Conservation tillage increases maize (Zea mays L.) root lodging resistance through improving brace root development

IF 6.1 1区农林科学 Q1 SOIL SCIENCE

Soil & Tillage Research Pub Date : 2025-06-16 DOI:10.1016/j.still.2025.106719

Xiaoqing Wei , Xuelong Guo , Erin E. Sparks , Weida Gao , Tusheng Ren , Baoguo Li , Hu Zhou

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引用次数: 0

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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保护性耕作通过改善玉米根的发育来提高玉米的抗倒伏能力

玉米倒伏导致产量下降，品质下降。我们假设保护性耕作（CST）与常规耕作（CVT）相比可以通过促进根系发育来提高根系抗倒伏能力。本研究比较了14个试验点CST和CVT配对的玉米根系抗压能力（RPR），并评价了RPR、土壤物理性质和玉米植株性状之间的关系。在CVT系统中，CST显著提高了玉米RPR 33.0% %。表层土（0 ~ 20 cm）的容重（BD）、抗渗能力（PR）和抗剪强度（SS）也显著高于CST。茎粗、根径、轮数、根角、茎宽等性状均显著高于对照。相关分析表明，RPR的变异与玉米茎宽和支撑根表型有关。土壤强度与撑根性状也呈显著正相关。上述结果表明，改良的土壤性质是促进玉米支撑根发育和提高玉米根系抗倒伏能力的关键因素。这些结果为优化耕作方式减少玉米根系倒伏提供了新的思路。

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来源期刊

Soil & Tillage Research 农林科学-土壤科学

CiteScore

13.00

自引率

6.20%

发文量

266

审稿时长

5 months

期刊介绍： Soil & Tillage Research examines the physical, chemical and biological changes in the soil caused by tillage and field traffic. Manuscripts will be considered on aspects of soil science, physics, technology, mechanization and applied engineering for a sustainable balance among productivity, environmental quality and profitability. The following are examples of suitable topics within the scope of the journal of Soil and Tillage Research: The agricultural and biosystems engineering associated with tillage (including no-tillage, reduced-tillage and direct drilling), irrigation and drainage, crops and crop rotations, fertilization, rehabilitation of mine spoils and processes used to modify soils. Soil change effects on establishment and yield of crops, growth of plants and roots, structure and erosion of soil, cycling of carbon and nutrients, greenhouse gas emissions, leaching, runoff and other processes that affect environmental quality. Characterization or modeling of tillage and field traffic responses, soil, climate, or topographic effects, soil deformation processes, tillage tools, traction devices, energy requirements, economics, surface and subsurface water quality effects, tillage effects on weed, pest and disease control, and their interactions.