Effect of different irrigation systems on root growth of maize and cowpea plants in sandy soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University to study the influence of different irrigation systems on root length density and specific root length of maize and cowpea plants cultivated in sandy soil. Three irrigation systems (Surface, drip and sprinkler irrigation) were used in this study. The NPK fertilizers were applied as recommended doses for maize and cowpea. Root samples were collected from the soil profile below one plant (maize and cowpea) which was irrigated by the three irrigation systems by using an iron box (30 cm×  20 cm) which is divided into 24 small boxes each box is (5×  5 × 5 cm). At surface irrigation, root length density of cowpea reached to soil depth 30-40cm with lateral distances 5-10 cm and 15-20 cm. Vertical distribution of root length density of maize was increased with soil depth till 20-25 cm, and then it decreased till soil depth 35-40cm. Under drip irrigation, root length density of cowpea increased horizontally from 0-5cm to 10-15cm then it decreased till soil depth 25-30 cm and below this depth root length density disappeared. For the root length density and specific root length of maize under drip irrigation, the data showed that root length density and specific root length decreased with increasing in soil depth. The root length density of cowpea under sprinkler irrigation at 0-5cm disappeared from horizontal distance at 25-30 cm. The data showed that root length density of maize under sprinkler irrigation was higher at the soil top layers 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm than other layers from 10-40 cm. 

Keywords

• Root length density,specific root length,irrigation systems,maize,cowpea

References

1. Carefoot, J.M., Major, D.J., 1994. Effect of irrigation application depth on cereal production in the semi-arid climate of southern Alberta. Irrigation Science 15(1): 9-16..
2. Fageria, N.K., Baligar, V.C., Clark, R.B., 2006. Physiology of crop production. Haworth Press Inc. New York, USA. 335p.
3. Gaiser, T., Perkons, U., Küpper, P.M., Puschmann, D.U., Peth, S., Kautz, T., Pfeifer, J., Horn, R., Köpke, U. 2012. Evidence of improved water uptake from subsoil by spring wheat following lucerne in a temperate humid climate. Field Crops Research 126: 56-62.
4. Gao, Y., Duan, A., Qiu, X., Liu, Z., Sun, J., Zhang, J., Wang, H., 2010. Distribution of roots and root length density in a maize/soybean strip intercropping system. Agricultural Water Management 98(1): 199-212.
5. Hu, T., Kang, S., Li, F., Zhang, J., 2009. Effects of partial root-zone irrigation on the nitrogen absorption and utilization of maize. Agricultural Water Management 96(2): 208-214.
6. Lu, J., Liu, Y.L., Hirasawa, T., 2001. Study on intermittent irrigation for paddy rice: II Crop responses. Pedosphere11(3): 224-234.
7. Lü, G.H., Song, J.Q., Bai, W.B., Wu, Y.F., Liu, Y., Kang, Y.H., 2015. Effects of different irrigation methods on micro-environments and root distribution in winter wheat fields. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 14(8): 1658-1672.
8. Lv, G., Kang, Y., Li, L., Wan, S., 2010. Effect of irrigation methods on root development and profile soil water uptake in winter wheat. Irrigation Science 28(5): 387-398.

9. Lynch, J., 1995. Root architecture and plant productivity. Plant Physiology 109(1): 7-13.
10. Machado, R.M.A., do Rosário, M., Oliveira, G., Portas, C.A.M., 2003. Tomato root distribution, yield and fruit quality under subsurface drip irrigation. Plant and Soil 255(1): 333-341.
11. Moroke, T.S., Schwartz, R.C., Brown, K.W., Juo, A.S.R., 2005. Soil water depletion and root distribution of three dryland crops. Soil Science Society of America Journal 69(1): 197-205.
12. Page, A.L., Miller, R.H., Keeney, D.R., 1982 Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. American Society of Agronomy (ASA) - Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Number 9, Maqdison, WI, USA.
13. Raj, A.F.S., Muthukrishnan, P., Ayyadurai, P., 2013. Root characters of maize as ınfluenced by drip fertigation levels. American Journal of Plant Sciences 4: 340-348.
14. Song, H.X., Li, S.X., 2006. Root function in nutrient uptake and soil water effect on NO3−-N and NH4+-N migration. Agricultural Sciences in China 5(5): 377-383.
15. Sperry, J.S., Stiller, V., Hacke, U.G., 2002. Soil water uptake and water transport through root systems. In: Plant Roots: The Hidden Half. Waisel, Y., Eshel, A., Kafkafi, U. (Eds.). 3rd Edition, Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, USA. pp. 1008-1040.
16. Steel, W.M., Summerfield, D.J., 1985. Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp]. In: Grain legume crops. Summer, D.J., Roberts, E.H. (Ed.). William Collins Sons and Co. Ltd. London, UK. pp 520–583.
17. Zobel, R.W., 2005. Tertiary root systems. In: Roots and soil management: Interactions between roots and the soil. Zobel, R.W., Wright, S.F., (Ed.). Agronomy Monograph No. 48, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA. pp.35-56.