Abstract
Root modifications can play a vital role in crop adjustments to soil water deficit. It is important to understand root growth and soil water depletion patterns to develop effective cropping systems, especially in semi-arid regions like Texas High Plains (THP). This study evaluated root growth, soil water depletion, and water productivity (WP) of sweet corn under three deficit irrigation treatments [100 %, 70 % and 40 % crop evapotranspiration (ETc)] and biochar application (hardwood and softwood). The experimental units were replicated 4 times in a split-plot design. The results revealed no interaction between irrigation and biochar treatments for almost all measured parameters. The 70 % ETc treatment increased the root length density (RLD) over 100 % ETc during 2019, while no differences were observed among irrigation treatments in 2020. Both deficit irrigations (70 % and 40 % ETc) increased soil water depletion compared to 100 % ETc, the highest being in 40 % ETc. The 70 % ETc maintained a similar yield and increased WP by 21 % compared to 100 % ETc across two years. However, 40 % ETc resulted in significant decline in yield and WP in 2020. The hardwood biochar increased RLD over no biochar treatment without affecting the soil water status and WP. Long-term studies are needed to investigate biochar effects beyond two years of application. In case of limited water availability, 70 % ETc can be recommended as an alternative to 100 % ETc in the THP of the US.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Irrigation and biochar showed no interaction for almost all measured parameters.
Verbatim
e0“no interaction between irrigation and biochar treatments for almost all measured parameters”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
70 % ETc increased root length density versus 100 % ETc in 2019.
Verbatim
e0“The 70 % ETc treatment increased the root length density (RLD) over 100 % ETc during 2019”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Irrigation treatments did not differ in root length density in 2020.
Verbatim
e0“no differences were observed among irrigation treatments in 2020”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
70 % ETc increased soil water depletion versus 100 % ETc.
Verbatim
e0“Both deficit irrigations (70 % and 40 % ETc) increased soil water depletion compared to 100 % ETc”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
40 % ETc increased soil water depletion versus 100 % ETc, with the highest depletion at 40 % ETc.
Verbatim
e0“Both deficit irrigations (70 % and 40 % ETc) increased soil water depletion compared to 100 % ETc, the highest being in 40 % ETc”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
70 % ETc maintained similar yield to 100 % ETc over two years.
Verbatim
e0“The 70 % ETc maintained a similar yield and increased WP by 21 % compared to 100 % ETc across two years”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
70 % ETc increased water productivity by 21 % versus 100 % ETc over two years.
Verbatim
e0“The 70 % ETc maintained a similar yield and increased WP by 21 % compared to 100 % ETc across two years”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
40 % ETc significantly decreased yield and water productivity in 2020.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“40 % ETc resulted in significant decline in yield and WP in 2020”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Hardwood biochar increased root length density versus no biochar.
Verbatim
e0“The hardwood biochar increased RLD over no biochar treatment”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Hardwood biochar did not affect soil water status or water productivity.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Treatment
- hardwood biochare0
- Outcome
- soil water status and WPe0
- Direction
- without affectinge0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“The hardwood biochar increased RLD over no biochar treatment without affecting the soil water status and WP”
t0“sweet corn under deficit irrigation and biochar application”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend 70 % ETc instead of 100 % ETc when water is limited in the Texas High Plains.
Verbatim
e0“In case of limited water availability, 70 % ETc can be recommended as an alternative to 100 % ETc in the THP of the US”
t0“sweet corn”
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