| The effects of calcium on growth and nutrient absorption of winter wheat seedlings (Xiaoyan 22) under partial-root water stress induced PEG-6000 by were investigated, using Hoagland solution cultivation with split-root experiment. Ca2+ was eliminated by EGTA. Six treatments were set up in this experiment, including a factorial combination of three water stress schemes (no water stress (CK), half-root water stress (HRWS) and total-root water stress (TRWS)) and two calcium treatments (with calcium and without). The results showed that shoot height, taproot length, biomass, relative water content (RWC), relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), and N, P, Ca concentrations in winter wheat seedlings without calcium treatment were significantly lower than those with calcium, regardless of water stress (P<0.05). With the treatment of calcium, plant height in HRWS was increased by 4.4%. Biomass in CK, HRWS, and TRWS were 1.54, 1.66 g·plant-1 and 0.97 g·plant-1, respectively, which were 19.4%, 25.8% and 4.3% greater than those without treatment of calcium. Plant height and root length in TRWS became decreased significantly. Without the treatment of calcium, concentrations of N, P and Ca etc. in seedlings were significantly reduced. Total nitrogen of shoot with calcium treatment in CK, HRWS, and TRWS were 36.54, 36.65 g·kg-1 and 32.70 g·kg-1, 9.5%, 6.5% and 6.9%, respectively, higher than those without; total phosphorus were 7.48, 7.51 g·kg-1 and 6.54 g·kg-1, 3.0%, 13.1% and 22.7%, respectively, higher than those without; above-ground total calcium were 8.35, 8.37 g·kg-1 and 5.53 g·kg-1 respectively, 26.5%, 24.4% and 19.7% higher than those without calcium. The results indicated that calcium had significant effects on the development and nutrient use of winter wheat seedlings by promoting growth and nutrient uptake under water stress, relieving the inhibitory effect in the entire root. |