AUTHOR=Ma Zhenghu , Yin Juan , Yang Yingpan , Sun Fubin , Yang Zhen 

TITLE=Effect of water and nitrogen coupling regulation on the growth, physiology, yield, and quality attributes and comprehensive evaluation of wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1130109

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1130109

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=The characteristics of the growing environment (arid and semi-arid regions with abundant light), wastage of water, types of fertilizers used, quality of the plants, as well as the decline in yield due to the need for large quantities of water and fertilizers, are the most significant obstacles to wolfberry cultivation. To cope with the scarcity of water caused by the increase in the area of wolfberry cultivation and to improve the efficiency of the utilization of water and fertilizers, a two-year field experiment was conducted in a typical area of the central dry zone of Ningxia in 2021 and 2022. The effects of different water and nitrogen coupling on the physiology, growth, quality, and yield of wolfberry were investigated, and a water and nitrogen management model with better indicators was constructed based on the TOPSIS model and a comprehensive scoring method. In the experiment, three irrigation quotas of 2,160, 2,565, and 2,970 m3 ha–1 (I1, I2, and I3) and three N applications of 165, 225, and 285 kg ha–1 (N1, N2, and N3) were established; the local conventional management served as the control (CK). The results showed that the growth index of wolfberry was most significantly affected by irrigation, followed by the water and nitrogen interaction effect, and the nitrogen application had the least effect. The growth and development of wolfberry plants mainly took place during the fruit ripening and flowering periods, and growth almost stopped after entering the fruit ripening period. The chlorophyll (SPAD) values were affected by irrigation and nitrogen application to a significant level, except for the spring tip period, but the effect of water and nitrogen interaction was not significant. The SPAD values of N2 treatment were better under different irrigation. The daily photosynthetic activity of wolfberry leaves peaked between 10:00 am and noon. The daily photosynthetic dynamics of wolfberry was affected by irrigation and nitrogen application to a ion and their interactisignificant level during the fruit ripening period, and the transpiration rate and leaf water use efficiency were affected by water and nitrogen interaction to a signific