Interaction effect of nitrogen form and planting density on plant growth and nutrient uptake in maize seedlings

Previous studies have shown that zinc (Zn) accumulation in shoot and grain increased as applied nitrogen (N) rate increased only when Zn supply was not limiting, suggesting a synergistic effect of N on plant Zn accumulation. However, little information is available about the effects of different mineral N sources combined with the presence or absence of Zn on the growth of both shoot and root and nutrient uptake. Maize plants were grown under sand-cultured conditions at three N forms as follows: NO3– nutrition alone, mixture of NO3–/NH4+ with molar ratio of 1:1 (recorded as mixed-N), and NH4+ nutrition alone including zero N supply as the control. These treatments were applied together without or with Zn supply. Results showed that N forms, Zn supply, and their interactions exerted a significant effect on the growth of maize seedlings. Under Zn-sufficient conditions, the dry weight (DW) of shoot, root, and whole plant tended to increase in the order of NH4+ < NO3– < mixed-N nutrition. Compared with NH4+ nutrition alone, mixed-N supply resulted in a 27.4 and 28.1% increase in leaf photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, which further resulted in 35.7 and 33.5% of increase in shoot carbon (C) accumulation and shoot DW, respectively. Furthermore, mixed-N supply resulted in a 19.7% of higher shoot C/N ratio vs. NH4+ nutrition alone, which means a higher shoot biomass accumulation, because of a significant positive correlation between shoot C/N ratio and shoot DW (R2 = 0.682***). Additionally, mixed-N supply promoted the greatest root DW, total root length, and total root surface area and synchronously improved the root absorption capacity of N, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, and calcium. However, the above nutrient uptake and the growth of maize seedlings supplied with NH4+ were superior to either NO3– or mixed-N nutrition under Zn-deficient conditions. These results suggested that combined applications of mixed-N nutrition and Zn fertilizer can maximize plant growth. This information may be useful for enabling integrated N management of Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient soils and increasing plant and grain production in the future.

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COMBINED APPLICATION OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE FUNGI AND PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA IMPROVES GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE EFFICIENCY OF PEA (Pisum sativum L.) PLANTS

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Hortorum Cultus ◽

10.24326/asphc.2018.5.7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 73-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eriola Veselaj ◽

Glenda Sallaku ◽

Astrit Balliu

Keyword(s):

Pisum Sativum ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizae ◽

Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria ◽

Combined Application ◽

Pisum Sativum L ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

Nutrient Uptake Efficiency

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Effect of Planting Density on Plant Growth and Root Morphology of Maize

Chinese Journal of Appplied Environmental Biology ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1145.2012.01009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1009 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Luojin YANG ◽

Hongbin TAO ◽

Pu WANG

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Root Morphology ◽

Planting Density

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Phytase-Producing Rahnella aquatilis JZ-GX1 Promotes Seed Germination and Growth in Corn (Zea mays L.)

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9081647 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1647

Author(s):

Gui-E Li ◽

Wei-Liang Kong ◽

Xiao-Qin Wu ◽

Shi-Bo Ma

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Biomass Accumulation ◽

Root Surface ◽

Phosphorus Concentration ◽

Maize Seedlings ◽

Total Phosphorus Concentration ◽

Rahnella Aquatilis ◽

Maize Seeds

Phytase plays an important role in crop seed germination and plant growth. In order to fully understand the plant growth-promoting mechanism by Rahnella aquatilis JZ-GX1，the effect of this strain on germination of maize seeds was determined in vitro, and the colonization of maize root by R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 was observed by scanning electron microscope. Different inoculum concentrations and Phytate-related soil properties were applied to investigate the effect of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 on the growth of maize seedlings. The results showed that R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 could effectively secrete indole acetic acid and had significantly promoted seed germination and root length of maize. A large number of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 cells colonized on the root surface, root hair and the root interior of maize. When the inoculation concentration was 107 cfu/mL and the insoluble organophosphorus compound phytate existed in the soil, the net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, phytase activity secreted by roots, total phosphorus concentration and biomass accumulation of maize seedlings were the highest. In contrast, no significant effect of inoculation was found when the total P content was low or when inorganic P was sufficient in the soil. R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 promotes the growth of maize directly by secreting IAA and indirectly by secreting phytase. This work provides beneficial information for the development and application of R. aquatilis JZ-GX1 as a microbial fertilizer in the future.

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A Meta-Analytical Approach on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Efficiency on Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture10090370 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 370

Author(s):

Murugesan Chandrasekaran

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Host Plants ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Mycorrhizal Plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts of higher plants which increase the growth and nutrient uptake of host plants. The primary objective was initiated based on analyzing the enormity of optimal effects upon AMF inoculation in a comparative bias between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants stipulated on plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Consequently, in accomplishing the above-mentioned objective a vast literature was collected, analyzed, and evaluated to establish a weighted meta-analysis irrespective of AMF species, plant species, family and functional group, and experimental conditions in the context of beneficial effects of AMF. I found a significant increase in the shoot, root, and total biomass by 36.3%, 28.5%, and, 29.7%, respectively. Moreover, mycorrhizal plants significantly increased phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium uptake by 36.3%, 22.1%, and 18.5%, respectively. Affirmatively upon cross-verification studies, plant growth parameters intensification was accredited to AMF (Rhizophagus fasciculatus followed by Funniliforme mosseae), plants (Triticum aestivum followed by Solanum lycopersicum), and plant functional groups (dicot, herbs, and perennial) were the additional vital important significant predictor variables of plant growth responses. Therefore, the meta-analysis concluded that the emancipated prominent root characteristics, increased morphological traits that eventually help the host plants for efficient phosphorus uptake, thereby enhancing plant biomass. The present analysis can be rationalized for any plant stress and assessment of any microbial agent that contributes to plant growth promotion.

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