Effects of Different Groundwater Depths on Root and Shoot growth and Water Consumption of Summer Maize

Abstract：Through setting 6 treatments with groundwater depth of 0.2 m（T1）, 0.4 m（T2）, 0.6 m（T3）, 0.8 m（T4）, 1.0 m（TS） and 1.2 m（T6）, the root and shoot growth, and water consumption of summer maize were investigated under different groundwater depths controlled by Mariotte bottle devices in drain- able lysimeters. Results showed that plant height and leaf area increased with the decreasing of the groundwater depth, while the groundwater depth lowered to a certain extent, the shoot growth of Maize would be inhibited. Plant height and LAI （Leaf area index） of T3 treatment reached the maximum. Root biomass in each soil layers and the whole soil layers increased with the increasing of groundwater depth. The ratio of total shoot to root biomass showed a decreasing trend significantly as the groundwater depth increasing. There were a good negative correlation between water consumption and groundwater depth at each growth stage or whole growth period, which the regression equation achieved a significant level （P〈0.01）. The proportion of groundwater recharge accounting for water consumption gradually decreased with the groundwater depth increasing. This result provide a reference to develop irrigation system and to design field drainage engineering of summer maize in Jianghuai areas.