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Acta Agron Sin ›› 2012, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (07): 1286-1294.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2012.01286

• RESEARCH NOTES • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Influence of Planting Density on Root Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Different Types of Maize under High-Yielding Cultivation Conditions

LI Zong-Xin1,2,CHEN Yuan-Quan1,WANG Qing-Cheng2,LIU Kai-Chang2,GAO Wang-Sheng1,*,SUI Peng1,*   

  1. 1 Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; 2 Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; 3 National Engineering Laboratory for Wheat and Maize, Jinan 250100, China ?
  • Received:2012-02-20 Revised:2012-04-20 Online:2012-07-12 Published:2012-05-01
  • Contact: 高旺盛, E-mail: wshgao@cau.edu.cn; 隋鹏, Tel: 0531-62737516

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Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to compare the influence of planting density onthe root spatio-temporal distribution using two types of maize cultivar (LD981, a planophile massive ear type variety, and LD818, an erectophile middle ear type variety) under high-yielding cultivation conditions. The results indicated that the total root volume (TRV), total root-absorbing area (TRAA), active-absorbing area (AAA), and total root dry weight (TRDW) of the both maize varieties increased at first and then decreased during the growing stages. From the flowing stage to the milking stage, the above parameters reached their maximum values. The number of root layers, root number, TRV, TRAA, AAA, and TRDW decreased with the increase of planting density, but the rate of decrease in LD981 was higher than that in LD818. In the horizontal distribution, 0–6, 6–12, and 12–18 cm from the stem were classified as higher, mid, and lower root density zones, respectively; in the vertical distribution, 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 cm below the ground surface were classified as higher, mid, lower, and thinner root density layers, respectively. In the horizontal distribution, the percentage of root dry weight in 0–6 cm soil from the stem of LD818 was higher (2.96%) than that of LD981, but lower (14.33%) in 6–18 cm soil; in the vertical distribution, the percentage of root dry weight in 0–40 cm soil below the ground surface in LD818 was lower (3.71%) than that in LD981, but higher (14.33%) in 40–80 cm soil. The results of this study suggest that the requirement in root distribution space and orientation is different among different maize varieties. LD981 posses more roots mainly distributing in lower soil layers. LD981 is more sensitive to horizontal restriction owing to higher planting density, and suitable to be planted under lower planting density condition. LD818 shows the root distribution characteristics of “vertical extension and horizontal contraction”, adapting horizontal restriction owing to higher planting density, suitably cultivating under higher planting density condition.

Key words: Maize (Zea mays L.), Planting density, Root, Spatio-temporal distribution

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