scholarly journals Genotypic variation in soil water use and root distribution and their implications for drought tolerance in chickpea

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramamoorthy Purushothaman ◽  
Lakshmanan Krishnamurthy ◽  
Hari D. Upadhyaya ◽  
Vincent Vadez ◽  
Rajeev K. Varshney
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Genotypic Variation ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Deep Soil

Chickpeas are often grown under receding soil moisture and suffer ~50% yield losses due to drought stress. The timing of soil water use is considered critical for the efficient use of water under drought and to reduce yield losses. Therefore the root growth and the soil water uptake of 12 chickpea genotypes known for contrasts in drought and rooting response were monitored throughout the growth period both under drought and optimal irrigation. Root distribution reduced in the surface and increased in the deep soil layers below 30 cm in response to drought. Soil water uptake was the maximum at 45–60 cm soil depth under drought whereas it was the maximum at shallower (15–30 and 30–45 cm) soil depths when irrigated. The total water uptake under drought was 1-fold less than optimal irrigation. The amount of water left unused remained the same across watering regimes. All the drought sensitive chickpea genotypes were inferior in root distribution and soil water uptake but the timing of water uptake varied among drought tolerant genotypes. Superiority in water uptake in most stages and the total water use determined the best adaptation. The water use at 15–30 cm soil depth ensured greater uptake from lower depths and the soil water use from 90–120 cm soil was critical for best drought adaptation. Root length density and the soil water uptake across soil depths were closely associated except at the surface or the ultimate soil depths of root presence.

What limits deep water uptake by deep-rooted crops?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Rasmussen ◽  
Eva Rosenqvist ◽  
Fulai Liu ◽  
Dorte Bodin Dresbøll ◽  
Kristian Thorup-Kristensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Deep Roots ◽  
Water Limitations

<p>Minimizing water limitation during growth of agricultural crops is crucial to unlocking full yield potentials. Crop yield losses vary according to timing and severity of water limitations, but even short-term droughts can be a major cause of yield losses. While the potential influence of deep roots on water uptake has been highlighted numerous times, the actual contribution of deep roots to water uptake is yet to be revealed. The objective of this study is to get an understanding of what limits deep water uptake by deep-rooted crops under topsoil water limitations.</p><p>We found that deep-rooted crops experience water limitations despite access to water stored in the deep soil and we hypothesize that deep water uptake by deep-rooted crops is limited by 1) the hydraulic conductivity of the deeper part of the root zone, arising from limited root length density in combination with the hydraulic resistance of the roots or 2) by a hormonal response arising from the plant sensing dry conditions in the shallow soil leading to stomata closure, to conserve water. The two hypotheses can of course not be valid simultaneously, but both might be valid under certain conditions, at certain times or for certain species.</p><p>In a large-scale semi-field setup, we grow oil seed rape and by combining measures of root development, root hydraulic conductivity, transpiration, stomatal conductance, ABA concentrations and soil water content from a large scale semi-field setup with a mechanistic 3-D root-soil modelling approach (R-SWMS), we are able to us distinguish various scenarios and to evaluate what limits deep water uptake.</p>

scholarly journals Comparing the Deep Root Growth and Water Uptake of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Kernza®) to Alfalfa.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corentin Clement ◽  
Joost Sleiderink ◽  
Simon Fiil Svane ◽  
Abraham George Smith ◽  
Efstathios Diamantopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Perennial Crops ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Deep Root ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Perennial Grain

Abstract AimsWater is the most important yield-limiting factor worldwide and drought is predicted to increase in the future. Perennial crops with more extensive and deep root systems could access deep stored water and build resilience to water shortage. In the context of human nutrition, perennial grain crops are very interesting. However, it is still questionable whether they are effective in using subsoil water. We compared intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) Thinopyrum intermedium, a perennial grain crop, to alfalfa Medicago sativa, a perennial forage, for subsoil root growth and water uptake.MethodsUsing TDR sensors, deuterium tracer labelling, minirhizotrons and the Hydrus-1D model we characterised the root distribution and water uptake patterns of these two perennial crops during two cropping seasons under field conditions down to 2.5 m soil depth.ResultsBoth crops grew roots down to 2.0 m depth that were active in water uptake but alfalfa was deeper rooted than intermediate wheatgrass. All experimental methods concluded that alfalfa used more water from below 1.0 m depth than intermediate wheatgrass. However, simulations predicted that intermediate wheatgrass used more than 20 mm of water after anthesis from below 1 m soil depth. Simulations confirmed the advantage of deep roots in accessing deep soil water under drought.ConclusionsIn regions with high groundwater recharge, growing deep-rooted perennial crops have great potential to exploit deep soil water that is often left unused. However, the road to a profitable perennial grain crop is still long and breeding intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) cultivars for increased root growth at depth seems to be a worthy investment for the development of more drought tolerant cultivars.

Water use strategy of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus community in a drought year on the Mongolian Plateau

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 793-800
Author(s):  
Ya-Juan Zhu ◽  
Guo-Jie Wang ◽  
Zhi-Ming Xin
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Desert Ecosystem ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Mongolian Plateau ◽  
Ammopiptanthus Mongolicus ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Water Use Strategy

Abstract Aims In desert ecosystems, water is a restricting factor for plant growth and vegetation dynamics. The relatively stable water source from deep soil profile or groundwater is important for plant survival during drought. Understanding water use strategy of endangered species, in desert ecosystem is essential for their conservation and restoration such as Ammopiptanthus mongolicus on the Mongolian Plateau. Methods The stable isotope method of δD and δ 18O was used to examine the main water sources of A. mongolicus and two companion shrubs, e.g. Artemisia ordosica and Artemisia xerophytica. The contribution of different water sources to each species was calculated by IsoSource model. Leaf δ 13C was used to compare long-term water use efficiency of three shrubs. Soil moisture and root distribution of three shrubs was measured to explain plant water use strategy. Important Findings The results showed that A. mongolicus relied on groundwater and 150–200 cm deep soil water, with the former contributing to almost half of its total water source. Artemisia ordosica mainly used 150–200 cm deep soil water, but also used shallow soil water within 100 cm in summer and autumn. Artemisia xerophytica mainly used 150–200 cm deep soil water and groundwater, with the latter contributing to about 30%–60% of its total water source. The three shrubs had dimorphic or deep root systems, which are in accord with their water sources. The WUE in the evergreen shrub A. mongolicus was higher than in two deciduous Artemisia shrubs, which may be an adaptive advantage in desert ecosystem. Therefore, groundwater is an important water source for the endangered shrub A. mongolicus in a drought year on Mongolian Plateau. Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and two Artemisia shrubs competed for deep soil water and groundwater.

Responses of grain sorghum to varying irrigation frequency in the Ord irrigation area. II. Evapotranspiration, water use efficiency and root distribution of different cultivars

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJK Myers ◽  
MA Foale ◽  
AA Done
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Unit Length ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
Root Penetration ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Irrigation Area ◽  
Irrigation Interval

Four grain sorghum cultivars (Quicksilver, Texas 610SR, E57 and Q7844), representing early-to-late maturity types, were grown under different irrigation frequencies (7-day, 14-day, 28-day or 42-day intervals or once-only-at-sowing) in the dry season in the Ord Irrigation Area. Soil water distribution, root distribution and evapotranspiration were determined periodically. Frequent irrigation resulted in shallow root development and most water use was from the surface 40 cm of soil. Depth of water extraction increased with plant age and with less frequent irrigation. The depth of root penetration determined by direct measurement was similar to that inferred from soil water profiles. Water uptake per unit length of root was related to soil water content only in the 0-40 cm soil layers. Ea/Ep (actual evapotranspiration/pan evaporation) was classified into three stages according to the degree of soil drying after irrigation. During the first stage, immediately after irrigation, Ea/Ep was generally close to 0.75 irrespective of cultivar, leaf area index (LAI) or irrigation interval. During the second stage, linear functions adequately described Ea/Ep as a function of LA1 for LA1 less than 5. During the third stage, which commenced when total soil water to 1.8 m declined to 545 mm, poor relationships between Ea/Ep. Following an analysis of the soil water use data, it is believed that maximum yields of sorghum may be attainable with irrigation at sowing followed by three carefully timed irrigations.

scholarly journals How Elevated CO2 Shifts Root Water Uptake Pattern of Crop? Lessons from Climate Chamber Experiments and Isotopic Tracing Technique

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3194
Author(s):  
Ying Ma ◽  
Yali Wu ◽  
Xianfang Song
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Root Water Uptake ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Climate Chamber ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Isotopic Tracing ◽  
Soil Water Resources

Root water uptake plays an important role in water transport and carbon cycle among Groundwater–Soil–Plant–Atmosphere–Continuum. The acclimation of crops under elevated carbon dioxide concentrations (eCO2) depends greatly on their capability to exploit soil water resources. Quantifying root water uptake and its relationship with crop growth under eCO2 remains challenging. This study observed maize growth subjected to current CO2 (400 ppm) and eCO2 (700 ppm) treatments via a device combined with a climate chamber and weighing lysimeters. Root water uptake patterns were determined based on the isotopic tracing technique. The main water uptake depth shifted from 0−20 cm under current treatment to 20−40 cm under eCO2 at the seedling growth stage. Maize took up 22.7% and 15.4% more soil water from a main uptake depth of 40−80 cm at jointing and tasseling stages in response to eCO2, respectively. More soil water (8.0%) was absorbed from the 80−140 cm layer at the filling stage under eCO2. Soil water contributions at the main uptake depth during seedling stage were negatively associated with leaf transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and leaf area index (LAI) under both treatments, whereas significant positive correlations in the 40−80 cm layer under current treatment shifted to the 80−140 cm layer by eCO2. Deep soil water benefited to improve Tr, Pn and LAI under both treatments. No significant correlation between soil water contributions in each layer and leaf water use efficiency was induced by eCO2. This study enhanced our knowledge of crop water use acclimation to future eCO2 and provides insights into agricultural water management.

scholarly journals Adapting Root Distribution and Improving Water Use Efficiency via Drip Irrigation in a Jujube (Zizyphus jujube Mill.) Orchard after Long-Term Flood Irrigation

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Zhaoyang Li ◽  
Rui Zong ◽  
Tianyu Wang ◽  
Zhenhua Wang ◽  
Jinzhu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Flood Irrigation ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation Levels

Jujube tree yields in dryland saline soils are restricted by water shortages and soil salinity. Converting traditional flood irrigation to drip irrigation would solve water deficit and salt stress. The root distribution reacts primarily to the availability of water and nutrients. However, there is little information about the response of jujube roots to the change from flood irrigation to drip irrigation. In this context, a two–year experiment was carried out to reveal the effects of the change from long–term flood irrigation to drip irrigation on soil water, root distribution, fruit yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of jujube trees. In this study, drip irrigation amounts were designed with three levels, i.e., 880 mm (W1), 660 mm (W2), 440 mm (W3), and the flood irrigation of 1100 mm was designed as the control (CK). The results showed that replacing flood irrigation with drip irrigation significantly altered soil water distribution and increased soil moisture in the topsoil (0–40 cm). In the drip irrigation treatments with high levels, soil water storage in the 0–60 cm soil layer at the flowering and fruit setting, and fruit swelling stages of jujube trees increased significantly compared with the flood irrigation. After two consecutive years of drip irrigation, the treatments with higher irrigation levels increased root length density (RLD) in 0–60 cm soil depth but decreased that in the 60–100 cm depth. In the horizontal direction, higher irrigation levels increased RLD in the distance of 0–50 cm, while reducing RLD in the distance of 50–100 cm. However, the opposite conclusion was obtained in W3 treatment. Additionally, in the second year of drip irrigation, W2 treatment (660 mm) significantly improved yield and WUE, with an increasing of 7.6% for yield and 60.3% for WUE compared to the flood irrigation. In summary, converting flood irrigation to drip irrigation is useful in regulating root distribution and improving WUE, which would be a promising method in jujube cultivation in arid regions.

Water Relations in Cowpea and Pearl Millet Under Soil Water Deficits. II. Water Use and Root Distribution

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
CL Petrie ◽  
AE Hall
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Distribution ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Predawn Leaf Water Potential

Pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke] develops lower predawn leaf water potentials than cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] when plants are subjected to progressive soil dehydration. Water use and root distribution were studied as possible explanations for this difference using plants grown in pots and in tubes in a glasshouse. In experiments grown in pots, weights of each container were measured daily after initiation of the dry treatment to determine water use, and roots and soil were sampled at the end of the experiment to determine root length density and soil water content. In experiments conducted in 1 m long tubes, plants were grown in either Turface Plus or a Turface Plus/sand mixture which had a high water-holding capacity and could be easily separated from roots. Roots and rooting medium were sampled during the dry treatment. Water content and root length density in the same sample were measured, and root distributions at various depths were determined. Pearl millet (millet) did not use more bulk water than cowpea by the time the difference in predawn leaf water potential developed. Millet root length density was at least twice as great as cowpea, and the decline in predawn leaf water potential was greater in millet, even when its root system was more extensive than that of cowpea.

scholarly journals Diversity did not influence soil water use of tree clusters in a temperate mixed forest

Web Ecology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Meißner ◽  
M. Köhler ◽  
D. Hölscher
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Dry Spell

Abstract. Compared to monocultures, diverse ecosystems are often expected to show more comprehensive resource use. However, with respect to diversity–soil-water-use relationships in forests, very little information is available. We analysed soil water uptake in 100 tree clusters differing in tree species diversity and species composition in the Hainich forest in central Germany. The clusters contained all possible combinations of five broadleaved tree species in one-, two- and three-species clusters (three diversity levels), replicated fourfold (20 one-species, 40 two-species and 40 three-species clusters). We estimated soil water uptake during a summer dry period in 0–0.3 m soil depth, based on throughfall and soil moisture measurements with a simple budgeting approach. Throughout the whole vegetation period in 2009, soil water uptake was additionally determined at a higher temporal resolution and also for a greater part of the soil profile (0–0.7 m) on a subset of 16 intensive clusters. During the dry spell, mean soil water uptake was 1.9 ± 0.1 mm day−1 in 0–0.3 m (100 clusters) and 3.0 ± 0.5 mm day−1 in 0–0.7 m soil depth (16 clusters), respectively. Besides a slightly higher water use of Fraxinus clusters, we could not detect any effects of species identity or diversity on cluster water use. We discuss that water use may indeed be a conservative process, that differences in tree-species-specific traits may be compensated for by other factors such as herb layer coverage and tree spatial arrangement, and that diversity-driven differences in water use may arise only at a larger scale. We further conclude that with respect to stand water use "tree diversity'' alone is not an appropriate simplification of the complex network of interactions between species traits, stand properties and environmental conditions that have varying influence on stand water use, both in space and time.

Water uptake and redistribution during drought in a semiarid shrub species

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iván Prieto ◽  
Francisco I. Pugnaire ◽  
Ronald J. Ryel
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Rain Event ◽  
Plant Water ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Plant Water Use

In arid systems, most plant mortality occurs during long drought periods when water is not available for plant uptake. In these systems, plants often benefit from scarce rain events occurring during drought but some of the mechanisms underlying this water use remain unknown. In this context, plant water use and redistribution after a large rain event could be a mechanism that allows deep-rooted shrubs to conservatively use water during drought. We tested this hypothesis by comparing soil and plant water dynamics in Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle shrubs that either received a rain event (20 mm) or received no water. Soil water content (SWC) increased in shallow layers after the event and increased in deep soil layers through hydraulic redistribution (HR). Our results show that Artemisia shrubs effectively redistributed the water pulse downward recharging deep soil water pools that allowed greater plant water use throughout the subsequent drought period, which ameliorated plant water potentials. Shrubs used shallow water pools when available and then gradually shifted to deep-water pools when shallow water was being used up. Both HR recharge and the shift to shallow soil water use helped conserve deep soil water pools. Summer water uptake in Artemisia not only improved plant water relations but also increased deep soil water availability during drought.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document