Biomodification methods for Cyperus esculentus under saline stress: Revealing adaptive strategies for its photosynthetic and functional traits

Soil salinization is a major constraint on global agricultural development, particularly in arid regions such as Xinjiang, where it severely limits crop growth. Cyperus esculentus, a mildly salt-tolerant oilseed crop with both economic and ecological value, continues to face significant challenges in cultivation under highly saline soil conditions. Although previous studies have proposed biological approaches to mitigate salinity stress, their effects on the photosynthetic performance of C. esculentus have not been fully evaluated. To address this gap, this study examined two biological strategies: bio-amendments and intercropping with salt-tolerant plants to assess their impacts on soil physicochemical properties and the functional traits of C. esculentus in heavy salinized soils. The results demonstrated that microbial agents and humic acid directly improved the inter-root environment of C. esculentus by reducing soil pH and increasing the content of effective nitrogen and phosphorus, thereby promoting the synthesis of leaf chlorophyll a and leaf nitrogen accumulation. Intercropping with salt-tolerant plants improved the growth environment by absorbing excess soil salts and secreting organic acids and beneficial microorganisms, which enhanced the function of photosystem II and promoted photosynthetic electron transport. Additionally, nutrient uptake by C. esculentus was facilitated through competitive interactions with the root system of saline companion plants. Both bio-amendment and intercropping treatments significantly increased biomass accumulation. However, the alleviation of salinity stress occurred distinct mechanisms: bio-amendments maintained physiological homeostasis, while intercropping promoted a synergistic adjustment of morphological and photosynthetic traits. These findings provide valuable insights into the adaptation mechanisms of biological interventions under saline conditions and offer practical guidance for the successful cultivation of C. esculentus in the saline soils of Xinjiang. Supplementary Material Information & Authors Information Version history Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License.

Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 213views 98downloads Citations Download citation Xin Shen, Weiyi Zhou, Xiangyi Li, et al. Biomodification methods for Cyperus esculentus under saline stress: Revealing adaptive strategies for its photosynthetic and functional traits. Authorea. 09 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174945090.01201599/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174945090.01201599/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.