Table 2 Path analysis (n = 120) for the direct or indirect effect on dry matter accumulation by the effective root length (cm), leaf area (cm⁻²), root dry matter (g plant⁻¹), vegetative organ dry matter (g plant⁻¹) and reproductive organ dry matter (g plant⁻¹) at pre-plant watered (W₈₀) or no watered (W₀) and base fertilizer surface (F₁₀) or deep (F₃₀) application with 2015 and 2016.

The effective root length (X1)

0.4296

−0.2455

0.3195

0.093

−0.0654

0.1678

0.2417

0.117

−0.2738

0.0575

0.1905

0.3167

Leaf area (X2)

0.2033

0.5187

0.5015

0.1953

−0.0309

0.3547

0.1545

−0.2456

−0.1296

0.1216

0.1218

0.4971

Root biomass (Y1)

−0.039

0.1353

0.4051

−0.3036

−0.1634

0.0464

0.3193

0.5528

Vegetable organs biomass (Y2)

0.1981

−0.3755

0.6929

−0.2894

−0.1263

0.088

0.057

0.6868

Reproductive organs biomass (Y3)

0.125

−0.3169

−0.4275

−0.3196

−0.019

0.2167

0.03059

0.0402