Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 240-249.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.01.23

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Response of Rumex hanus by. roots to drought after rehydration

ZHENG Xu(),YANG Zhixin,HAO Dongmei,WANG Runrun,Li Luhua,ZHANG Fenghua,WANG Jiaping()   

  1. Agricultural College of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2021-04-06 Revised:2021-06-24 Online:2022-01-15 Published:2022-01-24
  • Contact: Jiaping WANG E-mail:zhengxu960913@163.com;2006wjp@163.com

Abstract:

The rational formulation of irrigation cycle of halophytes is the key factor to improve the utilization efficiency of water resources in arid areas. Taking the fine root (d≤1 mm) of leafy grass (Rumex hanus by.) as the research object, the total root length, root tip number and average root diameter at different times after re-watering were measured by drought and re-watering method, and the changing characteristics of root growth rate, mortality, root life span and turnover rate were studied, so as to provide reference basis for the establishment of the best irrigation cycle. The results showed that the root length and the number of root tips increased the most at 7 days after re-watering, and decreased at 10 to 15 days after re-watering. The fine root growth rate (RER) reached the maximum on the 4th day after re-watering, and decreased significantly on the 10th day (P<0.001). There were significant differences among different soil layers (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) and root diameter (0-0.5 mm and 0.5-1.0 mm) (P<0.001). Both fine root net production (NRP) and RER increased at first and then decreased. 15 days after re-watering, the fine root survival rate of fine root in the 20 cm soil layer and 20-40 cm soil layer was 3.6% and 16.9% respectively. The fine root survival rate of 0.5-1.0 mm diameter fine root was higher than that of 0-0.5 mm fine root. The results showed that after re-watering, the life span of fine roots in the soil layer of 20 cm was significantly higher than that in the 0-20 cm soil layer at 8.09~13.83 days (P<0.05). The fine root of leafy grass can achieve the purpose of survival by increasing the fine root of 0.5-1.0 mm in 20-40 cm soil layer to cope with and adapt to drought and re-watering. Considering the growth of leaf-eating grass and the supply of agricultural water resources, the best irrigation period of leaf-eating grass in saline-alkali land in summer is 10 days.

Key words: saline soil, fine root, daily growth rate, mortality, turnover rate, median life