Xiaoqing Wei, Xuelong Guo, Erin E. Sparks, Weida Gao, Tusheng Ren, Baoguo Li, Hu Zhou
Abstract
Maize root lodging causes yield and grain quality reduction. We hypothesized that conservation tillage (CST) could increase root lodging resistance compared to conventional tillage (CVT) by facilitating root development. In this study, we compared maize root pushing resistance (RPR), a proxy for root lodging, in paired CST and CVT fields at 14 field sites and evaluated the relationship between RPR, soil physical properties and the maize plant traits. We found CST significantly increase maize RPR by 33.0 % in CVT system. Soil bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR) and shear strength (SS) of the topsoil (0–20 cm) was also significantly higher in CST. Brace root traits, including diameter (BRD), whorl number (BRWN) and angle (BRA), and stalk width were significantly increased following CST relative to CVT. Correlation analysis showed the variation in RPR can be attributed to maize stalk width and brace root phenotypes. A positive correlation was also found between soil strength and brace root traits. These findings indicate that improved soil properties are key factors for stimulating maize brace root development, and increasing maize root lodging resistance in CST fields. These results shed new light on the optimizing tillage practice to minimize maize root lodging.
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