Articles
Tomato root response to residual compost under water-deficit stress
Article number
1422_35
Pages
283 – 390
Language
English
Abstract
The positive impact of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost on plant growth is extensively reported, but not much is known about its residue on edaphic stress mitigation.
A greenhouse pot-experiment was performed to assess MSW compost impact on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Scotia’) plant root response to soil water-deficit.
The tomato plants were grown in soils that were previously applied with annual (AN), biennial (BI) or no (C) MSW compost for five years.
The fourth treatment was MSW compost alone.
Root fresh weight, root length and root area in the AN-soils, BI-soils, C-soils and MSW alone under water-deficit stress conditions were highest and did not significantly (p>0.05) vary.
Root volume was least in the C-soil under regular watering and the MSW compost alone under water-deficit.
Total phenolics was significantly (p<0.05) highest in roots of plants grown in the BI-soil followed by the AN-soil, and the least in the C-soil under regular watering.
Total flavonoids and proline in the tomato plant roots were significantly (p<0.001) increased by MSW compost alone, especially under water-deficit stress compared to plants in all the other soil treatments.
Overall, the results demonstrated that the growth and biomass of roots of tomato ‘Scotia’ plants subjected to water-deficit stress were significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to their counterparts grown under regular watering.
MSW compost residue significantly (p<0.05) increased root growth and stress response compounds under water-deficit stress.
Further detailed work on stress response compounds will be required to understand the mechanism of compost action in stress mitigation.
A greenhouse pot-experiment was performed to assess MSW compost impact on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Scotia’) plant root response to soil water-deficit.
The tomato plants were grown in soils that were previously applied with annual (AN), biennial (BI) or no (C) MSW compost for five years.
The fourth treatment was MSW compost alone.
Root fresh weight, root length and root area in the AN-soils, BI-soils, C-soils and MSW alone under water-deficit stress conditions were highest and did not significantly (p>0.05) vary.
Root volume was least in the C-soil under regular watering and the MSW compost alone under water-deficit.
Total phenolics was significantly (p<0.05) highest in roots of plants grown in the BI-soil followed by the AN-soil, and the least in the C-soil under regular watering.
Total flavonoids and proline in the tomato plant roots were significantly (p<0.001) increased by MSW compost alone, especially under water-deficit stress compared to plants in all the other soil treatments.
Overall, the results demonstrated that the growth and biomass of roots of tomato ‘Scotia’ plants subjected to water-deficit stress were significantly (p<0.05) increased compared to their counterparts grown under regular watering.
MSW compost residue significantly (p<0.05) increased root growth and stress response compounds under water-deficit stress.
Further detailed work on stress response compounds will be required to understand the mechanism of compost action in stress mitigation.
Publication
Authors
V.R. Mohan, L. Abbey
Keywords
municipal solid waste compost, irrigation, drought, abiotic stress, soil amendment, vegetable organic farming
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