Soil compaction and drought stress on shoot and root growth in crambe (Crambe abyssinica)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of soil compaction and irrigation management on shoot and root growth in crambe. Two experiments were conducted in a heated greenhouse. Experiments were arranged in a completely randomized design, in a factorial, with two irrigation treatments (well-irrigated or drought stress conditions, imposed at the flowering and grain filling stages) and six soil bulk density levels (0.90, 0.99, 1.08, 1.17, 1.26, and 1.35 Mg m^-3), with four replicates. The restriction of the water supply during the stages of flowering and grain filling affects the growth and productivity of crambe. The roots of the crambe plant are not significantly affected by drought conditions or the interaction between drought conditions and soil compaction. Crambe shoot growth was not significantly affected by soil compaction, at soil densities up to 1.35 Mg m^-3. Crambe is more sensitive to drought conditions than to soil compaction.