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Growth and Distribution of Maize Roots in Response to Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil Profiles after Long-Term Fertilization Management on a Calcareous Soil

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  • Yunlong Zhang

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
    National Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Tengteng Li

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China)

  • Shuikuan Bei

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China)

  • Junling Zhang

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China)

  • Xiaolin Li

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China)

Abstract

The replacement of inorganic fertilizer nitrogen by manure is highlighted to have great potential to maintain crop yield while delivering multiple functions, including the improvement of soil quality. However, information on the dynamics of root distributions in response to chemical fertilizers and manure along the soil profile is still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal-spatial root distributions of summer maize ( Zea mays L.) from 2013 to 2015 under four treatments (unfertilized control (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), manure + 70% NPK (NPKM), and NPKM + straw (NPKMS)). Root efficiency for shoot N accumulation was increased by 89% in the NPKM treatment compared with the NPK treatment at V12 (the emergence of the twelfth leaf) of 2014. Root growth at 40–60 cm was consistently stimulated after manure and/or straw additions, especially at V12 and R3 (the milk stage) across three years. Root length density (RLD) in the diameter <0.2 mm at 0–20 cm was significantly positively correlated with soil water content and negatively with soil mineral N contents in 2015. The RLD in the diameter >0.4 mm at 20–60 cm, and RLD <0.2 mm, was positively correlated with shoot N uptake in 2015. The root length density was insensitive in response to fertilization treatments, but the variations in RLD along the soil profile in response to fertilization implies that there is a great potential to manipulate N supply levels and rooting depths to increase nutrient use efficiency. The importance of incorporating a manure application together with straw to increase soil fertility in the North China Plain (NCP) needs further studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunlong Zhang & Tengteng Li & Shuikuan Bei & Junling Zhang & Xiaolin Li, 2018. "Growth and Distribution of Maize Roots in Response to Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil Profiles after Long-Term Fertilization Management on a Calcareous Soil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4315-:d:184365
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. De Vries, J.W. & Hoogmoed, W.B. & Groenestein, C.M. & Schröder, J.J. & Sukkel, W. & De Boer, I.J.M. & Groot Koerkamp, P.W.G., 2015. "Integrated manure management to reduce environmental impact: I. Structured design of strategies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 29-37.
    2. Xuejun Liu & Ying Zhang & Wenxuan Han & Aohan Tang & Jianlin Shen & Zhenling Cui & Peter Vitousek & Jan Willem Erisman & Keith Goulding & Peter Christie & Andreas Fangmeier & Fusuo Zhang, 2013. "Enhanced nitrogen deposition over China," Nature, Nature, vol. 494(7438), pages 459-462, February.
    3. De Vries, J.W. & Groenestein, C.M. & Schröder, J.J. & Hoogmoed, W.B. & Sukkel, W. & Groot Koerkamp, P.W.G. & De Boer, I.J.M., 2015. "Integrated manure management to reduce environmental impact: II. Environmental impact assessment of strategies," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 88-99.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Zhuangji & Timlin, Dennis & Li, Sanai & Fleisher, David & Dathe, Annette & Luo, Chenyi & Dong, Lixin & Reddy, Vangimalla R. & Tully, Katherine, 2021. "A diffusive model of maize root growth in MAIZSIM and its applications in Ridge-Furrow Rainfall Harvesting," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    2. Hongzhen Luo & Ana A. Robles-Aguilar & Ivona Sigurnjak & Evi Michels & Erik Meers, 2021. "Assessing Nitrogen Availability in Biobased Fertilizers: Effect of Vegetation on Mineralization Patterns," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-18, September.

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