Sap flow in the stem of water stressed soybean and maize plants

Summary Water stress was imposed upon soybean [Glyxine max (L.) Merr. cv. Williams] and maize [Zea mays (L.) cv. Pioneer 3377] plants grown under controlled-environment conditions during a growing period of several irrigation cycles. Transpiration rates of individual plants were measured with a calibrated heat-pulse method and correlated to the rate of water loss obtained from successive weighings of the pots containing irrigated or water-stressed plants. Transpiration rate was reduced in the stressed plants of both species, but the reduction was not linear with decreasing soil matric potential. Transpiration rates declined rapidly at high soil matric potential, and dropped more slowly as the soil dried. Although measured transpiration rate declined by nearly 30% following a reduction of soil matric potential to -0.1 MPa, differences in leaf water potential and CO₂ assimilation rate were small and less than the sensitivity of the measurement techniques used. Total system resistance to water flow increased as the soil dried.     

Simulation of the dry matter production and seed yield of common beans under varying soil water and salinity conditions

We present a model that simulates the effects of water and salinity stress on the growth of beans. The model derives a combined soil water/salinity stress factor from the total water potential (combination of the matric and the osmotic potentials) and uses this stress factor as a growth limiter in a growth model. The model was tested on data obtained from two greenhouse trials of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown under a range of soil water and salinity conditions. The simulated dry weight of the bean generally followed those observed. In the first trial, the comparison between simulated and observed total dry weight and seed yield gave R² values of 0.97 and 0.92, respectively. Comparison of the simulated to the observed dry weight for the second trial gave R² values of 0.85 and 0.89, respectively. These indicate a good performance of the model in general. The principle of deriving a combined water/salinity stress from the matric and osmotic potentials is simple and can be included as a simple routine in many existing crop models without much difficulty.     

Ameliorative effects of inoculation with the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas sp. DW1 on growth of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings under salt stress

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas sp. DW1 on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) growth, mineral uptake and activities of the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) of plant leaves under salinity stress. The study was conducted in pot experiments using eggplant (S. melongena L., cv. Yinjia) and a coastal soil. The NaCl concentration of the coastal soil was 0.57 g (kg soil)⁻¹. Four NaCl levels were tested: 0.57, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g NaCl (kg soil)⁻¹, by adding NaCl to soil, respectively. Pseudomonas-inoculated seeds had an increase in the germination percentage over its non-inoculated seeds under salinity. Salinity negatively affected growth of eggplant; however, plants inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. DW1 grew to a significantly greater extent than plants that were not treated with this bacterium. Salinity significantly decreased K⁺ concentration, increased Na⁺ concentration, and did not significantly decrease Ca²⁺ content in shoots of eggplants. Inoculating with Pseudomonas sp. DW1 increased shoot Ca²⁺ of eggplant compared to the non-inoculating eggplant plants under salinity. Inoculating treatments with Pseudomonas sp. DW1 had no effect on shoot Na⁺ concentration in 0.57 and 1 g (kg soil)⁻¹ NaCl, but there were significant decreases in inoculated treatments than in non-inoculated ones at 2 and 3 g (kg soil)⁻¹ NaCl. Salinity decreased SOD activities and increased POD activities, and inoculated Pseudomonas sp. DW1 had an increase effect on SOD activity in the leaves of eggplants. Alteration of mineral uptake and increase in the antioxidant enzyme activities may be two mechanisms for the alleviation of salt stress. Based on the results of the experiment reported herein, the use of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium treatment may provide a means of facilitating plant growth under salt stress.     

Salinity and drought

Summary Water deficit (water stress — WS) and excess salt (salt stress — SS) evoke similar plant responses, yet clear differences have been observed. The effect of the two forms of stress applied consecutively to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) was studied in a growth chamber (29/20°C day/night temperature, 50% RH, 12-h photoperiod) in 2.5-liter containers packed with a silt loam soil.Leaf water potential () under increasing WS [soil water potential decrease from –0.16 to –1.10 MPa] of transpiring cotton and pepper plants declined to lower levels than under equivalent SS. The decline of leaf solute potential ₀ on the other hand, was less under WS than under SS, resulting in reduced turgor potential ( _p ), in contrast with turgor maintenance under SS. Predawn turgor potential of WS plants was maintained at all levels of soil water potential. Transpiration, CO₂ assimilation and light period leaf extension rate were higher under low soil water potential produced by salinity than an equivalent value produced by water deficit.The more severe effect of WS was attributed to incomplete osmotic adjustment — the reduction in solute potential did not keep pace with the reduction in leaf water potential, and to increased root interface resistance in the dry soil.The leaf sap of cotton under WS had a higher proportion of sugars (65%) than electrolytes, compared to SS. When WS was converted to SS and plant solute potential decreased, electrolytes were taken up at the expense of a reduction in the sugar concentration. Water stress and salt stress may have an additive effect in depressing growth. But at equivalent levels, the relative magnitude of the effect of low soil matric potential (WS) on plant growth was twice as great as that of low soil solute potential (SS).     

The growth and nitrogen economy of rice under sprinkler and flood irrigation in South East Australia

Summary Dry-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Calrose) was subjected to 4 irrigation treatments — continuous flood (CF) and sprinkler irrigation at frequencies of one (S1 W), two (S2W) and three (S3W) applications per week — commencing 37 d after 50% emergence (DAE). The amount of water applied was calculated to replace water lost by pan evaporation. Urea (120 kg N ha^–1) was applied in a 1:1 split 36 and 84 DAE, and there were also unfertilized controls for each irrigation treatment. Amounts of nitrate (NO ₃ ^– ) in the soil were very low throughout the growing season in all treatments, despite regular periods of draining which lasted for up to 7 d in SlW. In all irrigation treatments, the majority of the fertilizer nitrogen (N) was located in the top 20 mm of soil. After each application of fertilizer, levels of mineral N in CF declined rapidly, while levels in S3W and S1W remained high for 1–2 weeks longer. The poor growth of sprinkler-irrigated rice was not due to lower amounts of mineral N in the soil. The greater persistence of fertilizer N in the sprinkler-irrigated treatments was probably due to reduced root activity near the soil surface because of frequent periods of soil drying in between irrigations. Net mineralization of soil N in the unfertilized sprinkler-irrigated treatments was reduced by about half compared with CF.On average, the quantity of water applied (1.2–1.4 × EP) to the sprinkler-irrigated treatments appeared to be sufficient to meet the evapotranspiration demands of the crop, except possibly around flowering time. However, the plants may have suffered from moisture stress in between irrigations. Soil matric potential data at 100 mm suggested little water stress in the sprinkler-irrigated treatments during the vegetative stage, consistent with the similar tiller and panicle densities in all irrigation treatments. However, the crop was stunted and yellow and leaf rolling was observed in the sprinkler-irrigated treatments during this period. Soil matric potential data at 100 mm indicated considerable water stress in S1W beyond the commencement of anthesis, and in S2W during grain filling, consistent with the reduced floret fertility and grain weight in those treatments.     

Water and salt regulation and its effects on Leymus chinensis growth under drip irrigation in saline-sodic soils of the Songnen Plain

Field experiments were carried out to investigate water and salt management and its effects on Leymus chinensis growth under drip irrigation on saline-sodic soils of the Songnen Plain, China. The ECe of the experiment soil here is 15.2 dS/m and SAR_e is 14.6 (mmol_c L⁻¹)^1/2. The threshold of soil matric potential (SMP) was preset in different treatments (−5, −10, −15, −20 and −25 kPa) to control the timing of the irrigation cycle using vacuum tensiometers buried at 0.2 m depth immediately under drip emitters. Drip irrigation frequency and soil matric potential significantly influenced water and salt distributions and L. chinensis growth. In the root zone, the soil water content increased with the SMP, but at deeper layers there were no significant differences in soil water content due to the effect of groundwater. Electrical conductivity showed that there was a low-salt zone near the emitters and that drip irrigation inhibited the buildup of salts in the root zone. There was more leaching of salts for −5 and −10 kPa treatments than for the −15, −20 and −25 kPa treatments. After two years of drip irrigation, the surface salts were well leached, and had moved down with the water to depths below 40 cm. The pH of each treatment was a little decreased and the soil nutrient of S1-S5 were all increased after reclamation, but there were no obvious differences of the five treatments. The best growth was achieved with soil matric potentials of −5 and −10 kPa: the plant height, number and length of spikes, number of tillers, coverage and aboveground biomass all attained their maximum values during the growth periods of L. chinensis, with no significant differences between those two treatments. Thus, in the Songnen Plain, drip irrigation can be used on transplanted L. chinensis for restoration of saline-sodic soils. The results provide theoretical and technological guidance for sustainable reclamation salt-affected soil and the quick restoration and reconstruction of saline-sodic grassland.     

Effects of diluted Kraft pulp mill effluent on hybrid poplar and soil chemical properties

Irrigation with effluents can detrimentally affect soil physical and chemical properties and impact plant growth and development. Excessive irrigation can leach salts from the root zone; which can be accomplished by precipitation in some areas. This study was conducted to examine the effect of applications of Kraft pulp mill effluent (KPME) with and without distilled water (DW) to simulate precipitation would have on soil chemical properties and growth of hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × P. petrowskyana L. cv. Walker). Distilled water (DW), KPME, and a 50% combination (v/v; COMB) of DW and KPME were applied at rates of 6 and 9 mm day⁻¹. COMB resulted in heights, biomasses, and leaf areas that were greater than those for KPME and comparable to those for DW. Diluted KPME treatments (i.e., COMB) still significantly increased soil electrical conductivity and sodium adsorption ratio compared to DW. Leachate collected from KPME 9 mm day⁻¹ had concentrations of HCO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺ comparable to those collected from COMB 9 mm day⁻¹, but Na⁺ concentrations were three times higher in KPME than COMB 9 mm day⁻¹. Results indicate that precipitation or additional irrigation water could potentially provide the leaching necessary to prevent salt accumulation within the rooting zone; however, irrigating with saline or sodic effluents requires careful management.     

Cation exchange,hydrolysis and clay movement during the displacement of saline solutions from soils by water

Deterioration of soil physical conditions occurs when rain or irrigation water displaces soluble salts during reclamation and subsequent management of salinesodic soils. Damage, which depends primarily on the presence of exchangeable Na⁺, appears to be ameliorated during leaching by exchange of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ for Na⁺ and loss of exchangeable Na⁺ by hydrolysis. The extent of these processes has been measured by leaching columns of repacked soil with water after preparation with Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ or Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ as the exchangeable cations and high or low (1 or 0.1 mol_cl^–1) initial salinities. Structural deterioration was monitored by changes in flow rate, and soil properties were measured both initially and after cutting the leached columns into layers. Preliminary studies established reliable methods for measuring exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity in the saline soils. In a sandy loam (Na-Ca system), clay dispersion and movement occurred particularly in the upper layers as measured both by decreases in CEC and by the amount of clay in the leachate. Cation exchange and hydrolysis of exchangeable Na⁺ during leaching reduced the exchangeable Na⁺ percentage, although cation exchange was restricted to columns with high initial salinity. In a clay textured soil (Na-Ca system) there was negligible clay movement, and cation exchange and hydrolysis occurred in columns with both high and low initial salinities: cation exchange may have been encouraged by diffusion limited preferential release of Na⁺ from aggregates during by-pass flow. In the sandy loam (Na-Mg system) Mg²⁺ increased the preference of the soil for exchangeable Na⁺ compared to the Na-Ca system. There was no cation exchange even in columns with high initial salinity. The amounts of clay movement and hydrolysis were similar in the two systems. Conditions conductive to cation exchange are a high initial salinity, a Na-Ca rather than a Na-Mg system and, possibly, restricted release of the divalent cation from within soil aggregates. Attempts to model these changes are complicated by difficulties in predicting the effects of hydrolysis and by-pass flow.     

Development and evaluation of integrated water and nitrogen model for maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop for irrigated regions in the world. Its growth and production may be estimated by different crop models in which various relationships between growth and environmental parameters are used. For simulation of maize growth and grain yield, a simulation model was developed (Maize Simulation Model, MSM). Dynamic flow of water, nitrogen (N) movement, and heat flow through the soil were simulated in unsteady state conditions by numerical analysis in soil depth of 0–1.8 m. Hourly potential evapotranspiration [ET_p(t)] for maize field was estimated directly by Penman–Monteith method. Hourly potential evaporation [E_p(t)] was estimated based on ET_p(t) and canopy shadow projection. Actual evaporation of soil surface was estimated based on its potential value, relative humidity of air, water pressure head and temperature at soil surface layer. Actual transpiration (T_a(t)) was estimated based on soil water content and root distribution at each soil layer. Hourly N uptake by plant was simulated by N mass flow and diffusion processes. Hourly top dry matter production (HDMA^j + 1, where j is number of hours after planting) was estimated by hourly corrected intercepted radiation (RSLT^j + 1) by plant leaves [determined from leaf area index (LAI^j + 1)] with air temperature, the maximum and minimum plant top N concentration and the amounts of nitrogen uptake. The value of LAI^j + 1 at each hour was estimated by the accumulated top dry matter production at previous hour using an empirical equation. Maize grain yield was estimated by a relationship between harvest index and seasonal plant top dry matter production. The model was calibrated using data obtained under field conditions by a line source sprinkler irrigation. When the values of water and nitrogen application were optimum, grain yield (moisture content of 15.5%) was 16.2 Mg ha⁻¹. Model was validated using two independent experimental data obtained from other experiments in the Badjgah (Fars province). The experimental results validated the proposed simulation model fairly well.     

Plant water parameters and the remote sensing <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Subscript>1300</Subscript>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Subscript>1450</Subscript> leaf water index: controlled condition dynamics during the development of water deficit stress

Plants with different abilities for osmotic adjustment (cowpea, bean, and sugarbeet) were subjected to gradually decreasing soil water content. During the development of water deficit stress, various plant water parameters were measured to characterize their relationship to the near infrared R ₁₃₀₀/R ₁₄₅₀ leaf water index, which is based on the measurement of light reflected from leaves. In all three species, leaf water thickness (LWT), leaf cell relative water content (RWC), and overall leaf thickness remained relatively constant under moderate water deficit stress. However, at the point when plants could no longer cope with the increasing level of water deficit stress, LWT, RWC, and leaf thickness were found to decrease substantially, signaling the onset of leaf dehydration. The R ₁₃₀₀/R ₁₄₅₀ leaf water index followed the RWC very closely in cowpea and bean leaves, and with some time lag in sugarbeet leaves. The R ₁₃₀₀/R ₁₄₅₀ index may therefore be used as a feedback-signal in precision irrigation control, signaling effectively the physiological response of plants when water deficit stress becomes detrimental. RWC and the R ₁₃₀₀/R ₁₄₅₀ index were linearly correlated in cowpea and bean leaves, but not in sugarbeet leaves.     

Effects of fixed partial root-zone drying irrigation and soil texture on water and solute dynamics in calcareous soils and corn yield

Water dynamics and salt distribution in the soil were studied under Fixed Partial Root zone Drying irrigation (FPRD) conditions in corn fields in Northern Greece. FPRD irrigation technique was applied without deficit treatment in two calcareous soils, a sandy clay loam and a sandy loam. Soil water content was recorded in the vertical profile of 0.6 m with the use of capacitance sensors in the row and interrow positions of plants. Salt built-up was monitored to the depth of the root zone, bi-weekly, by measuring electrical conductivity (EC_e) and the concentrations of soluble cations Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ of the saturation extract on irrigated and non irrigated interrow positions. Soil moisture distribution and salt built-up in soil were used to evaluate the potentials and constraints of FPRD efficiency to sustain plant growth and crop production as a low cost drip irrigation technique. The results indicated that FPRD application on both soils was capable of supplying sufficient amounts of water on plant row. Soil analyses showed that salts accumulated to high levels in the soil surface and decreased in depth at the non irrigated interrow positions. Spatial and temporal variability of salt movement and distribution in the soil profile of 0.6 m were ascribed to soil textural differences. The development and yield of corn plants for both soils reached the usual standards for the area with a minor decrease in the sandy loam soil.     

Reclaiming a saline-sodic,sandy loam soil under rice production

A field-plot reclamation experiment was conducted on a virgin saline-sodic, sandy loam, permeable soil while growing rice with pre- and post-planting leaching under conditions of continuous and intermittent submergence. The soil studied contained very high amounts of soluble salts and exchangeable sodium throughout the profile. The chief salts were Cl^? and SO^2?₄ of Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The data obtained showed that post-transplanting leaching under intermittent submergence alone progressively decreased salinity and sodicity throughout the top 100 cm of the soil to levels safe for cultivation of relatively deep-rooted crops. The surface few centimetres of soil were essentially reclaimed within a few hours after leaching so that young rice seedlings established and survived to give good yield. It was concluded, therefore, that reclamation of these types of soil in arid and semi-arid regions, where good quality water is not available for leaching prior to transplanting rice, would not require any such pre-planting leaching. The results further indicated that there is no need to apply an amendment such as gypsum, mainly because Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ present in such soils are adequate to replace the initially high exchangeable sodium during leaching. Leaching efficiency was high under conditions of intermittent submergence. It was shown that leaching curves could be useful in determining the amount of leaching water required for a given mode of application in order to decrease harmful levels of salinity and sodicity to safer levels for a particular crop.     

Tolerance of young (Ceratonia siliqua L.) carob rootstock to NaCl

One-year-old carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) rootstock was grown in fertilised substrate to evaluate the effects of NaCl salinity stress. The experiment consisted of seven treatments with different concentrations of NaCl in the irrigation water: 0 (control), 15, 30, 40, 80, 120 and 240 (mmol L⁻¹), equivalent to electrical conductivities of 0.0, 1.5, 2.9, 3.9, 7.5, 10.9 and 20.6 dS m⁻¹, respectively. Several growth parameters were measured throughout the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, pH, extractable P and K, and the electrical conductivity of the substrate were assessed in each salinity level. On the same date, the mineral composition of the leaves was compared. The carob rootstock tolerated 13.4 dS m⁻¹ for a period of 30 days but after 60 days the limit of tolerance was only 6.8 dS m⁻¹. Salt tolerance indexes were 12.8 and 4.5 for 30 and 60 days, respectively. This tolerance to salinity resulted from the ability to function with concentrations of Cl⁻ and Na⁺ in leaves up to 24.0 and 8.5 g kg⁻¹, respectively. Biomass allocation to shoots and roots was similar in all treatments, but after 40 days the number of leaves was reduced, particularly at the larger concentrations (120 and 240 mmol NaCl L⁻¹). Leaves of plants irrigated with 240 mmol NaCl L⁻¹ became chlorotic after 30 days exposure. However, concentrations of N, P, Mg and Zn in leaves were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by salinity. Apparently, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ were the key nutrients affected in the response of carob rootstocks to salinity. Plants grown with 80 and 120 mmol L⁻¹ of NaCl contained the greatest K⁺ concentration. Na⁺/K⁺ increased with salinity, due to an elevated Na⁺ content but K⁺ uptake was also enhanced, which alleviated some Na⁺ stress. Ca²⁺ concentration in leaves was not reduced under salinity. Salinization of irrigation water and subsequent impacts on agricultural soils are now common problems in the Mediterranean region. Under such conditions, carob seems to be a salt as well as a drought tolerant species.     

Effect of seasonal water stress imposed on drip irrigated second crop watermelon grown in semi-arid climatic conditions

A study was conducted to determine the water stress effect on yield and some physiological parameters including crop water stress index for drip irrigated second crop watermelon. Irrigations were scheduled based on replenishment of 100, 75, 50, 25, and 0% soil water depletion from 90 cm soil depth with 3-day irrigation interval. Seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ET) for I₁₀₀, I₇₅, I₅₀, I₂₅, and I₀ were 660, 525, 396, 210, and 70 mm in 2003 and 677, 529, 405, 221, and 75 mm in 2004. Fruit yield was significantly lowered by irrigation water stress. Average water-yield response factor for both of the years was 1.14. The highest yield was obtained from full irrigated treatment as 34.5 and 38.2 t ha⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Lower ET rates and irrigation amounts in water stress treatments resulted in reductions in all measured parameters, except water-soluble dry matter concentrations (SDM). Canopy dry weights, leaf relative water content, and total leaf chlorophyll content were significantly lowered by water stress. Yield and seasonal ET were linearly correlated with mean CWSI values. An average threshold CWSI value of 0.17 before irrigation produced the maximum yield and it could be used to initiate the irrigation for watermelon.     

Effects of wastewater irrigation on soil sodicity and nutrient leaching in calcareous soils

Soil column studies were conducted with two soils to assess the effects of irrigation with wastewater on soil and groundwater quality. Upon the application of wastewater, exchange occurred between solution sodium (Na⁺) and exchangeable cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺), whereby these cations were released into solution. The average exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of the soils increased during leaching from 9 to 21 and 28.8 to 29.7 after applying 5.0 and 3.5 l (about 7 and 6 pore volumes) of wastewater to the soils columns, respectively. Adverse effect of high Na⁺ concentration in the wastewater on raising ESP was less pronounced in the soil having initial high ESP than in the soil with low initial ESP. Salinity of the soils was also increased with the application of wastewater and Mg²⁺ and K⁺ were leached from the soils. These losses would be more severe on soils having a low cation exchange capacity and if, uncorrected could lead eventually to their deficiencies for plant growth. When the soil columns were leached with distilled water the flow rate of one soil decreased to zero after 2.2 pore volume indicating damage to soil structure. Irrigation with wastewater, which is generally more sodic and saline than regional groundwater, increases the rate of soil sodification of shallow groundwater. A relatively simple chromatographic model was used to estimate final ESP profiles in the soils assuming the condition of local equilibrium. This approach had a limited success for one of the soil. Since the final leached concentrations are in good agreement with those of wastewater, we attribute these differences to non-uniform flow through the column. In terms of practical soil and water management, our study reveals that relatively simple means can be useful to predict the water quality in soils, their discharge to ground water, and the hazard of soil structure deterioration.     

An analysis of the effects of water stress on leaf growth and yield of three barley cultivars

The main objective of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of Iraqi local barley cultivar (Black) to soil water deficit as compared to other barley cultivars, namely: CM-72 and Arivat. The local cultivar proved to be susceptible during germination and emergence, but it developed resistance during the vegetative growth and yield formation stages. Growth analysis of individual leaves clearly showed that Black barley produced leaves of long growth duration which could affect the growth processes especially cell division. Thus, the reduction in the number of cells composing those leaves was small in the cultivar Black. Leaf growth rates as soil matric potential decreased, were reduced considerably, although, no clear trends were observed between cultivars. On the other hand, the smaller cell volume of local cultivar may have a role in its ability to tolerate water deficit. Some evidence that the local cultivar is post-flowering resistant is discussed.     

Grapefruit response to variable salinity in irrigation water and soil

Summary Results are reported from a long-term field experiment designed to determine the effect of irrigation water salinity on the yield and water uptake of mature grapefruit trees. Treatments were started in 1970 and consisted of chloride concentrations in the irrigation water of 7.1, 11.4 and 17.1 meq/1 added as NaCl+CaCl₂ at a 1 : 1 weight ratio.For the last four years of the experiment, 1973 to 1976, yield was linearly related to the mean chloride concentration in the soil saturation extract weighted according to the distribution of water uptake with depth and time (Fig. 2, Table 1). There was a 1.45% (1.68 Mg/ha) yield reduction for each 1 meq/1 increase in chloride concentration above a threshold value of 4.5 meq/1. This corresponded to a 13.5% (14.7 Mg/ha) decrease per 1 mmho/cm increase in the electrical conductivity of the soil saturation extract above a threshold value of 1.2 mmho/cm.Total water uptake was reduced as salt concentration in the soil increased (Fig. 3, Table 2). In the high salinity treatment, root concentration in, and water uptake from, the lower portion of the root zone were decreased. The maximum electrical conductivity (ECe) measured at the bottom of the root zone was 7.90 mmho/cm similar to the values of EC, obtained by linear extrapolation to zero yield and also to zero water uptake.Salt accumulation in the soil depended on the quantity and salt concentration of the irrigation water, rainfall, and on the amount of leaching. SAR and the Na⁺ concentration of the soil remained low throughout the experiment (Table 3). No leaf symptoms of either Cl^– or Na⁺ injury were observed. The results indicate an osmotic — rather than a specific ion effect — of salinity on grapefruit yield.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. 1977 Series No. 197-E     

Yield and water use efficiency of cauliflower under varying irrigation frequencies and water application methods in Lower Gangetic Plain of India

A field study (1999-2000 to 2001-2002) was carried out to optimize the irrigation frequency and suitable water application methods for cauliflower with a view to increase curd yield (CY) and water use efficiency (WUE). Check Basin (CB), Each Furrow (EF) and Alternate Furrow (AF) methods were tested with three irrigation frequencies depending on the attainment of soil matric potential (Ψ_m) value at 0.2 m depth as: −0.03 MPa (F₁), −0.05 MPa (F₂) and −0.07 MPa (F₃). Maximum CY was recorded under F₁ and decreased by 10.4 and 31.4%, respectively under F₂ and F₃ frequencies. In contrast, WUE decreased by 9.3% from F₃ to F₁. Highest CY and WUE obtained under CB followed by EF and AF methods. Furrow application methods saved 12-24% irrigation water over CB method. Maximum soil water stress coefficient (K_s) recorded at curd development stage in comparison to other stages. Both seasonal evapotranspiration (ET_a) and yield-moisture stress index (Kys) recorded positive linear relationships with CY. Present study shows a crop response factor of 0.822 for cauliflower. In this region, cauliflower should be irrigated with check basin method at an interval of 8-10 days.     

Validation of a root water uptake model to estimate transpiration constraints

Experimental results obtained from a greenhouse trial with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants performed to test model hypotheses regarding the onset of limiting hydraulic conditions and the shape of the transpiration reduction curve in the falling rate phase are presented. According to these hypotheses based on simulations with an upscaled single-root model, the matric flux potential at the onset of limiting hydraulic conditions is as a function of root length density and potential transpiration rate, while the relative transpiration in the falling rate phase equals the relative matric flux potential. Transpiration of bean plants in water stressed pots with four different soils was determined daily by weighing and compared to values obtained from non-stressed pots. This procedure allowed determining the onset of the falling rate phase and corresponding soil hydraulic conditions. At the onset of the falling rate phase, the value of matric flux potential M_l showed to differ in order of magnitude from the model predicted value for three out of four soils. This difference between model and experiment can be explained by the heterogeneity of the root distribution which is not considered by the model. An empirical factor to deal with this heterogeneity should be included in the model to improve predictions. Comparing the predictions of relative transpiration in the falling rate phase using a linear shape with water content, pressure head or matric flux potential, the matric flux potential based reduction function, in agreement with the hypothesis, showed the best performance, while the pressure head based equation resulted in the highest deviations between observed and predicted values of relative transpiration rates.     

Leaf permeability as an index of water relations,CO2 uptake and yield of irrigated wheat

Summary An irrigation experiment was conducted on wheat in the northern Negev, Israel. The growing season rainfall was 198 mm; six irrigation treatments, ranging from 0 to 320 mm were applied at different stages of growth. The grain yields ranged from 1.20 to 5.84 t/ha. Stomatal aperture was evaluated by leaf permeability, as measured with a fast-reading viscous flow porometer. Other indices of soil-plant water status measured were: soil moisture with a neutron probe; leaf water potential with a pressure chamber; CO₂ uptake with a ¹⁴CO₂-pulse apparatus; and leaf water saturation deficit.For the penultimate and flag leaves, midday leaf permeability was highly correlated with the soil moisture in the upper 60-cm layer. CO₂-uptake, however, remained constantly high (ca. 0.8 mg m^–2s^–1 = 29 mg dm^–2h^–1) throughout a wide range of leaf permeability, from 10 down to 2 porometer units (p. u.); below this value, it decreased linearly with leaf permeability. Therefore, the value of 2 p. u. was tentatively regarded as a critical value for judging the critical values of the other indices studied; these were estimated to be: leaf water potential, –1.57 MPa = –15.7 bars; leaf saturation deficit, 18,8% and soilmoisture, 12.6% representing a 83% depletion of the available moisture in the Gilat soil. The grain yield was highly negatively correlated with the duration of period when the soil moisture was below these critical values. The use of the porometer method for evaluating water stress is discussed.