Role of alternate and fixed partial root-zone drying on water use efficiency and growth of maize (Zea mays L.) in gypsiferous soils

Abstract

Alternate partial root-zone drying (APRD) is a water-saving method but can regulate crop physiological responses. A pot experiment has been conducted to study the efficiency of partial and fixed root-zone drying on the growth and production of maize (Zea mays L.) in addition to the water use efficiency in soils with different gypsum content. The experimental treatments include three irrigation treatments, i.e. Conventional Irrigation (CI), Alternate Partial Root-zone Drying (APRD) and Fixed Partial Root-zone Drying (FPRD), and three soils with different gypsum content " (60.0 [G1], 153.7 [G2], and 314.2 [G3] g kg−1)". The vegetative growth, root dry mass and physiological indices (leaf relative water content, carotenoid concentration, proline) have been studied during three stages of maize plant growth (jointing, tasselling, and maturing). The Results showed that compared to CI, APRD and FPRD increased water use efficiency by 38.93 and 14.94% based on dry seed yield. In addition, compared to CI, APRD increased maize seed yield by 4.62–20.71%, while FPRD decreased yield by 19.24–5.28% for the gypsiferous soils G2 and G3, respectively. APRD has a slight effect on leaf water potential, leaf relative water content, carotenoid and proline activities from jointing to maturing stages at the three gypsiferous soils. Results suggest that APRD could make maize plants use water even more productively with better adaptation to water shortages in the gypsiferous soils.