Soil waterlogging in many arable regions of the world challenge the quantum and quality of crop production. While previous studies have assessed the impact of waterlogging on crop yields, understanding of how waterlogging implicates with crop quality remains in its infancy. Here, we conduct a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess how waterlogging influences grain quality. We also explore the role of engineering and agronomic strategies for alleviating adverse effects of waterlogging. We reveal that soil waterlogging has less impacts on grain quality than on yield; the latter decreasing by an average of 23 %, while average grain protein and starch content of waterlogged crops reduced by 6.7 % and 7.3 %, respectively. We attribute these differences to underlying mechanics of yield and grain quality formation, as well as biological processes conferring adaptation, plasticity and recovery. Reduced grain quality under waterlogging is associated with decreased activity of enzymes involved in leaf nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Unlike yields however, grain quality suffers less deterioration with prolonged waterlogging, with ultimate effects realized being a function of species-specific tolerance, timing and duration of waterlogging relative to crop stage, soil type and growing season weather. We underscore the potential in engineering and/or agronomic interventions for alleviating detrimental effects of waterlogging.

中文翻译：

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土壤涝渍对作物品质的影响：荟萃分析


世界上许多耕地的土壤涝涝对作物生产的数量和质量提出了挑战。虽然以前的研究已经评估了内涝对作物产量的影响，但对内涝如何影响作物质量的理解仍处于起步阶段。在这里，我们进行了系统的文献综述和荟萃分析，以评估内涝如何影响谷物质量。我们还探讨了工程和农艺策略在减轻内涝不利影响方面的作用。我们揭示了土壤涝渍对粮食质量的影响小于对产量的影响;后者平均下降了 23%，而淹水作物的平均谷物蛋白质和淀粉含量分别下降了 6.7% 和 7.3%。我们将这些差异归因于产量和谷物质量形成的潜在机制，以及赋予适应、可塑性和恢复性的生物过程。涝渍下谷物质量下降与参与叶片氮和碳代谢的酶活性降低有关。然而，与产量不同的是，长期涝涝对谷物质量的恶化较小，最终影响是物种特异性耐受性、涝涝时间和持续时间相对于作物阶段、土壤类型和生长季节天气的函数。我们强调了工程和/或农艺干预措施在减轻内涝不利影响方面的潜力。