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Root growth and root system architecture of field-grown maize in response to high planting density

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Abstract

Aims

This paper aims to investigate the adaptation of maize root system architecture (RSA) in response to increasing planting densities.

Methods

A three-year field study was conducted with three planting densities (40,000, 70,000, and 90,000 plants per ha, which are abbreviated as D40000, D70000 and D90000, respectively). The dynamic change of root morphological traits and the 3-dimensional RSA were quantified.

Results

The grain yield per ha increased with increasing plant density from D40000 to D70000, and then decreased at D90000. Compared to D70000, high planting density of D90000 did not changed the total root biomass per ha but increased shoot biomass per ha by 4 to 8% in two of the three experimental years. Grain yield per plant and plant NPK concentration decreased with increasing planting density. Total accumulation of P and K per ha also decreased at D90000 compared to D70000. Root to shoot ratio was reduced at high planting density beginning 50 days after emergence. Compared to the control (D70000), total root length (TRL) per plant was reduced by 18 to 30% at D90000 and increased by 43 to 56% at D40000, root biomass per plant was reduced by 23 to 34% at D90000 and increased by 66 to 75% at D40000. High plant density reduced the number of nodal roots, lateral root density (LRD) and the average lateral root (LR) length, but with less effect on the length of axial roots. The RSA is characteristic of “intra-row contraction and inter-row extension”. Vertically, root growth in top soil layer (0- to 36- cm) was enhanced under supra-optimal plant density, but had a negligible effect in deep soil layers (36- to 60- cm).

Conclusions

To adapt to the limited photosynthesis capacity in the roots under high planting density, maize plants tend to reduce nodal root number and inhibit lateral root growth. They maintain nodal root length to explore a larger soil space, and adjust root growth in the intra-row and inter-row direction to avoid root-to-root competition.

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Fig. 1: Effect of plant density on shoot and root growth. Shoot and root biomass were measured from V6 to two weeks after silking in 2015 and 2016.
Fig. 2: Effect of plant density on root to shoot ratio. Root to shoot ratio was measured from V6 stage to two weeks after silking in 2015 and 2016.
Fig. 3: Effect of plant density on the total length of each nodal root (including the LRs borne on them). The total length of each nodal root (including the primary, seminal and nodal root from each whorl) was measured from V6 stage to 2 weeks after silking in 2015 and 2016.
Fig. 4: Effect of plant density on the axial length of each nodal root. The axial length of each root (including the primary, seminal and nodal root from each whorl) was measured from V6 growth stage to 2 weeks after silking in 2015 and 2016.
Fig. 5: Horizontal distribution of root length density along different distance from the plant in intra-row direction.
Fig. 6: Horizontal distribution of root length density along different distance from the plant in inter-row direction.
Fig. 7: Effect of plant density on grain yield across three experimental years.

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Abbreviations

D40000:

40,000 plants per ha

D70000:

70,000 plants per ha

D90000:

90,000 plants per ha

TRL:

total root length

LR:

lateral roots

LRD:

lateral root density

SRL:

specific root length

RLD:

root length density

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China (2015CB150402) and State key research program (2016YFD0300304).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security, College of Resources and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People’s Republic of China

    Hui Shao, Tingting Xia, Dali Wu, Fanjun Chen & Guohua Mi

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  1. Hui Shao
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  2. Tingting Xia
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  3. Dali Wu
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Correspondence to Guohua Mi.

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Shao, H., Xia, T., Wu, D. et al. Root growth and root system architecture of field-grown maize in response to high planting density. Plant Soil 430, 395–411 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3720-8

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