Morpho-physiological changes caused by soil compaction and irrigation on Zea mays

Physical properties of soil, such as compaction, have immense effects on the physico-morphological characters of plants, namely on the roots. For this reason per se, roots are immersed in a soil matrix with distinct conditions that may affect their anatomy, structure and function. Soil’s physical characteristics, such as texture and compaction force, are some of the main factors affecting root growth and development. This study investigates how soil compaction, soil moisture and type of soil can modify the regular growth of Zea mays L., and thus reveal the changes influencing plant’s physiology and growth. This experiment focuses on simulating two magnitudes of compaction (1.25 and 1.45 g cm -3 ), two irrigation rates in two soil types, and assessing their effects on Z. mays . Despite intrinsic differences in the physico-chemical properties of the two soils, soil compaction had the highest influence on the decrease of leaf area, relative growth rate, total length of roots and shoot and dry mass of stem and roots, while it showed an increase in nitrate reductase activity and total chlorophyll content of the leaves and a limited bacterial growth. Soil moisture interactively aggravated the negative effects of soil compaction. In conclusion, soil compaction shows momentous effects on root anatomy and morphology during the seedling stage, with consequences on plant physiology and growth.