Effects of waterlogging on nitrogen accumulation and alleviation of waterlogging damage by application of nitrogen fertilizer and mixtalol in winter rape (Brassica napus L)

A study on the physiological and yield effects of waterlogging and the alleviation of waterlogging damage by the application of nitrogen fertilizers and mixtalol in winter rape was conducted in experimental tanks especially designed for controlling soil moisture content. The results showed that waterlogging at the seedling and stem elongation stages causes a significant decrease in nitrogen content and rate of nitrogen accumulation. Leaf chlorophyll content, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and root oxidizability (capacity for root oxidation) and root exudate were also reduced by waterlogging. The experiments confirmed that the physiological function of rape plants was retarded during the time of waterlogging at the seedling stage, and its adverse effects remained. Plant height, stem width, and the number of primary branches per plant were decreased significantly by waterlogging at the seedling and stem elongation stages. Pods per plant and seeds per pod were also reduced significantly, giving a 21.3 and 12.5% decrease of seed yield from the control for treatments at the seedling and stem elongation stages, respectively. Foliar sprays of nitrogen fertilizers at the seedling stage or mixtalol at the flowering stage alleviated plant damage caused by waterlogging by retarding chlorophyll and nitrogen degradation, increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and root oxidizability, and improving yield components and seed yield of waterlogged plants. Therefore, besides draining off water, alleviation of waterlogging damage may be controlled by applying nitrogen fertilizer and a suitable plant growth regulator at appropriate growth stages.