Wide–Narrow Row Planting Pattern Increases Root Lodging Resistance by Adjusting Root Architecture and Root Physiological Activity in Maize (Zea mays L.) in Northeast China

Shengqun Liu,Yang Wang,Xiangnan Li,Shulian Jian

doi:10.3390/agriculture11060517

Abstract

Root lodging (RL) in maize can reduce yield and grain quality. A wide–narrow row planting pattern can increase maize yield in the growing regions of northeastern China, but whether it can improve RL resistance is not clear. Therefore, in this study, the root architecture distribution, root physiological activity, and root lodging rate under planting pattern 1 (uniform ridge of 65 cm, east–west ridge direction) and pattern 2 (wide–narrow rows, 40 double narrow rows and 90 wide rows, north–south ridge direction) were studied. The results showed that the RL rate under pattern 2 was significantly lower than that under pattern 1. The number and diameter of nodal roots on the upper node, the root failure moment, and the root bleeding sap intensity at the 3 weeks after VT under pattern 2 were significantly higher than those under pattern 1. Root length density in the 0–40 cm soil layer tended to be inter-row distributed. Therefore, the RL resistance of maize under pattern 2 was increased through an adjustment in the root architecture distribution and root physiological activity in northeastern China.

Highlights

Maize is a major food crop both globally and in China
Root architecture distribution is affected by the planting pattern
Sharratt and McWilliams compared the root distribution of maize planted under three row spacings (0.38, 0.57, and 0.76 m) and concluded that, compared with wide row spacing (0.76 cm), the root distribution under narrow row spacing (0.38 cm) was more uniform [9]

Summary

Introduction

Maize is a major food crop both globally and in China. In China, farmers have increased the planting density of maize in order to obtain higher grain yields. Considering that the ridge direction may affect the growth of maize [20], we designed east-west and Planting pattern 1 was a uniform ridge with a ridge spacing of 65 cm. After the maize shoots were cut off, the soil columns with roots were obtained according to different horizontal (Figure 2C,D) and vertical distances from the plants according to Böhm [24]. The number of natural RLs of maize was defined and calculated as the permanent displacement of the whole stem per plant from the vertical position at the base of the plant on October 8 in 2016 and 2017, and the RL rate was calculated as the number of root lodgings divided by the total number per plot [27]. Where Rfm is the root failure moment (in Nm), Fmax is the maximal force (in N) of the push, and h is 0.2 m

Statistical Analysis

Number and Diameter

Conclusions