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Agronomy
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Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant
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Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 15775

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jingsheng Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: water saving irrigation; physiological stress of cotton; simulation of crop water; regulation of crop water demand and consumption; water, carbon and nitrogen cycle in farmland
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Quanqi Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
Interests: water and carbon balance; winter wheat; irrigation methods and frequencies; mechanism of water saving in farmland; water efficient use
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Guangshuai Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: soil nitrogen cycle; greenhouse gas emissions; irrigation management; water use efficiency; poor quality water
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The shortage of water resources is a hot issue of interest in the world today. Farmland irrigation is the foundation for developing sustainable agriculture. The development of water-saving agriculture is an important measure to alleviate water resource shortages and ensure food security. Previous research on water-saving agriculture has mainly focused on the increase and storage of soil water in the crop root layer and the reduction of evaporation and consumption in the tillage and cultivation of farmland, irrigation engineering, and agronomic water-saving technology. However, with the development of research on the soil–crop water relationship, more and more research has been concentrated on the exploitation of plant physiological water-saving potential, the improvement of water and nitrogen use efficiency under fertigation technology, and the change in soil greenhouse gas emissions after changes in soil water supply. Whether luxury transpiration happens in plant growth; how the stomata of leaves respond to environmental changes; what the main signals regulating the stomatal opening and closing are; how to regulate transpiration of crops; how drip irrigation affects water and nitrogen use efficiency; and what contributions water management has made to soil greenhouse gas emissions have reached a unified conclusion.

This Special Issue focuses on how soil water regulation and leaves sprayed with exogenous substances affect transpiration, photosynthesis, plant growth, and water use efficiency and how irrigation schedules and methods, irrigation water quality, and drop fertigation technology affect farmland water and nitrogen use efficiency and soil greenhouse gas emissions.

Prof. Dr. Jingsheng Sun
Prof. Dr. Quanqi Li
Dr. Guangshuai Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil water regulation
  • exogenous substances
  • plant signal of water
  • stomate respond
  • transpiration
  • photosynthesis
  • plant growth
  • water use efficiency
  • greenhouse gas emissions
  • water and nitrogen use efficiency.

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4276 KiB  
Article
Response of Evapotranspiration, Photosynthetic Characteristics and Yield of Soybeans to Groundwater Depth
by Zhenchuang Zhu, Zhijun Chen, Zhe Wang, Ruxuan Shen and Shijun Sun
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010183 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 985
Abstract
To clarify the physiological mechanism of different groundwater depths affecting soybean evapotranspiration, photosynthetic characteristics and yield, a field experiment with four groundwater depth levels (1 m (D1), 2 m (D2), 3 m (D3) and 4 m (D4)) was conducted through the groundwater simulation [...] Read more.
To clarify the physiological mechanism of different groundwater depths affecting soybean evapotranspiration, photosynthetic characteristics and yield, a field experiment with four groundwater depth levels (1 m (D1), 2 m (D2), 3 m (D3) and 4 m (D4)) was conducted through the groundwater simulation system in 2021 and 2022. In this study, a quantitative analysis was conducted on the groundwater recharge and irrigation water demand and evapotranspiration (ET) of soybean fields with different treatments, and the effects of different treatments on soybean leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content index (SPAD), intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (IPAR), photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and yield were explored. The results showed the following: (1) Groundwater depth affected soybean ET and the source of ET. With the increase in groundwater depth, groundwater recharge and its contribution to ET gradually decreased, but the amount of irrigation required gradually increased, resulting in the ET as D1 > D4 > D2 > D3. (2) Soybean LAI, SPAD and IPAR were significantly affected by the different groundwater depths, of which the D1 treatment always maintained the maximum, followed by the D4 treatment, and the D3 treatment was the minimum. The photosynthetic gas exchange parameters under different treatments changed synergistically, showing significant differences in the flowering and podding stages, notably D1 > D4 > D2 > D3. Soybean DMA and yield first decreased and then increased with the increase in groundwater depth, and the average DMA and yield under the D1 treatment increased by 27.71%, 46.80% and 22.82% and 20.29%, 29.91% and 12.83% in the two years, respectively, compared to the D2, D3 and D4 treatments. (3) The structural equation model demonstrated that the groundwater depth indirectly affected the growth of soybean leaf area by affecting groundwater recharge, which in turn regulated soybean ET and photosynthetic capacity and ultimately affected DMA and yield. The above results showed that in the case of shallow groundwater depth (D1), the largest groundwater recharge promoted the growth of soybean leaf area and chlorophyll synthesis and increased the absorption and utilization of solar radiation. And it improved the leaf stomata conditions, accelerated the gas exchange between the plant and atmosphere, enhanced the photosynthetic production capacity and ET and achieved maximum DMA and yield. Soybean leaf growth and photosynthesis diminish with the increase in groundwater depth. In the case of deep groundwater depth (D4), the maximum irrigation improved the growth and photosynthetic performance of soybean leaves, which was favorable to ET, and ultimately led to increases in DMA and yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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12 pages, 1740 KiB  
Article
Effects of Manure-Based Nitrogen Substitution for Chemical Nitrogen Fertilizers on Economic Benefits and Water-Use Efficiency of Maize
by Xiaojuan Wang, Le Tian and Lulu Xu
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 3031; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13123031 - 11 Dec 2023
Viewed by 699
Abstract
How to use nitrogen fertilizer is crucial for farmers in boosting crop yield and fostering sustainable agricultural development. We hypothesized that replacing the nitrogen (N) provided by mineral fertilizer with manure would enhance the soil water storage, increase water use efficiency (WUE), maintain [...] Read more.
How to use nitrogen fertilizer is crucial for farmers in boosting crop yield and fostering sustainable agricultural development. We hypothesized that replacing the nitrogen (N) provided by mineral fertilizer with manure would enhance the soil water storage, increase water use efficiency (WUE), maintain maize yield, and improve economic benefits. We performed the experiment by replacing 0% (CK), 25% (M25), 50% (M50), 75% (M75), and 100% (M100) of mineral N fertilizer (225 kg ha–1) with an equivalent amount of N from manure during 2016–2019. M25 and M50 increased the soil water storage at 0–2 m depth after maize harvest, while M25 significantly decreased the evapotranspiration by 5.27–22.14% compared with CK. The replacement treatments significantly increased maize yield and WUE by 6.58–13.62% and 5.68–18.00%, respectively, during the fourth fertilization year. Meanwhile, the net benefits of the replacement treatments were significantly higher than that of CK in the year of higher precipitation and irrigation water. M75 significantly increased net benefits by 8.47–35.51% compared with CK. M75 had the highest comprehensive evaluation score. Thus, the study proposes a combination of 75% N from manure with 25% N from mineral fertilizer to achieve a high maize yield and benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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16 pages, 2969 KiB  
Article
Plot Layout Method of Field Experiment for Wheat with Border Irrigation Based on Soil Water Content Heterogeneity
by Ni Song, Xiaojun Shen, Jinglei Wang, Pengxiang Wang and Ruochen Yi
Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2267; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092267 - 29 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1090
Abstract
The objective of this research was to improve the accuracy and representativeness of experimental plot studies by determining the optimum plot area and replication number for winter wheat with border irrigation. Considering the spatial distribution of soil water content, the border effect in [...] Read more.
The objective of this research was to improve the accuracy and representativeness of experimental plot studies by determining the optimum plot area and replication number for winter wheat with border irrigation. Considering the spatial distribution of soil water content, the border effect in relation to crop growth, and the lateral seepage of soil water, we sought to study and optimize the area and specifications of irrigation experiment plots with different levels and replicates. The results show that the experimental irrigation plot consisted of two parts—the core area and the guard area. The most suitable area for the experiment plot core area, with a single level and without replicates, was 60–80 m2. The core experimental area can be arranged with two replicates per 40 m2, with differences in soil moisture content between the treatments reaching more than 15% at the two experiment levels. Each plot comprised two replicates, or if they were 20 m2, then they contained three replicates; when the soil moisture contents differed between 10% and 15%, the area of each replicate plot was 80 m2, comprising two replicates, or 30 m2 with three replicates. When the difference in soil moisture content between the treatments exceeded 15% with the three experimental levels, the area of each plot was 30 m2 and they contained two replicates, or 20 m2 containing three replicates; at differences of 10% to 15%, each replicate plot was 50 m2 containing two replicates, or 30 m2 with three replicates. The experimental plots were rectangular, with irrigation furrows dug lengthwise; therefore, the plots had aspect ratios between 7:1 and 5:1. The width of the buffer area was over 60 cm. The effect of the border on plant height and LAI for winter wheat primarily emerged with one to three rows (20–60 cm) at the jointing stage, while the effect on grain yield and biomass in winter wheat mainly emerged with one to two rows (20–40 cm). The conclusions of this research will inform the development of surface irrigation methods for silt loam in northern Henan, as a reference for optimizing experiment plots employing border irrigation with different soil textures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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13 pages, 23423 KiB  
Article
Accurate and Rapid Measurement of Soil Dry Depth Using Ultrasonic Reflection Waves
by Zhongwei Liang, Chunhui Zhao, Yupeng Zhang, Sheng Long, Jinrui Xiao and Zhuan Zhao
Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051276 - 28 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1422
Abstract
Soil dry depth is a key parameter that determines soil fertility and nutrient availability, ultimately affecting crop yield and quality. However, accurately measuring the dry depth of soil has been a challenge. In this work, we propose using reflective ultrasonic waves to measure [...] Read more.
Soil dry depth is a key parameter that determines soil fertility and nutrient availability, ultimately affecting crop yield and quality. However, accurately measuring the dry depth of soil has been a challenge. In this work, we propose using reflective ultrasonic waves to measure dry depth in soil. Four soil types, including clay, sandy loam, silty loam, and sandy were prepared and the feasibility of the method was demonstrated through theoretical analysis. An experimental measurement system was established to verify the consistency between ultrasonic measurements and manually measured values. Two statistics were used in Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to evaluate the model fit: R-square (R2) and Root mean square error (RMSE). The results indicate that the proposed method provides a higher accuracy in estimating the dry depth of sandy loam and silty loam (R2 values of 0.9899 and 0.992 for sandy loam, RMSE values of 1.57% and 1.5% for silty loam) than those of the clay and sandy samples (R2 values of 0.9896 and 0.9874 for clay, RMSE values of 1.66% and 1.77% for sandy). The maximum measurement errors for all the soil type predictions are below 6%; the overall accuracy was acceptable. Our findings suggest that ultrasonic measurement is an efficient and cost-effective approach for measuring soil dry depth, which could enable the precise control of irrigation water usage and the conservation of valuable water resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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14 pages, 2749 KiB  
Article
Multi-Objective Optimization Water–Nitrogen Coupling Zones of Maize under Mulched Drip Irrigation: A Case Study of West Liaohe Plain, China
by Yayang Feng, Haibin Shi, Yanhui Jia, Ruiping Li, Qingfeng Miao and Qiong Jia
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020486 - 07 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1271
Abstract
The impact of different combinations of water–nitrogen coupling on maize yield and the environment needs investigation. Low, medium, and high levels of irrigation and N application gradients were studied through field experiments to elucidate the suitable water–nitrogen coupling zone for spring maize in [...] Read more.
The impact of different combinations of water–nitrogen coupling on maize yield and the environment needs investigation. Low, medium, and high levels of irrigation and N application gradients were studied through field experiments to elucidate the suitable water–nitrogen coupling zone for spring maize in the West Liaohe Plain during three hydrological year patterns under drip irrigation with plastic film. The effects of different water–nitrogen couplings on maize yield, water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies (WUE and NUE), and post-harvest soil alkali-hydrolyzable N residues were studied under integrated drip irrigation by varying the application rates of water and fertilizer. A multi-objective optimization of water–nitrogen coupling zones was performed by integrating maize yield, harvest index, WUE, and soil environmental effects. Results show that with an increase in irrigation and N application rate, the residual amount of alkali-hydrolyzable N increased slowly within a certain range. Upon exceeding a certain amount, residual N increased rapidly, and more N entered the soil environment. The NUE of moderate water–nitrogen coupling treatment was high, with lower environmental risk of residual alkali-hydrolyzable N. Moderate irrigation yielded the highest harvest index in the normal hydrological year. Irrigation rate had a higher impact on yield compared to nitrogen application, because of drip irrigation under plastic film. An appropriate irrigation amount results in a higher WUE and the application of N application must be adjusted according to the rainfall in a particular year. This study highlights the need for structuring water–nitrogen coupling zones specifically for different hydrological years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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18 pages, 3766 KiB  
Article
Water and Nitrogen Regulation Effects and System Optimization for Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under Film Drip Irrigation in the Dry Zone of Ningxia China
by Yingpan Yang, Juan Yin, Zhenghu Ma, Xiaodong Wei, Fubin Sun and Zhen Yang
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020308 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1451
Abstract
Potatoes require water and fertilizer management systems to optimize economic outcomes and fertilizer use, especially in arid areas such as Ningxia, China. In this study, three irrigation quotas (1200 (W1), 1650 (W2), and 2100 (W3) m3/hm2) and three nitrogen [...] Read more.
Potatoes require water and fertilizer management systems to optimize economic outcomes and fertilizer use, especially in arid areas such as Ningxia, China. In this study, three irrigation quotas (1200 (W1), 1650 (W2), and 2100 (W3) m3/hm2) and three nitrogen application treatments (110 (N1), 190 (N2), and 270 (N3) kg/hm2) were evaluated. Potato growth, final yield, and quality indices were assessed in relation to fertility periods, irrigation utilization efficiency, nitrogen and fertilizer bias productivity, and economic efficiency, using the TOPSIS model. Stem thickness and plant height varied significantly with irrigation and nitrogen treatments; total yield and vitamin C, reducing sugar, and starch contents were the highest under the W3N1, W3N1, W1N2, and W2N3 treatments, increasing by 54.56, 17.00, 69.00, and 45.00%, respectively, compared with those in the control. The regression relationships between water and nitrogen regulation and yield, irrigation water use efficiency, nitrogen fertilizer bias productivity, and economic efficiency agreed with the binary quadratic regression model, and the coefficients of determination (R2) were >0.85. W3N1 was optimal for model yield, nitrogen fertilizer bias productivity, and economic efficiency, and W1N3 was optimal for irrigation water use efficiency. Our findings will help optimize potato management in central Ningxia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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17 pages, 3425 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Soil Water and Salt Balance in Three Water-Saving Irrigation Technologies with HYDRUS-2D
by Yanhui Jia, Wei Gao, Xiulu Sun and Yayang Feng
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010164 - 04 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1573
Abstract
Mulch drip irrigation (MDI) technology can effectively solve the problem of insufficient temperature accumulation during the pre-fertility period and facilitate the efficient supplementation of water and fertilizer during the fertility period in spring corn planting. Moreover, this local MDI technology also has impacts [...] Read more.
Mulch drip irrigation (MDI) technology can effectively solve the problem of insufficient temperature accumulation during the pre-fertility period and facilitate the efficient supplementation of water and fertilizer during the fertility period in spring corn planting. Moreover, this local MDI technology also has impacts on the farmland environment. To investigate the effect of drip irrigation technology on the water and salt environment of farmland, a field study on corn cultivation was carried out at West Liaohe Plain. In addition, the water and salt dynamics of the farmland were simulated using HYDRUS-2D for mulch drip irrigation (MDI), shallowly buried drip irrigation (SBDI), and sprinkler irrigation (SI), with variable rainfall and initial salt content. The results showed that the distribution of and variation in water and salt in the soil were similar under MDI and SBDI. The change near the drip tape was mainly affected by irrigation, while the water and salt in the soil between drip tapes were correlated with irrigation and rainfall. The amount of salt in the topsoil (5 cm) increased with a decrease in rainfall. With an initial EC = 480 μs/cm (soil salt content 0.1%), the salinity of the topsoil under MDI was significantly higher than that under SBDI and SI within two years. The topsoil salinity was similar for all three irrigation technologies with increasing operating life, reaching a relatively stable state, and much lower than the salinity determination threshold of 480 μs/cm. Given the current conditions of rainfall, soil, buried depth, and mineralization in the West Liaohe Plain, the risk of secondary salinization is minimal if irrigation management is reasonable. This study provides data to support the application of drip irrigation technology in the Western Liaohe Plain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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17 pages, 4939 KiB  
Article
Response of Water Radiation Utilization of Summer Maize to Planting Density and Genotypes in the North China Plain
by Zhendong Liu, Shiyu Wei, Ming Li, Qingfen Zhang, Rui Zong and Quanqi Li
Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010068 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1260
Abstract
Increasing the planting density of summer maize to improve the utilization efficiency of limited soil and water resources is an effective approach; however, how the leaf water-use efficiency (WUEL), yield, and RUE respond to planting density and genotypes remains unclear. A [...] Read more.
Increasing the planting density of summer maize to improve the utilization efficiency of limited soil and water resources is an effective approach; however, how the leaf water-use efficiency (WUEL), yield, and RUE respond to planting density and genotypes remains unclear. A 2-year field experiment was performed in the North China Plain (NCP) to investigate the effects of planting density (high, 100,000 plants ha−1; medium, 78,000 plants ha−1; and low, 56,000 plants ha−1) and genotypes (Zhengdan 958 and Denghai 605) on the leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetic characteristics, dry-matter accumulation, WUEL, and RUE of maize. The objective was to explore the effect of density and genotype on the WUEL and RUE of maize. Increasing planting density boosted LAI, light interception, dry-matter accumulation, and spike number but reduced the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and 1000-kernel weight. Both high and low planting densities were averse to RUE and yield. Zhengdan 958 increased the WUEL by 19.45% compared with Denghai 605, but the RUE of Denghai 605 was 18.19% higher than Zhengdan 958, suggesting that Denghai 605 had a greater production potential as the planting density increased. Our findings recommend using 78,000 plants ha−1 as the planting density with Denghai 605 to maintain summer maize yields in the NCP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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25 pages, 4320 KiB  
Article
AquaCrop Model Evaluation for Winter Wheat under Different Irrigation Management Strategies: A Case Study on the North China Plain
by Guangshuai Wang, Faisal Mehmood, Muhammad Zain, Abdoul Kader Mounkaila Hamani, Jingjie Xue, Yang Gao and Aiwang Duan
Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 3184; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123184 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1341
Abstract
The North China Plain (NCP) produces about half of the winter wheat yield in China; therefore, it is essential to improve winter wheat grain yield, biomass, and water productivity (WP) under current water shortage conditions in this area. In this study, the AquaCrop [...] Read more.
The North China Plain (NCP) produces about half of the winter wheat yield in China; therefore, it is essential to improve winter wheat grain yield, biomass, and water productivity (WP) under current water shortage conditions in this area. In this study, the AquaCrop model was used for calibrating and validating crop canopy cover, grain yield, biomass, soil water content, crop evapotranspiration (ETC), and crop WP under an irrigation scheduling of 50%, 60%, and 70% field capacities with sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, and flood irrigation methods for winter wheat crop. The model was calibrated employing experimental data for the 2016–2017 winter wheat season and, subsequently, validated with using data from 2017–2018. The model performance was analyzed using root-mean-square error (RMSE), normalized root-mean-square error (NRMSE), the coefficient of determination (R2), and Willmott’s index of agreement (d). The prediction error between the simulated and observed values for grain yield, biomass, soil water content, ETC, and WP were the minimum at a 60% field capacity and the maximum at a 50% field capacity irrigation scheduling. The model simulation was satisfactory under the 60% and 70% field capacity irrigation scheduling, while the model performance was relatively low under the 50% field capacity irrigation scheduling. Irrigation to 4–5 times the 30 mm depth (total 120–150 mm) by drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation was the most effective irrigation schedule to obtain the optimum grain yield, biomass, and WP on the NCP. Our findings suggest that the AquaCrop model could be a feasible tool for precisely simulating the canopy cover, grain yield, biomass, soil water content, ETC, and WP of winter wheat under different irrigation schedules and irrigation methods on the NCP with higher certainty than under current practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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15 pages, 3993 KiB  
Article
Study on Regulation Mechanism of Tomato Root Growth in Greenhouse under Cycle Aerated Subsurface Drip Irrigation
by Qian Zhang, Peng Zhang, Yunpeng Deng, Chitao Sun, Xiaoxu Tian, Bingcheng Si, Bo Li, Xiaohong Guo, Fusheng Liu and Zhenhua Zhang
Agronomy 2022, 12(11), 2609; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112609 - 24 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Aerobic irrigation can effectively improve the oxygen environment in the root zone, and enhance crop quality and yield. However, how aerobic irrigation regulates root growth has not been elucidated. In this study, tomato plants were irrigated with three levels of oxygen (high, medium, [...] Read more.
Aerobic irrigation can effectively improve the oxygen environment in the root zone, and enhance crop quality and yield. However, how aerobic irrigation regulates root growth has not been elucidated. In this study, tomato plants were irrigated with three levels of oxygen (high, medium, and low) under underground drip irrigation. The morphology, activity, transcriptome, and hormone content of tomato roots under oxygen irrigation were analyzed. We found that the aeration irrigation significantly promoted root development. Notably, in the high-aeration irrigation treatment (HAI), the total root length, total surface area, total volume, and root activity were 12.41%, 43.2%, 79.1%, and 24.15% higher than in the non-aeration irrigation treatment (CK), respectively. The transcriptome of tomato roots under aeration irrigation was determined with a total of 272 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 131 up-regulated and 141 down-regulated genes. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the DEGs were enriched mainly in the metabolic pathways and plant hormone signal transduction. Among the plant hormone signal transduction, 50% of DEGs belonged to IAA signal-related genes and were upregulated. LC-MS analysis showed that the content of auxin hormones in the tomato roots subjected to aeration irrigation was significantly higher than that in CK. The content of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole-3-carboxylic acid (ICA) and Indole-3-carboxaldehyde (ICAld) were 2.3, 2.14 and 1.45 times higher than those of the CK, but insignificant effects were exerted on the contents of cytokinins, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and ethylene. Meanwhile, the key enzyme of auxin synthesis flavin monooxygenase (YUCCA) was significantly up-regulated. The aforementioned results show that aeration irrigation may promote the growth and development of roots by auxin regulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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21 pages, 6623 KiB  
Article
Research on the Hydrological Variation Law of the Dawen River, a Tributary of the Lower Yellow River
by Yan Li, Long Zhao, Zhe Zhang, Jianxin Li, Lei Hou, Jingqiang Liu and Yibing Wang
Agronomy 2022, 12(7), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071719 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1586
Abstract
The natural runoff mechanism of the Dawen River, the main tributary of the lower Yellow River, has been stressed in recent years as a result of human activity, and the hydrological situation has changed dramatically. In this paper, various hydrological statistical methods such [...] Read more.
The natural runoff mechanism of the Dawen River, the main tributary of the lower Yellow River, has been stressed in recent years as a result of human activity, and the hydrological situation has changed dramatically. In this paper, various hydrological statistical methods such as the Mann–Kendall nonparametric test, cumulative anomaly, ordered clustering, sliding T test, and rainfall–runoff double-cumulative curve were used to study the evolution characteristics of hydrological factors in Dawen River. The result revealed that the rainfall and runoff of the Dawen River decreased overall from 1956 to 2016, but the downward trend was not clear, and the runoff variance was high, with 1978 as the variation point. The IHA/RVA and PCA were used to comprehensively evaluate the hydrological variability of the Dawen River, and nine representative indicators were screened out. The overall change was 58%, which is mild, and the difference in hydrological change between the IHA index system and the PCA index system was just 7%, which was predictable. The hydrological situation of the Dawen River has undergone huge changes, and there has been a serious dry-off phenomenon since 1978. The biology, habitat, and structure of the Dawen River have all been irreversibly impacted by changes in its hydrological regime. Furthermore, the key influencing aspect of hydrological variation is the vast building of water conservation schemes. The findings could serve as a theoretical foundation for integrated water resource management and ecological conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water-Saving in Agriculture: From Soil to Plant)
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