Abstract
Salt-alkali is the main threat to global crop production. The functioning of phosphorus (P) in alleviating damage to crops from saline-alkaline stress may be dependent on the variety of crop but there is little published research on the topic. This pot experiment was conducted to study if P has any effect on rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield, dry matter and P accumulation and translocation in salt-alkaline soils. Plant dry weight and P content at heading and harvest stages of two contrasting saline-alkaline tolerant (Dongdao-4) and sensitive (Tongyu-315) rice varieties were examined under two saline-alkaline (light versus severe) soils and five P supplements (P0, P50, P100, P150 and P200 kg ha−1). The results were: in light saline-alkaline soil, the optimal P levels were found for P150 for Dongdao-4 and for P100 for Tongyu-315 with the greatest grain dry weight and P content. Two rice varieties obtained relatively higher dry weight and P accumulation and translocation in P0. In severe saline-alkaline soil, however, dry weight and P accumulation and translocation, 1000-grain weight, seed-setting rate and grain yield significantly decreased, but effectively increased with P application for Dongdao-4. Tongyu-315 showed lower sensitivity to P nutrition. Thus, a more tolerant variety could have a stronger capacity to absorb and translocate P for grain filling, especially in severe salt-alkaline soils. This should be helpful for consideration in rice breeding and deciding a reasonable P application in saline-alkaline soil.
Highlights
Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses on agricultural production throughout the world
Root dry weight (DW) of Dongdao-4 was higher in 0 kg P ha−1 (P0) and 150 kg P ha−1 (P150) than in other P levels
For Dongdao-4, for example, the greatest PT and CPAG were all found at the optimal P level (P200) in severe saline-alkaline soil (SSA) soil. The results of this experiment demonstrate the complex relationship between saline-alkaline and P application to DW and P accumulation and translocation of rice varieties
Summary
Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses on agricultural production throughout the world. With high salt concentration and high pH, soil salinity seriously reduces crop growth and grain yield through induced osmotic stress, ionic toxicity and difficulty in P uptake [3,4]. Phosphorus deficiency and salinity were believed to be two independent factors to crop P uptake, plant growth and yield [5,6]. The ionic imbalance, stomatal closure and reactive oxygen induced by saline-alkaline stress can seriously damage plant photosynthesis and carbohydrate synthesis, and suppress plant biomass and P accumulation and translocation [11]. The characteristics of plant growth, dry weight (DW) and P accumulation and translocation from vegetable parts to grains during crop maturity vary with different crop varieties, growth stages, saline-alkaline soil conditions and P supplementation [13,14]
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