Straw Retention Combined with Phosphorus Application Improved Soil Properties and Root Nitrogen Metabolism, and Optimized the Relationship Between Root and Shoot of Cotton
摘要
Purpose. This study aimed to explore the impact of straw retention combined with different phosphorus (P) rate on soil nutrient content, the yield and quality of fiber, the allometric growth relationship between root and shoot, and root nitrogen (N) metabolism. Methods. The field experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2021 to study the effects of straw management (removal and retention) and P rate (0, 44, and 88 kg P ha− 1) on soil quality, biomass allocation, and N uptake and assimilation. Results. Straw retention combined with P application contributed to improving lint yield and fiber quality synergistically. This result was due to it improved physical and chemical properties of soil (increasing the contents of available nitrogen, available P, and organic matter, but decreased the bulk density), thereby increasing the activities of nitrate reductase (10.5%-89.2%), glutamine synthetase (8.5%-80.5%), and glutamate synthase (3.0%-45.9%) and enhancing N uptake. Correspondingly, the optimization of root N metabolism increased allometric index (α), implying that shoot growth of cotton was enhanced. And this change manifests as an improvement in leaf area index and the development of cotton square and flower, and boll. Conclusions. Straw retention combined with P application improved soil physical and chemical properties, enhanced N uptake and assimilation, and optimized the relationship between root and aboveground growth, which is conducive to the synergistic improvement of cotton yield and quality. 44 kg P ha⁻¹ is the optimal rate for P reduction and high yield and quality yield of cotton in wheat-cotton rotation and straw retention system.