Enhancing root lodging resistance of maize with twin plants in wide-narrow rows: a case study

Abstract

Root lodging is known to reduce the yield and quality of maize, which will be more serious driven by the changes in agriculture such as the higher planting density and the more extreme precipitation events. Here we describe a new cultivation method to reduce the root lodging of maize. We designed two planting layouts: twin plants (TP) and single plant (SP) in a hole with the same density. The vertical root-pulling resistance, angle and rate of natural root lodging, root and shoot morphology related to root lodging and maize yield were compared between two planting layouts. TP planting significantly increased the vertical root-pulling resistance and angle of natural root lodging. This can be partly attributed to the gripping force between the staggered crown roots of the two adjacent plants. Moreover, the TP planting could increase root-lodging resistance by increasing the root angle (acute angle between the stem direction and root) and stem diameter. Additionally, TP planting did not reduce the maize yield and biomass. Consequently, our study demonstrated that the twin plants in a hole are effective to decrease the root lodging of maize in southwest of China. This technique is simple, inexpensive, safe, stable, and has broader potential for increasing maize yield and quality. Twin plants layout in wide-narrow rows significantly increased the vertical root-pulling resistance of maize, which mainly attributed to the gripping force between the staggered crown roots of the two adjacent plants.

Impact of imposed root lodging on corn growth and yield

“…Brune et al (2018) suggested root angle, rooting depth, and soil strength were the most influential factors for corn to resist root lodging, while height and leaf area were identified as secondary influential factors. Increasing plant density increases the risk of root lodging (Lindsey et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2012;Wu et al, 2020;Xue et al, 2017). Recent work from Illinois suggested root biomass per plant or per hectare changed by 17 or 18%, respectively, with changing population (Bernhard & Below, 2020).…”

“…Root lodging during pollen shed and pollination may also interfere with effective fertilization and lead to reduced kernel set. Root lodging may also impact corn grain quality but the nature and magnitude of this damage has received little attention (Wu et al., 2020). Research is needed to determine specific physiological factors causing yield decreases associated with root lodging.…”

Wide–Narrow Row Planting Pattern Increases Root Lodging Resistance by Adjusting Root Architecture and Root Physiological Activity in Maize (Zea mays L.) in Northeast China

“…RL occurs due to the failure of root anchoring, and the shoot is permanently displaced from a vertical position at the base of the stem [4,5]. Root lodging resistance (RLR) is affected by the root architecture distribution in the soil [6,7]. Generally, plants with more and thicker roots and a larger root extension angle have stronger RLR [4,7,8].…”

“…San Oh et al reported that the root number and root length density (RLD) of rice varied between one plant or three plants per hill [10]. Wu et al reported a difference between the root morphology and angle of maize between one plant or two plants in each hole [6]. These researchers studied the effect of the planting pattern on root architecture distribution and attempted to identify an optimal root architecture distribution with an appropriate planting to identify an optimal root architecture distribution with an appropriate planting pattern in order to increase the RLR ability of crops under the premise of ensuring that the roots could adequately absorb water and nutrients [11].…”

Seeding rate impact on root lodging and greensnap in corn

“…Damage from these events was evident in parts of Ohio in both 2011 and 2012 (Corfidi et al, 2016); more recently, an event occurred in Iowa in 2020 (National Weather Service, 2020).There is interest in how corn management practices may influence the impact of greensnap and root lodging on yield. Much of the past work in this area has been conducted at populations lower than those used currently (Carter & Hudelson, 1988;Licht & Clemens, 2021;Xue et al, 2017 ) or in planting orientations that differ from U.S. practices (Wu et al, 2020). Improving the availability of data related to root lodging and greensnap response to seeding rate would better prepare crop practitioners to understand the implications for damage and yield in the event that severe wind damage is experienced in the future.…”