summer maize under brackish water irrigation
topic summer maize
brackish water irrigation
root distribution
root-shoot characteristics
salt tolerance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/18/3329
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