The Field Pea Crop in South Western Australia - Patterns of Water Use and Root Growth in Genotypes of Contrasting Morphology and Growth Habit

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
EL Armstrong ◽  
JS Pate ◽  
D Tennant

Root development and seasonal water use of six field pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes were studied in a water-limited field environment (Wongan Hills) and in freely watered glasshouse-cultured plants (Perth, WA). From 80-97% of root biomass of the genotypes at peak vegetative growth in the field was located within 20 cm of the soil surface. Roots of one genotype (Wirrega) extended deeper and extracted soil moisture reserves to 2 m, i.e. some 40 cm below that of the other genotypes. Peak evapotranspiration rates (2.7-3.0 mm d-1) were attained in the field at or just beyond flowering after which water consumption decreased sharply parallel with increasing moisture stress and declining green area. By contrast, glasshouse-grown plants increased steadily in cumulative transpiration well into fruiting. Judging from cumulative evaporation and dry matter at peak biomass, field crops of the fully leaved genotypes (Dundale, Wirrega and Progreta) showed significantly better water-use efficiency than the three semi-leafless genotypes (Dinkum, L82 and L80). Effectiveness of water usage was also assessed from regressions of dry matter production against cumulative evapotranspiration (field material), gravimetric measures of transpiration loss versus dry matter gain (glasshouse plants) and 13C isotopic discrimination of shoots of glasshouse-grown plants. All three comparisons showed the tall conventional types (Dundale and Wirrega) to be superior to the four semi-dwarfs. Data are discussed in relation to previous studies of the water-use economy of field pea and other grain crops.

1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 815 ◽  
Author(s):  
GC Wright ◽  
KT Hubick ◽  
GD Farquhar

Variation in water-use efficiency (W, g of total dry matter produced/kg water used), and its correlation with cultivar isotope discrimination in leaves (Δ) was assessed in peanut plants grown in small canopies in the field. Plants were grown in separate minilysimeters that were both embedded in the ground and positioned above the crop. Differences among cultivars were found in W and � and the relationship between W and Δ was compared for plants grown in open and closed canopies. Genetic variability in W in plants grown in the field under non-limiting water conditions was demonstrated, with Tifton-8, of Virginia habit, having the highest W (3.71 g/kg) and Rangkasbitung, an Indonesian cultivar of Spanish habit, the lowest (2.46 g/ kg). Variability in W was due to variation in total dry matter production more than that of water use. A strong negative correlation was found between Δ and W, and also between Δ and total dry matter. The relationship between whole plant W, including roots, and Δ was stronger than that between shoot W, without roots and Δ. The improvement occurred because of variation among cultivars in the root to shoot ratio. This highlights the importance of taking account of root dry matter in studies concerning W. There were significant differences in W and Δ between plants in pots above-ground compared to pots in the ground, with above-ground plants having significantly lower values of both W and Δ. The ranking of W and Δ among cultivars was not affected by the contrast in environment, which suggests these parameters are under strong genetic control. Total above-ground dry matter yield at maturity was negatively correlated with Δ, while pod yield was not. It appears a negative association between harvest index and Δ may exist; however not all cultivars used in this and other studies follow this response. Both water-use efficiency, Wand total dry matter production are negatively correlated with Δ in leaves of peanut plants grown in small canopies in the field. Measurement of Δ may prove a useful trait for selecting cultivars with improved W and total dry matter yield under field conditions.


1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. McGowan ◽  
H. M. Taylor ◽  
J. Willingham

SUMMARYGrain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was grown in Texas in 1985 at a constant population density of c. 6·6 plants/m2 in rows 0·5, 1·0 and 1·5 m apart and with the soil profile at field capacity at planting time. Dry matter production and yield were least at the widest spacing, principally because of a reduction in number of tillers. Dry matter accumulation was in direct proportion to the amount of light intercepted and largely independent of spacing between rows, with a conversion coefficient of 1·71 g dry matter/MJ energy intercepted. The most widely spaced crop used less water but not in proportion to the extent that ground cover was reduced. Water use efficiency was also less in the most widely spaced crop, probably because of heat advection from the bare soil between rows.


Científica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Wellington Mezzomo ◽  
Marcia Xavier Peiter ◽  
Adroaldo Dias Robaina ◽  
Jardel Henrique Kirchner ◽  
Rogério Ricalde Torres ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 2260-2271 ◽  
Author(s):  
郑成岩 ZHENG Chengyan ◽  
于振文 YU Zhenwen ◽  
张永丽 ZHANG Yongli ◽  
王东 WANG Dong ◽  
石玉 SHI Yu ◽  
...  

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 987 ◽  
Author(s):  
RE Holloway ◽  
AM Alston

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Warigal) was grown in a glasshouse in deep pots (0.125 x 0.125 x 1.2 m) containing sieved solonized brown soil (calcixerollic xerochrept) comprising 0.2 m sandy loam topsoil above 0.6 m treated calcareous sandy loam subsoil and a base layer of light clay 0.26 m thick. The subsoil was treated with a mixture of salts (0, 13, 39, 75 mmolc kg-1) and with boric acid (0, 20, 38 and 73 mg B kg-1) in factorial combination. The soil was initially watered to field capacity and water use was determined by regularly weighing the pots. The soil was allowed to dry gradually during the season, but the weights of the pots were not permitted to fall below that corresponding to 17% of the available water holding capacity of the soil. Tillering, dry weight of shoots and grain, and root length density were determined. Water-use efficiency was calculated with respect to total dry weight and grain production. Salt decreased tillering, dry matter production, grain yield, root length and water-use efficiency (total dry weight): it increased sodium and decreased boron concentrations in the plants. Boron decreased dry matter production (but not tillering), grain yield, root length and water-use efficiency (total dry weight and grain yield): it increased the concentrations of boron and decreased the concentration of sodium in the plants. At the concentrations of salt and boron used (which cover the range normally encountered in subsoils in much of Upper Eyre Peninsula), boron had more deleterious effects on wheat than did salt. Yield was depressed by salt at concentrations of sodium in the tissue commonly found in field-grown plants.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Lewis ◽  
N Thurling

Representative lines of Brassica napus, B. campestris, and B. juncea were compared at East Beverley in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia on the basis of agronomic and physiological characters known to affect seed yield. Seed yield of B. juncea line 81794 was 32% higher than the locally adapted B. napus cv. Wesbrook (76 g/m2). Yields of B. napus cv. Eureka and the 2 B. campestris populations were not significantly different from Wesbrook and were lower than 81794. The higher yield of 81794 was due to higher dry matter production, particularly after first open flower. Yield superiority of 81794 was not associated with any single yield component. Under the water-stressed conditions of this experiment, seed yield had a strong positive correlation with dry matter production after first open flower. Differences in dry matter production during this period were due to variation in crop growth rates among the lines, not to variations in duration of the period. There was no relationship between flowering time and seed yield in this experiment, suggesting earlier reproductive development is not obligatory for high yield of oilseed Brassicas in low rainfall mediterranean environments. Total water use throughout the season differed little among populations, but there were differences in water use patterns over time. The greater rate of dry matter accumulation of 81794 is due to its ability to extract more water from the soil profile after anthesis; postanthesis water use of 81794 was 20% higher than that of Wesbrook. Water use efficiency of 81794 was also higher than that of Wesbrook, because soil evaporation comprised a smaller proportion of evapotranspiration. Further increases in seed yield of oilseed brassicas in this environment should be possible if higher postanthesis water use could be combined with lower soil evaporation and improved water use efficiency.


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