The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth
The study investigated the effect of soil volume restriction on the below- and above-ground growth of <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> through understanding the limit imposed by root confinement via different soil volumes on root and canopy architecture and growth. In 2014, one-year-old <i...
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/5/635 |
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| author | Sawsan Hassan Giorgia Liguori Paolo Inglese Mounir Louhaichi Giuseppe Sortino |
| author_facet | Sawsan Hassan Giorgia Liguori Paolo Inglese Mounir Louhaichi Giuseppe Sortino |
| author_sort | Sawsan Hassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study investigated the effect of soil volume restriction on the below- and above-ground growth of <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> through understanding the limit imposed by root confinement via different soil volumes on root and canopy architecture and growth. In 2014, one-year-old <i>O. ficus-indica</i> cladodes were planted in five different soil volumes (50, 33, 18, 9 and 5 L). The cladode and roots of each sampled plants were measured and weighed every six months; a starch content estimation was performed using the perchloric acid method. The restricted soil volume had limiting effects on overall plant growth and influenced plant development. The largest canopy surface area and dry mass were measured in 50 L potted plants. Root system growth was inhibited by soil volume restriction: the total root length, surface area, dry mass and volume decreased due to this restriction. During the whole period, the starch content in cladodes and in roots grown on a 5 L soil volume was twice as much as in the largest, 50 L soil volume. Our results confirmed the importance of <i>O. ficus-indica</i> as a potential plant that can survive under low soil volume conditions. This plant has the ability to balance its growth and stay alive under harsh environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:07:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3965df463b834358a230cdf339a06ab2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:07:16Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3965df463b834358a230cdf339a06ab22023-11-19T23:10:56ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-04-0110563510.3390/agronomy10050635The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root GrowthSawsan Hassan0Giorgia Liguori1Paolo Inglese2Mounir Louhaichi3Giuseppe Sortino4Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, ed. 4, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, ed. 4, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, ed. 4, 90128 Palermo, ItalyInternational Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 435, Tunis 1004, TunisiaDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, ed. 4, 90128 Palermo, ItalyThe study investigated the effect of soil volume restriction on the below- and above-ground growth of <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> through understanding the limit imposed by root confinement via different soil volumes on root and canopy architecture and growth. In 2014, one-year-old <i>O. ficus-indica</i> cladodes were planted in five different soil volumes (50, 33, 18, 9 and 5 L). The cladode and roots of each sampled plants were measured and weighed every six months; a starch content estimation was performed using the perchloric acid method. The restricted soil volume had limiting effects on overall plant growth and influenced plant development. The largest canopy surface area and dry mass were measured in 50 L potted plants. Root system growth was inhibited by soil volume restriction: the total root length, surface area, dry mass and volume decreased due to this restriction. During the whole period, the starch content in cladodes and in roots grown on a 5 L soil volume was twice as much as in the largest, 50 L soil volume. Our results confirmed the importance of <i>O. ficus-indica</i> as a potential plant that can survive under low soil volume conditions. This plant has the ability to balance its growth and stay alive under harsh environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/5/635sustainabilityrestricted soil volumecladodesrootsplant growth |
| spellingShingle | Sawsan Hassan Giorgia Liguori Paolo Inglese Mounir Louhaichi Giuseppe Sortino The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth Agronomy sustainability restricted soil volume cladodes roots plant growth |
| title | The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth |
| title_full | The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth |
| title_short | The Effect of Soil Volume Availability on <i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> Canopy and Root Growth |
| title_sort | effect of soil volume availability on i opuntia ficus indica i canopy and root growth |
| topic | sustainability restricted soil volume cladodes roots plant growth |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/5/635 |
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