Trade-Off between Root Efficiency and Root Size Is Associated with Yield Performance of Soybean under Different Water and Phosphorus Levels

Jin He, Yi Jin, Kadambot H. M. Siddique and Feng-Min Li
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Jin He: The Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Yi Jin: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Kadambot H. M. Siddique: The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia
Feng-Min Li: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: (1) Background: Root traits play important roles in acclimating to water and phosphorus (P) shortages. However, the relative importance of root size and efficiency under these conditions is unknown. (2) Methods: This study investigated the role of root size and efficiency in acclimating to water- and P-limited environments. Three soybean genotypes with contrasting root sizes were grown in tall cylindrical pots to compare grain yield, root density, and water- and nutrient-uptake efficiencies under two water (well-watered and water-stressed) and three P levels (0 (P0), 60 (P60), and 120 (P120) mg P kg −1 dry soil). (3) Results: Water or P deficit, and combined water and P deficit significantly decreased grain yield, which was associated with greater P uptake per unit root dry weight (DW) under water stress. The genotype Zhonghuang 30 (ZH) with the greatest water, nitrogen, and P uptakes per unit root DW had the highest grain yield at P60 and P120 under water stress and P0 under well-watered conditions, but ZH had the lowest grain yield at P60 and P120 under well-watered conditions, due to its small root size. (4) Conclusions: High root efficiency—which was correlated with high root density—improved grain yield under P- and water-limited conditions, but restricted yield potential when P and water were not limited.

Keywords: phosphorus uptake; root density; root efficiency; root dry weight; yield performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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