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Liu X, Wei Z, Ma Y, Liu J, Liu F. Effects of biochar amendment and reduced irrigation on growth, physiology, water-use efficiency and nutrients uptake of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) on two different soil types. Sci Total Environ 2021; 770:144769. [PMID: 33736368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has shown beneficial effects in agricultural production, yet the combined effects of biochar and reduced irrigation on crop growth and water-use efficiency (WUE) in diverse soil types have not been fully explored. A split-root pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of addition of 2% softwood (SWB) and wheat straw biochar (WSB) on growth, physiology, WUE and nutrients uptake of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants grown in a Ferrosol and an Anthrosol, respectively, under three irrigation treatments. The plants were either irrigated daily to 90% of water-holding capacity (FI), or irrigated with 70% volume of water used for FI to the whole root-zone (DI) or alternately to half root-zone (PRD). The results showed that plants grown in Anthrosol possessed greater leaf gas exchange rates, dry biomass and WUE while lower nutrients content compared to those grown in Ferrosol. Despite a negative effect on plant N content and WUE, WSB addition increased water-holding capacity, consequently improved leaf gas exchange, water uptake, biomass and K content resulting in an improved in the leaf quality of tobacco as exemplified by an increased leaf K content and a more appropriate N to K stoichiometric ratio. However, these effects were not evident upon SWB addition. Moreover, these responses to biochar addition were stronger in Ferrosol than in Anthrosol might be associated with its lower pH. Compared to FI, PRD slightly reduced photosynthetic rate but significantly decreased stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and leaf area, leading to a significant increase in intrinsic, instantaneous and plant WUE. Additionally, PRD was superior over DI in improving yield, WUE, N uptake under a same irrigation volume. It was concluded that WSB combined with PRD could be a promising practice to synergistically improve tobacco yield, quality and WUE by improving soil hydro-physical properties and nutrients bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuezhi Liu
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Weihui Road 23, 712100 Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, Postboks 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Zhenhua Wei
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Weihui Road 23, 712100 Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yingying Ma
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Weihui Road 23, 712100 Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Jie Liu
- College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Weihui Road 23, 712100 Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Fulai Liu
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Alle 13, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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