A Preliminary Study on Models of Root Water Uptake Based on Root Weight

Water uptake by crop roots is influenced by many factors. In this study, on the basis of previous studies, root water uptake models were established with the root weight as a dependent variable from the perspective of root biomass changes according to the theory of soil water dynamics. The established models were verified and evaluated using two indicators： root-mean-square error （RMSE） and mean absolute percentage error （MAPE）. The results indicated that the annual variation range of root-mean-square error （RMSE） was 0.477-1.231, with an aver- age of 0.810; the annual variation range of mean absolute percentage error （MAPE） was 1.082%-4.052%, with an average of 2.520%, suggesting that the simulation accuracy basically met the requirements. The established numerical models of root water uptake and the compiled program exhibit high simulation accuracy, which can perfectly simulate soil water dynamics during the growth period of crops under nat- ural conditions.

Root length density distribution and associated soil water dynamics for tomato plants under furrow irrigation in a solar greenhouse

Furrow irrigation is a traditional widely-used irrigation method in the world. Understanding the dynamics of soil water distribution is essential to developing effective furrow irrigation strategies, especially in water-limited regions. The objectives of this study are to analyze root length density distribution and to explore soil water dynamics by simulating soil water content using a HYDRUS-2D model with consideration of root water uptake for furrow irrigated tomato plants in a solar greenhouse in Northwest China. Soil water contents were also in-situ observed by the ECH_2O sensors from 4 June to 19 June and from 21 June to 4 July, 2012. Results showed that the root length density of tomato plants was concentrated in the 0–50 cm soil layers, and radiated 0–18 cm toward the furrow and 0–30 cm along the bed axis. Soil water content values simulated by the HYDRUS-2D model agreed well with those observed by the ECH_2O sensors, with regression coefficient of 0.988, coefficient of determination of 0.89, and index of agreement of 0.97. The HYDRUS-2D model with the calibrated parameters was then applied to explore the optimal irrigation scheduling. Infrequent irrigation with a large amount of water for each irrigation event could result in 10%–18% of the irrigation water losses. Thus we recommend high irrigation frequency with a low amount of water for each irrigation event in greenhouses for arid region. The maximum high irrigation amount and the suitable irrigation interval required to avoid plant water stress and drainage water were 34 mm and 6 days, respectively, for given daily average transpiration rate of 4.0 mm/d. To sum up, the HYDRUS-2D model with consideration of root water uptake can be used to improve irrigation scheduling for furrow irrigated tomato plants in greenhouses in arid regions.

Differential Responses of Water Uptake Pathways and Expression of Two Aquaporin Genes to Water-Deficit in Rice Seedlings of Two Genotypes

Water-deficit （WD） is a major abiotic stress constraining crop productivity worldwide. Zhenshan 97 is a drought-susceptible rice genotype, while IRAT109 is a drought-resistant one. However, the physiological basis of the difference remains unclear. These two genotypes had similar total water uptake rates under both WD and well-watered （WW） conditions, and their water uptake rates under WD were significantly decreased compared with those under WW. However, the water uptake rate via the cell-to-cell pathway was significantly increased in Zhenshan 97 but decreased in IRAT109 under WD, whereas the opposite trends were observed through the apoplastic pathway. These results indicated that the stress responses and relative contributions of these two water uptake pathways were associated with rice genotype under WD. The expression levels of OsPIP2;4 and OsPIP2;5 genes were significantly higher in roots of Zhenshan 97 than in IRAT109 under the two conditions. OsPIP2;4 expression in roots was significantly up-regulated under WD, while OsPIP2;5 expression showed no significant change. These results suggest that the expression levels of OsPIP2;4 and OsPIP2;5 in rice are dependent on genotype and water availability. Compared with Zhenshan 97, IRAT109 had a higher root dry weight, water uptake rate and xylem sap flow rate, and lower leaf water potential and root porosity under WD, which might be responsible for the drought resistance in IRAT109.

Mechanistic Model for Predicting NO_3-N Uptake by Plants and Its Verification

Some mechanistic models have been proposed to predict the No3- concentrations in the soil solution at root surface and the NO3-N uptake by plants, but all these relatively effective non-steady state models have not yet been verified by any soil culture experiment. In the present study, a mathematical model based on the nutrient transport to the roots, root length and root uptake kinetics as well as taking account of the inter-root competition was used for calculation, and soil culture experiments with rice, wheat and rape plants grown on alkali, neutral and acid soils in rhizoboxes with nylon screen as a isolator were carried out to evaluate the prediction ability of the model through comparing the measured NO3-concentrations at root surface and N uptake with the calculated values. Whether the inter-root competition for nutrients was accounted for in the model was of less importance to the calculated N uptake but could induce significant changes in the relative concentrations of NO3- at root surface. For the three soils and crops, the measured NO3-N uptake agreed well with the calculated one, and the calculated relative concentrations at root surface were approximate to the measured values. But an appropriate rectification for some conditions is necessary when the plant uptake parameter obtained in solution culture experiment is applied to soil culture. In contrast with the present non-steady state model, the predicted relative concentrations, which show an accumulation, by the Phillips' steady-state model were distinct from the measured values which show a depletion, indicating that the present model has a better prediction ability than the steady-state model.

植物根系吸水模型研究进展

根系是植物获取水分的主要器官,它直接影响整个植株的输水量以及生命活动。在水资源短缺的状况下,了解根系生长过程中的需水特性并提高农业中水资源的利用率,一直是节水灌溉技术中研究创新的热点。因此,在研究过程中需要对植物根系的吸水量进行精确估算,建立根系吸水模型是定量化研究植物根系吸水特性的重要方法。概述根系吸水的原理及其主要影响因素,对不同研究方法下的根系吸水模型进行分类研究,并阐述其适用范围及优缺点,同时介绍了水盐共同胁迫下的根系吸水模型。最后对目前的根系吸水模型进行分析,提出了今后的研究方向。研究成果为构建水稻根系三维动态吸水模型提供了基础。

黄河南岸灌区玉米根系吸水来源研究

【目的】明晰玉米根系吸水来源。【方法】采用液态水稳定氢氧同位素技术,通过监测黄河南岸灌区上、中、下游灌域的分层土壤水和玉米根系土壤水中的氢氧稳定同位素组成,结合直观图法和MIXSIAR模型确定玉米根系吸水来源,分析各供给水源的贡献比例。【结果】拔节期玉米生长较快,需水量较大,灌区上、中、下游干旱程度不同,导致玉米根系主要吸水深度也不同。上游主要吸收0~20 cm土层的土壤水,其水源贡献率为38.1%,20~40cm土层贡献率为23.7%;中游主要吸收20~40 cm土层的土壤水,贡献率为43.6%,0~20 cm土层贡献率为27.4%;下游主要吸收20~40 cm土层的土壤水,贡献率为63%,0~20 cm土层贡献率为20%。【结论】干旱环境下玉米会改变根系吸水深度,整个生育期内玉米根系吸水深度由浅入深再变浅;且玉米对各潜在水源的利用比例与其根系吸水深度以及不同水源对土壤水的补给密切相关。

植被根系含量对膨胀土持水和渗透特性的影响

为探究植被根系含量对膨胀土持水和渗透特性的影响规律,选取南宁市膨胀土地区的膨胀土,掺入狗牙根根系制备不同含根率的试样,进行室内压力板仪试验和变水头渗透试验,采用Van Genuchten-Mualem模型预测不同含根率的膨胀土非饱和渗透系数。结果表明:掺入根系后,膨胀土持水能力减弱,根系掺入增加膨胀土内部大孔隙的比例,含根率越高,大孔隙体积占总孔隙体积比例越大,持水能力相较于纯土下降的幅度越大;饱和状态下,膨胀土渗透系数随含根率增大而增大;非饱和状态下,低吸力阶段(0~25 kPa)的膨胀土渗透性随含根率的增大而增大,随着基质吸力增加到高吸力阶段(200~1 000 kPa),根系优势流效果减弱,含根膨胀土渗透性逐渐趋近低于纯土;细观结果表明根系的掺入使膨胀土内部产生贯通裂缝,是影响膨胀土持水和渗透能力的关键因素。研究进一步揭示了植被根系对膨胀土增渗作用的机理和规律,为综合评价植被防护膨胀土边坡效果提供参考。

根土复合体力学效应及其模型构建研究进展与展望

[目的]为探究根土复合体的力学效应机理及模型方法应用。[方法]采用文献分析和对比分析法,归纳分析根土复合体概念和内涵、根土复合体力学效应及力学模型原理、优缺点以及适用范围。[结果](1)根土复合体是根系与土体之间力学耦合效应的复合整体,根系在土体中交叉缠绕,起到加固作用;(2)根系与土体力学关系实质上是根土复合体土力、水力和复合力学特性作用的结果,土力特性、水力特性分别侧重研究根系对土体的影响和土中水分对土体和根系的影响,复合力学特性侧重于根土复合体自身特性对植物根系特征以及结构的直接影响,从而通过三者作用使根系与土体的力学关系处于动态平衡之中;(3)根土复合体复合力学模型研究较土力和水力学模型略少,土力学和水力学模型都是根据量化参数,通过参数间对比来衡量固土效果,但复合力学特性同时涉及土力特性和水力特性,考虑全面,应是未来研究的重点方向。[结论]未来在开展冻融循环、干湿交替、干热循环对不同地区根系与土体相互作用的影响、多类型植物混种抗剪强度、化学作用和微生物作用对土水特性影响机理及复合模型构建等方面有待深入研究。研究结果可为生态脆弱区植被恢复、水土保持和可持续发展等提供重要的理论价值和工程借鉴意义。

不同水分调控对沿黄灌区向日葵水分利用影响研究

为探究达拉特旗黄河南岸灌区向日葵根系吸水来源及其利用策略,通过测定达拉特旗黄河南岸灌区向日葵木质部水及其各种潜在水源(降水、土壤水和地下水)的氢氧同位素组成(δD和δ18O),利用直接对比法和MixSIAR模型研究对比不同灌溉制度下向日葵不同生育期水分来源及各水源利用差异。结果表明,向日葵在苗期、拔节期、灌浆期和成熟期的吸水深度分别在0~30、0~50、0~70和30~90 cm土层。不同灌溉量下,向日葵的主要吸水层具有一定的差异。0~10、10~30、30~50、50~70、70~90 cm深度土壤水和地下水对向日葵平均贡献比例分别为22.17%、17.99%、18.74%、14.68%、15.97%和10.45%。通过相关性分析,50 cm以下土层水分贡献对产量提高有利,0~10 cm土壤水、30~50 cm土壤水和地下水利用对灌溉水利用效率具有正相关关系。设置灌溉定额为187.5 mm时能显著提高产量,灌溉定额为100 mm时,能显著提升灌溉水利用效率。

基于CT的净摄水率及强化比构建急性缺血性卒中恶性脑水肿早期预测模型

目的基于CT及CTA影像定量测得的净摄水率及强化比构建前循环大血管闭塞急性缺血性卒中恶性脑水肿(MCE)早期预测模型,并评估模型效能。资料与方法回顾性纳入前循环大血管闭塞急性缺血性卒中病人250例,根据病人是否为MCE阳性将其分为MCE组(73例)和非MCE组(177例)。利用自动化Alberta卒中项目早期CT评分(ASPECTS)软件分析平扫CT和CTA影像,测量相应缺血区域脑组织的净摄水率、强化比及ASPECT评分(CT-ASPECTS和CTA-ASPECTS),并根据Tan评分评估侧支循环。采用最小绝对值收敛和选择算子(LASSO)及Logistic回归分析,筛选发生MCE的相关因素,分别建立基于CT平扫和CTA的MCE预测模型,采用5折交叉验证法进行内部验证。计算受试者操作特征曲线下面积(AUC)、特异度、敏感度评估模型的预测效能。采用Delong检验比较模型预测效能,校准曲线及决策曲线评估模型的校准度及临床净获益。结果LASSO及逻辑回归分析显示美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)、CT-ASPECTS、CTA-ASPECTS、侧支评分以及净摄水率及强化比是MCE的预测因素(均P约0.05)。基于CT平扫(CT-ASPECTS+净摄水率)及临床危险因素(NIHSS评分)构建模型1,基于动脉期单时相CTA(CTA-ASPECTS+强化比+侧支评分)及临床危险因素(NIHSS评分)构建模型2。模型1的AUC为0.800(95%C陨:0.743~0.856),敏感度78.1%,特异度70.6%;模型2的AUC为0.839(95%悦陨院0.787~0.890),敏感度80.8%,特异度76.3%。Delong检验显示2个模型预测效能差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。校准曲线显示模型2具有较好的拟合优度,决策曲线显示模型2具有较高的临床净获益。结论基于CT的净摄水率及基于CTA的强化比构建的MCE早期预测模型均具有较好的预测效能,基于CTA构建的预测模型可以获得更高的临床净获益,有助于快速筛查和早期识别MCE病人。

Modelling soil water dynamics and root water uptake for apple trees under water storage pit irrigation

Water storage pit irrigation is a new method suitable for apple trees.It comes with advantages such as water saving,water retention and drought resistance.A precise study of soil water movement and root water uptake is essential to analyse and show the advantages of the method.In this study,a mathematical model(WSPI-WR model)for 3D soil water movement and root water uptake under water storage pit irrigation was established based on soil water dynamics and soil moisture and root distributions.Moreover,this model also considers the soil evaporation,pit wall evaporation and water level variation in the pit.The finite element method was used to solve the model,and the law of mass conservation was used to analyse the water level variation.The model was validated by experimental data of the sap flow of apple trees and soil moisture in the orchard.Results showed that the WSPI-WR model is highly accurate in simulating the root water uptake and soil water distributions.The WSPI-WR model can be used to simulate root water uptake and soil water movement under water storage pit irrigation.The simulation showed that orchard soil water content and root water uptake rate centers on the storage pit with an ellipsoid distribution.The maximum distribution region of soil water and root water uptake rate was near the bottom of the pit.Distribution can reduce soil evaporation in the orchard and improve the soil water use efficiency in the middle-deep soil.

Root Study: Why Is It behind Other Plant Studies?

Until the 1980s, root studies were typically conducted in nutrient solution, because of the technical difficulties of studying roots in their natural environment, soil. Recent innovations and the realization that there are gaps between the expected and actual performance of plant root systems have emphasized the need for more realistic solutions. This review analyzes the study of plant roots in view of developments in soil science, microbiology, botany and plant physiology, and recently the introduction of molecular biology and computerized imaging.

Subsurface accumulation of CaCO3 and Cl- from groundwater under black locust and poplar plantations

When conditions are similar,more water evaporates from forest plantations than herbaceous vegetation,thereby affecting hydrological fluxes and ion transport in the soil.The vertical distribution of CaCO3 and Cl^-ions shifts due to afforestation.The effect of groundwater depth and clay content were studied in the Great Hungarian Plain where forest area has been increasing for decades by analyzing soil and groundwater samples from stands of black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia,11 plots)and poplar(Populus spp.,11 plots).All study sites contained one herbaceous(control)and one or more forested plots.CaCO3 and Cl^-ions accumulated in the soil profile in greater quantities under tree cover than in the controls.The scale of this process largely depended on the species and on soil and ion properties.Under black locust,Cl^-accumulated between 1.3 and 6.3 m,with a maximum difference of 0.3 pCl unit(pCl is Cl^-activity,the negative of the logarithm to base 10 of the concentration of the chloride ion,determined using an ion-selective electrode,it is a dimensionless quantity.),while the difference in CaCO3 accumulation was at most 3.5%in some layers,compared to control plots.This result may be explained by the difference in the mobility of Ca+and Cl^-ions.Different mechanisms were noticeable under poplar plantations due to their higher water uptake:Cl-accumulation was detected below 0.9 m to the groundwater with a maximum difference of 0.5 pCl units,while CaCO3 accumulation was continuous at depths of 2.3–6.8 m with a maximum difference of 8.4%,compared to the controls.With increasing clay content,there was a discernible effect on CaCO3 and Cl-accumulation under black locust,but not observed under poplars.These differences were explained by the differences in water uptake mechanisms and root patterns of the two species and the different mobility of Ca2^+and Cl-ions.

Mathematical modelling study for water uptake of steadily growing plant root

The root system of plant is a vitally important organ for living plant. One of the major functions of the root system is uptaking water and nutrients from the soil. The present paper analyzes the whole process of water uptake from soil by a steadily growing plant with a single slender root. We start from the basic principles of physics and fluid-dynamics, consider the structure characteristics of the water transport channel formed by the tiny xylems tubes inside plant, and establish a simplified coherent mathematical model to describe the water transport in the complete system consisting of soil, individual plant, including root, stem and leaves-atmosphere, on the basis of the plant physiology. Moreover, we resolve the proposed mathematical model for a simple artificial plant model under a variety of conditions, in terms of the numerical approach as well as analytical approach. It is shown that the results obtained by both approaches are in very good agreement; the theoretical predictions are qualitatively consistent with the practical experi-ences very well. The simplified mathematical model established in the present pa-per may provide a basis for the further investigations on the more sophisticated mathematical model.

Adjusting Nitrogen Application in Accordance with Soil Water Availability Enhances Yield and Water Use by Regulating Physiological Traits of Maize under Drip Fertigation

Knowledge of the interactive effects of water and nitrogen(N)on physio-chemical traits of maize(Zea mays L.)helps to optimize water and N management and improve productivity.A split-plot experiment was conducted with three soil water conditions(severe drought,moderate drought,and fully water supply referring to 45%-55%,65%-75%,and 85%-95%field capacity,respectively)and four N application rates(N0,N150,N240,and N330 referring to 0,150,240,330 kg N ha^(-1)respectively)under drip fertigation in 2014 and 2015 in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China.The results indicated that drought stress inhibited physiological activity of plants(leaf relative water content,root bleeding sap,and net photosynthetic rate),resulting in low dry matter accumulation after silking,yield,and N uptake,whereas increased WUE and NUE.N application rates over than 150 kg ha^(-1)aggravated the inhibition of physiological activity under severe drought condition,while it was offset under moderate drought condition.High N application rates(N330)still revealed negative effects under moderate drought condition,as it did not consistently enhance plant physiological activity and significantly reduced N uptake as compared to the N240 treatment.With fully water supply,increasing N application rates synergistically enhanced physiological activity,promoted dry matter accumulation after silking,and increased yield,WUE,and N uptake.Although the N240 treatment reduced yield by 5.4%in average,it saved 27.3%N under full water supply condition as compared with N330 treatment.The results indicated that N regulated growth of maize in aspects of physiological traits,dry matter accumulation,and yield as well as water and N use was depended on soil water status.The appropriate N application rates for maize production was 150 kg ha^(-1)under moderate drought or 240 kg ha^(-1)under fully water supply under drip fertigation,and high N supply(>150 kg ha^(-1))should be avoided under severe drought condition.

Compounding soils to improve cropland quality:A study based on field experiments and model simulations in the loess hilly-gully region,China

Increasing the quantity and improving the quality of cropland can alleviate the human-land contradiction and promote the sustainable development of agriculture especially in mountainous areas.With the support of the central government’s policies,Yan’an,Northern Shaanxi,China implemented a major land consolidation engineering project in the loess hilly-gully region from 2013 to 2018,achieving 33,333.3 ha of new cropland.However,the poor quality of some newly-constructed cropland at the initial stage hindered its efficient utilization.In order to overcome this problem,red clay and Malan loess were compounded in different volume ratios to explore the method to improve the cropland quality.The Root Zone Water Quality Model was used to simulate the effects of different soil treatments on soil water,nitrogen and maize growth.Experimental data were collected from 2018 to 2019 to calibrate and validate the model.The root mean square error(RMSE)of soil water content,nitrate nitrogen concentration,above-ground biomass,leaf area index were in the range of 11.72-14.06 mm,4.06-11.73 mg kg^(-1),835.21-1151.28 kg ha^(-1)and 0.24-0.47,respectively,while the agreement index(d)between measured and simulated values ranged from 0.70 to 0.96.It was showed that,compared with land constructed with Malan loess only(T1),the soil structure and hydraulic characteristics of land with a volume ratio of red clay and Malan loess of 2:1(T3)was better.Simulation indicated that,compared with T1,the soil water content and available water content of T3 increased by 14.4%and 19.0%,respectively,while N leaching decreased by 16.9%.The aboveground biomass and maize yield of T3 were 7.9%and 6.7%higher than that of T1,respectively.Furthermore,the water productivity and nitrogen use efficiency of T3 increased by 21.0%and 16.6%compared with that of T1.These results indicated that compounding red clay and Malan loess in an appropriate ratio was an effective method to improve soil quality.This study provides a technical idea and specific technical parameters for the construction or improvement of cropland in loess hilly-gully region,which may also provide reference for similar projects in other places.

Isotopic Model Estimate of Relative Contribution of Potential Water Pools to Water Uptake of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Horqin Sandy Land

We examined stable isotope signals of precipitation, soil water, and xylem water and ran the multi-source linear mixing model （IsoSource） to determine water uptake depths and estimate proportional contribution of possible water pools to the water use of Mongolian pine （Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica） plantation in southeast Horqin Sandy Land. We also examined variations of the water use by Mongolian pine trees before and after a heavy precipitation event. The closeness of isotopic composition between xylem water and potential water pools presented that most of water uptake by the trees occurred in the depth of below 20 cm soil （up to 80 cm in this study）. Estimate from the IsoSource model agrees well with observation, and the model yielded that over 60% of the water was derived from 20–80 cm soil layer under relatively higher soil moisture conditions, contribution from much deeper soil depth may increase when the soil in this layer became dry. The contribution from the groundwater was very low since water table was much deeper than rooting depth of the trees. Isotopic signals of xylem water of Mongolian pine trees before and after a heavy precipitation of 14.4 mm on July 13 in 2009 exhibited that the trees could sense and use recent rain-charged soil water at the upper 20 cm soil layer 36 hours after the rain, and this contribution decreased rapidly in the following 24 hours. The ability of accessing different water pools of Mongolian pine trees under various soil moisture conditions is likely a good indicator of their adaptability to dry habitats in sandy lands.

刺槐根土复合体抗剪强度试验

植被边坡的稳定性与其根土复合体的抗剪强度密切相关,其主要受根系作用与水分作用的影响。通过直剪试验和SWCC试验获取了含根量和含水率与抗剪强度及其指标的关系,推导出根土复合体的强度计算模型。结果表明:刺槐根系能显著增强土体抗剪强度,黏聚力随含根量的增加先增大后趋于平缓,内摩擦角随含根量的增加有所增大,但增长幅度较小;抗剪强度随含水率的增大迅速降低,黏聚力与内摩擦角变化趋势与抗剪强度一致,内摩擦角变化幅度较小;含根量与含水率对土体抗剪强度的影响均体现在黏聚力的变化上;将根土复合体视为含根非饱和土,推导出根土复合体强度计算模型,强度模型的计算值与试验实测值较为接近,对于根土复合体的强度计算有一定的参考价值。

旱涝胁迫对作物根系吸水影响研究进展

为了量化各种潜在水源对作物的贡献比例、定量研究农田水分利用特征和水分转换规律,分析与总结了国内外作物水分来源解析、旱涝胁迫条件下作物根系吸水等方面研究现状及发展动态,提出下一步可开展旱涝胁迫条件下作物根系对不同水源利用量研究。从理论层面剖析了旱涝胁迫环境下作物根系吸水机理,对于理解不同水源对植物根系吸水量的贡献,以及农业节水灌溉和生态系统水文过程具有重要意义和实用价值。

Effects of Local Nitrogen Supply on Water Uptake of Bean Plants in a Split Root System

To study the effects of local nitrogen supply on water and nutrient absorption, French bean （Phaseolus vulgaris L.） plants were grown in a split root system. Five treatments supplied with different nitrogen forms were compared： homogeneous nitrate （NN） and homogenous ammonium （AA） supply, spatially separated supply of nitrate and ammonium （NA）, half of the root system supplied with N-free nutrient solution, the other half with either nitrate （NO） or ammonium （AO）. The results showed that 10 d after onset of treatments, root dry matter （DM） in the nitratesupplied vessels treated with NA was more than two times higher than that in the ammonium-supplied vessels. Water uptake from the nitrate-supplied vessels treated with NA was 281% higher than under ammonium supply. In treatments NO and AO, the local supply of N resulted in clearly higher root DM, and water uptake from the nitratesupplied vessels was 82% higher than in the -N vessels. However, in AO plants, water uptake from the -N nutrient solution was 129% higher than from the ammonium-supplied vessels. This indicates a compensatory effect, which resulted in almost identical rates of total water uptake of treatments AA and AO, which had comparable shoot DM and leaf area. Ammonium supply reduced potassium and magnesium absorption. Water uptake was positively correlated with N, Mg and K uptake.