Effect of water stress on root growth of alfalfa seedlings and on nitrogen- and phosphorus- use efficiencies after water stress

doi:10.11686/cyxb2016409

Abstract

Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of soil moisture on the root growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and its nutrient-use efficiency after water stress. Two alfalfa cultivars (Sadie 7 and Icon) were grown under low- (deficiency), appropriate- (CK), or high- (water logging) soil moisture treatments for 20 days before restoring soil moisture to the CK level. The nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiencies of the plants were determined by applying nitrogen (urea: 0.336 g/pot) or phosphorus (superphosphate: 1.51 g/pot) at the end of the soil moisture treatment. Root growth differed significantly (P<0.05) among the three soil moisture treatments. Taproot elongation was significantly inhibited by water logging. The taproot diameter, surface area, and volume were lower in water-stressed plants than in CK plants. The taproot was significantly shorter under low soil moisture conditions than in the CK. The growth rate of the root system was significantly lower in the low- and high-soil-moisture treatments than in the CK, and the root system in the high-soil-moisture treatment showed the poorest recovery after removal of water stress. Root growth was inhibited under water stress conditions, and the absorption and utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus were significantly (P<0.05) lower after low- and high-soil-water stress than in CK because of slow recovery of the root system. Increasing the nitrogen and phosphorus supply significantly improved root growth. Together, these results suggested that maintaining soil moisture at an appropriate level and fertilizing with nitrogen and phosphate after soil stress are important to promote the growth of alfalfa roots and increase the forage yield.

CLC Number:

yxshen@njau.edu.cn

DING Xiao-Qing, FAN Zi-Han, SHEN Yi-Xin. Effect of water stress on root growth of alfalfa seedlings and on nitrogen- and phosphorus- use efficiencies after water stress[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2017, 26(5): 92-99.

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