scholarly journals Root interactions and plant growth in a tomato/potato onion intercropping system under different phosphorus levels

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjie Yu ◽  
Shaocan Chen ◽  
Xingang Zhou ◽  
Fengzhi Wu

ABSTRACTIntercropping systems have been implemented in many parts of the world due to their beneficial effects on yield and biomass. In intercropping systems, changes in plant growth are usually related to variations in root distribution and phosphorus (P) levels, however, root distributions and root tendencies are difficult to study, as root systems grow beneath the soil surface. Therefore, we have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between plant root interactions and plant growth in intercropping systems. In this study, a custom apparatus consisting of a transparent manual root box was used to observe intact root systems in situ. We investigated how root distribution and root tendency changed in a tomato/potato onion intercropping system under two P treatments, and how tomato plant growth was influenced. The results showed that the shoot and total biomass for the tomato plants were increased by intercropping with potato onion plants under both tested P levels, the root distribution of intercropped tomato plants was deeper than that of monocultured plants, and the tomato roots tended to grow away from the potato onion roots. Our research reveals that a deeper and more evasive root distribution is more conductive to the plant growth of the intercropped tomato.SUMMARY STATEMENTOur study can help more people clearly know the relationship between the root interactions and plant growth in mixed cultures.

1951 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Spencer

The root distribution of mature tomato plants in a sandy loam soil under furrow irrigation was studied by measuring the lengths of roots washed from soil samples. Nearly 76 per cent. of the roots measured were found in the top 40 cm. of soil, but appreciable amounts of roots were found in the deepest samples (90-100 cm.). There were more roots half-way between plants in the row than closer to the plant, which suggests that mature root systems overlap when plants are spaced 29 ft. apart in the row. Distribution was compared for plants which had received an application of superphosphate and those which had not. Added phosphorus greatly increased the total length of roots and slightly increased the median root depth without much change in the relative values for these two measures between different lateral positions. In addition, there was some evidence for a local concentration of roots around the band of superphosphate. The relevance of the findings to cultivation and fertilizer practices in tomato culture is briefly discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ahmadi ◽  
Abbas Samadi ◽  
Ebrahim Sepehr ◽  
Amir Rahimi ◽  
Sergey Shabala

AbstractMedicinal plants represent a valuable commodity due to beneficial effects of their natural products on human health, prompting a need for finding a way to optimize/increase their production. In this study, a novel growing media with various perlite particle size and its mixture with peat moss was tested for hydroponic-based production of Echinacea purpurea medicinal plant under greenhouse conditions. The plant growth parameters such as plant height, total fresh leave weight, fresh root weight, total biomass, total chlorophyll, leaf area, and essential oil compositions were assessed. Perlite particle size in the growing media was varied from very coarse (more than 2 mm) to very fine (less than 0.5 mm), and the ratio between perlite and peat moss varied from 50:50 v/v to 30:70 v/v. In addition, two nitrate (NO3−) to ammonium (NH4+) ratios (90:10 and 70:30) were tested for each growing media. The medium containing very fine-grade perlite and 50:50 v/v perlite to peat moss ratio was found to be most optimal and beneficial for E. purpurea performance, resulting in maximal plant height, fresh and dry weight, leaf surface area, and chlorophyll content. It was also found that an increase in NO3−/NH4+ ratio caused a significant increase in plant growth parameters and increase the plant essential oil content. The major terpene hydrocarbons found in extract of E. purpurea with the best growth parameters were germacrene D (51%), myrcene (15%), α-pinene (12%), β-caryophyllene (11%), and 1-Pentadecene (4.4%), respectively. The percentages of these terpene hydrocarbons were increased by increasing of NO3−/NH4+ ratio. It can be concluded that decreasing the perlite particle size and increasing the NO3−/NH4+ ratio increased the plant growth parameters and essential oil compositions in E. purpurea.


Nabatia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Palupi N.P

Abiotic stress conditions with high salinity cause a decrease in plant growth and production in citrus plants. The application of mycorrhizal fungi with various species is expected to be able to overcome this problem to improve plant root conditions. The results showed that the application of mycorrhizal fungi was able to improve roots so as to increase nutrient absorption, be able to maintain plant conditions under salinity stress gradually, and be able to increase the capacity of higher seedlings to control ROS formation and to activate enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hengxing Wang ◽  
Yulong He ◽  
Zufeng Shang ◽  
Chunpeng Han ◽  
Yilu Wang

We present the results of the reinforcement of plant root systems in surface soil in a model test to simulate actual precipitation conditions. In the test, Eleusine indica was selected as herbage to reinforce the soil. Based on the various moisture contents of plant roots in a pull-out test, a fitting formula describing the interfacial friction strength between the roots and soil and soil moisture content was obtained to explain the amount of slippage of the side slope during the process of rainfall. The experimental results showed that the root systems of plants successfully reinforced soil and stabilized the water content in the surface soil of a slope and that the occurrence time of landslides was delayed significantly in the grass-planting slope model. After the simulated rainfall started, the reinforcement effect of the plant roots changed. As the rainfall increased, the interfacial friction between the roots and the soil exhibited a negative power function relationship with the water content. These conclusions can be used as a reference for the design of plant slope protection and reinforcement.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 444-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jursík ◽  
J. Holec ◽  
J. Soukup ◽  
V. Venclová

This study aimed to describe emergence cycles of selected weed species under Central European conditions in relation to cumulative soil temperatures from the start of the vegetation season. Emergence of Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus-galli, Galinsoga ciliata, and Abutilon theophrasti was observed from March to October during the period 2001–2006 at two locations. The beginning of main field emergence was determined as the day when the sum of effective hour temperatures was achieved, and was detected from the second decade of April to early May for C. album, in the second decade of May for E. crus-galli, from late April to the beginning of May for G. ciliata, and from the end of April to mid-May for A. theophrasti. The relationship between cumulative soil surface layer temperature and weed mass field emergence at the beginning of the growing season is very direct (differences ±7 days) – but only when soil moisture is sufficient. In a drier spring, the beginning of mass field emergence occurs with 1–4 weeks of delay and field emergence is usually slower and protracted.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Sloan ◽  
Raul I. Cabrera ◽  
Peter A.Y. Ampim ◽  
Steve A. George ◽  
Wayne A. Mackay

Organic and inorganic amendments are often used to improve chemical and physical properties of soils. The objective of this study was to determine how the inclusion of light-weight expanded shale in various organic matter blends would affect plant performance. Four basic blends of organic growing media were prepared using traditional or alternative organic materials: 1) 75% pine bark (PB) + 25% sphagnum peatmoss (PM), 2) 50% PB + 50% wastewater biosolids (BS), 3) 100% municipal yard waste compost (compost), and 4) 65% PB + 35% cottonseed hulls (CH). Light-weight expanded shale was then blended with each of these mixtures at rates of 0%, 15%, 30%, and 60% (v/v). Vinca (Catharanthus roseus), verbena (Verbena hybrida), and shantung maple (Acer truncatum) were planted into the growing media after they were transferred into greenhouse pots. Vinca growth was monitored for 3 months before harvesting aboveground plant tissue to determine total biomass yield and elemental composition. Verbena growth was monitored for 6 months, during which time aboveground plant tissue was harvested twice to determine total biomass yield. Additionally, aboveground vinca plant tissue was analyzed for nutrients and heavy metal concentrations. In the absence of expanded shale, verbena and shantung maple trees produced more aboveground biomass in the 50-PB/50-BS blends, whereas vinca grew more biomass in the pure compost blends. Inclusion of expanded shale in the various organic matter blends generally had a negative effect on plant growth, with the exception of shantung maple growth in the 65-PB/35-CH blend. Reduced plant growth was probably due to a lower concentration of nutrients in the growing media. Macro- and micronutrient uptake was generally reduced by addition of expanded shale to the organic growing media. Results suggest that organic materials that have been stabilized through prior decomposition, such as compost or PM, are safe and reliable growing media, but expanded shale offers few benefits to a container growing medium except in cases where additional porosity is needed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 100-105
Author(s):  
R.R. Galiullin ◽  
◽  
R.S. Aipov ◽  
R.B. Yarullin ◽  
◽  
...  

The advantage of LED lamps over conventional means of plant irradiation is described. An analytic expression is proposed to determine the relationship between LED lamp characteristics and plant parameters such as the stem growth and biomass. The formula also identifies the plant growth phase, which is crucial in development of automated energy-saving LED irradiation facilities for greenhouses.


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