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Photosynthesis and biomass allocation of cotton as affected by deep-layer water and fertilizer application depth

  • Original papers
  • Published:
Photosynthetica

Abstract

Available water stored in deep soil layers could increase the photosynthetic capacity of cotton. It was hypothesized that the photosynthesis of cotton would be enhanced by changing the fertilizer application depth under different deep-layer water conditions. We examined two deep-layer water levels, i.e., well-watered (W80) and not watered (W0), combined with surface application (F10) and deep application (F30) of basal fertilizer. Compared to W0, W80 resulted in increased leaf area (LA), photosynthetic pigment contents, maximal PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of PSII (YII) and PSI (YI), electron transport rate of PSII (ETRII) and PSI (ETRI). W80 also increased the aboveground and root dry mass by 39 and 0.6%, respectively, and decreased the root/shoot ratio by 40–73%. Under the W0 condition, higher values of Fv/Fm, YII, YI, ETRII, and ETRI were measured for F10 compared to F30 after 69 d from emergence. Under the W80 condition, cotton plants with F10 showed higher LA, Fv/Fm, YII, YI, ETRII, and ETRI, but there were no significant differences in the photosynthetic pigments compared to F30. Our results suggest that sufficient water in deeper soil layers and the surface application of basal fertilizer could increase photosynthetic activity and efficiency, which promoted aboveground dry mass accumulation and partitioning towards reproductive organs.

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Abbreviations

C i :

intercellular CO2 concentration

DAE:

days after emergence

DM:

dry mass

ETRII :

electron transport rate of PSII

ETRI :

electron transport rate of PSI

F10 :

surface fertilizer application

F30 :

deep fertilizer application

FM:

fresh mass

Fv/Fm :

maximal PSII efficiency

g s :

stomatal conductance

LA:

leaf area

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

W80 :

well watered

W0 :

no water

YI:

effective quantum yield of PSI

YII :

effective quantum yield of PSII

YNA :

acceptor side limitation of nonphotochemical quantum yield of PSI

YND :

donor side limitation of nonphotochemical quantum yield of PSI

YNO :

quantum yield of nonregulated energy dissipation of PSII

YNPQ :

quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation of PSII

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, 832003, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China

    Z. K. Chen, Y. P. Niu, H. Ma, H. H. Luo & W. F. Zhang

  2. Cotton Physiology Lab for Efficient Production, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei, China

    A. Hafeez

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  1. Z. K. Chen
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  2. Y. P. Niu
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  3. H. Ma
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  4. A. Hafeez
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  5. H. H. Luo
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  6. W. F. Zhang
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Correspondence to H. H. Luo.

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Acknowledgements: This study was financially supported by the Research Fund for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31460325 and U1203283) and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (2014BB009).

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Chen, Z.K., Niu, Y.P., Ma, H. et al. Photosynthesis and biomass allocation of cotton as affected by deep-layer water and fertilizer application depth. Photosynthetica 55, 638–647 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0675-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0675-y

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