Lower limit of available water for three plant species grown on a medium-textured soil in southwestern Saskatchewan

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Cutforth ◽  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
C. A. Campbell

Numerous researchers estimate and report laboratory-determined lower limit of available water contents using −1.5 MPa water potentials. For medium-textured soils, laboratory-measured lower limits should be determined at potentials of at least −4 MPa, and possibly −10 MPa, when using pressure membrane procedures. However, because the lower limit of available water is dependent upon environmental, plant and soil factors, we agree with Ratliff et al. (1983) that field-measured lower limits are preferable to laboratory-measured lower limits. Field-measured lower limits of available water did not vary markedly between spring wheat, alfalfa and grass. Key words: Lower limit of available water, wheat, alfalfa, grass

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Guobin ◽  
DR Kemp ◽  
GB Liu

The effect of water stress during summer and recovery after rain on herbage accumulation, leaf growth components, stomatal conductance and leaf water relations of white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv. Australian Commercial) was studied in an established mixed pasture under dryland (dry) or irrigated (wet) conditions. Soil water deficits under dry conditions reached 150 mm and soil water potentials in the top 20 cm declined to nearly -2 MPa after 50 days of dry weather. Water stress severely restricted growth of both species but then after rain fell, white clover growth rates exceeded those of phalaris. Under irrigation, white clover produced twice the herbage mass of phalaris but under dry conditions herbage production was similar from both species. Leaf appearance rates per tiller or stolon were slightly higher for white clover than phalaris but were reduced by 20% under water stress in both species. Leaf or petiole extension rates were more sensitive to water stress than leaf appearance rates and declined by 75% in phalaris and 90% in white clover. The ratio of leaf or petiole extension rates on dry/wet treatments was similar for both species in relation to leaf relative water contents, but in relation to leaf water potentials phalaris maintained higher leaf growth rates. Phalaris maintained a higher leaf relative water content in relation to leaf water potentials than did white clover and also maintained higher leaf water potentials in relation to the soil water potential in the top 20 cm. Stomata1 conductances for both species declined by 80-90% with increasing water stress, and both species showed similar stomatal responses to bulk leaf water potentials and leaf relative water contents. It is suggested that the poorer performance of white clover under water stress may be due principally to a shallower root system than phalaris and not due to any underlying major physiological differences. The white clover cultivar used in this study came from the mediterranean region and showed some different responses to water stress than previously published evidence on white clover. This suggests genetic variation in responses to water stress may exist within white clover. To maintain white clover in a pasture under dry conditions it is suggested that grazing practices aim to retain a high proportion of growing points.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-592
Author(s):  
C. R. DE KIMPE ◽  
M. R. LAVERDIERE ◽  
R. W. BARIL

Acid sulfate soils were sampled according to the transect method in four bays along the south shore of the St. Lawrence river to determine their properties in their area of distribution. In each bay, six profiles of cultivated soils were sampled along a transect perpendicular to the river. One non-cultivated profile was also sampled at l'Isle-Verte. The lower limit of the B horizons, between 79 and 89 cm, suggested a homogeneous development of these soils across the area. Most profiles contained jarosite in the lower Bg and, sometimes, in the C horizons; this mineral was absent in the upper part of the profiles of soils that had been limed prior to cultivation. Total S content increased with depth, but only a few horizons had a content > 0.75% presumably because of sulfate leaching once the soils were drained. Organic C content in the de l'Anse soils decreased less rapidly with depth than in other gleysolic soils, because vegetation grew while sediments were being deposited. Key words: Acid sulfate soils, total S, recent marine sediments, jarosite


1970 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Manhas ◽  
M. K. Gautam ◽  
Deepa Kumari

In swamp distribution, dominance and survival of a species is very much governed by the soil moisture and period of flooding. The present study was conducted to classify the communities and plant species, and to have an idea about various associations of plants present in the swamp with respect to soil moisture. Two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) classified the communities into four and plant species into eleven groups. The communities with least soil moisture were the first to be segregated and with highest soil moisture last. Similarly, the species growing in drier condition was clustered separately from the moisture loving indigenous species. Key words: TWINSPAN; vegetation; inland wetland; India DOI: 10.3126/jowe.v3i0.2433 Journal of Wetlands Ecology, (2009) Vol. 3, pp 23-31


2002 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petar Gogic

The objective of the study was to determine the limits of economic justification for irrigation system capacity use. The first step was focused on determining the lower limit of capacity use by comparing the economic effects of irrigation with the costs of the irrigation system use. In addition, while determining these limits the need was stressed to consider the economic effects of irrigation by optimizing the production structure and the modes for limit determination under irrigation and non-irrigation conditions. Eventually, the empirically verified possibility stating that this limit may be determined by comparing the water processing prices with its cost price is given. The limit was found to be the point at which these two prices equalize.


2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Akhter ◽  
K. Mahmood ◽  
K.A. Malik ◽  
A. Mardan ◽  
M. Ahmad ◽  
...  

The hydrogel amendments may improve seedling growth and establishment by increasing water retention capacity of soils and regulating the plants available water supplies, particularly under arid environments. The effects of different levels of a locally prepared hydrogel were studied on the moisture properties of sandy loam and loam soils (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Haplargids, USDA, Luvic Yermosol, FAO) and on growth response of three plant species, viz. barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Water absorption by gel was rapid and highest in distilled water and was inhibited by an increase in water salinity. The addition of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% hydrogel increased the moisture retention (θr) at field capacity linearly (r = 0.988) and thus the amount of plant available water significantly in both sandy loam and loam soils compared to the untreated soils. Seed germination of wheat and barley was not affected but seedling growth of both species was improved by the gel amendment. In loam soil, seed germination of chickpea was higher with 0.2% gel and seedling growth increased with increase in gel level compared with control conditions. The hydrogel amendment caused a delay by 4–5 days in wilting of seedlings grown in both soils compared with control conditions. The hydrogel amendment was effective in improving soil moisture availability and thus increased plant establishment. However, the varied responses of plant species in sandy loam and loam soils warrant further studies on the behaviour of different soil types with gel amendments.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. DE JONG ◽  
J. A. SHIELDS

Available water-holding capacity (AWC) maps of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were derived from Soil Landscape maps (1:1 million scale) by substituting AWC classes for soil textural classes. The maps provide information required for the geographical interpretation of soil water and crop modelling analyses. Key words: Available water-holding capacity, maps, texture


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 2163-2167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Atzet ◽  
R. H. Waring

Spectroradiometric analyses were made to examine the light-filtering capacity of coniferous forests and to establish the lower limits of light energy for growth of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Abies concolor (Gord. and Glend.) Lindl., and Pinns ponderosa Dougl. Light energy (400–750 nm) was recorded periodically on clear days in June and July at 48 points under four mixed conifer stands and segregated into four spectral bands (blue, 400–450; green, 500–550; red, 650–700; far-red, 700–750 nm). Minor changes in the proportion of light in one band to that in another occur throughout the day, but in general the 400- to 700-nm range appears rather uniformly absorbed by a coniferous forest canopy. Averaged for an entire day, only the far-red band showed a significant proportional increase under a coniferous canopy compared to unfiltered sunlight.The relation between the energy received in each of the spectral bands and the total recorded in the 400- to 700-nm range was linear. The sampled canopies transmitted up to 25% of full sunlight. Beneath the canopies, the ratio of blue to total energy (400–700 nm) was 0.1540. Green, red, and far-red had ratios of 0.1853, 0.1220, and 0.1207.Terminal growth of 34 seedlings was measured at the light-sampling points to provide a means of establishing lower limits of light energy for survival. The lower limit for Abies and Pseudotsuga was 1.85 langleys (ly) per day (400–700 nm). Pinus grew only where the light energy exceeded 36.8 ly/day.An interaction with moisture appears to influence the minimum requirements for light energy of a species. Where moisture was adequate throughout the growing season, the lower limit of light for Pseudotsuga seedling establishment was 1.85 ly/day; where moisture became limiting, the minimum light requirement increased to 6.64 ly/day.


2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (07) ◽  
pp. 1321-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOÃO VITAL CUNHA ◽  
ROSE CLÍVIA SANTOS

We investigate some observational constraints on decaying vacuum cosmologies based on the recently discovered old high redshift quasar APM 08279+5255. This object is located at z=3.91 and has an estimated age of 2–3 Gyr. The class of Λ(t) cosmologies is characterized by a positive β parameter smaller than unity which quantifies the ratio between the vacuum and the total energy density. Assuming the lower limit age (2 Gyr) and that the cold dark matter contributes with Ω M =0.2 we show that β is constrained to be ≥0.07 while for an age of 3 Gyr and Ω M =0.4 the β parameter must be greater than 0.32. Our analysis includes closed, flat and hyperbolic scenarios, and it strongly suggests that there is no age crisis for this kind of Λ(t) cosmologies. Lower limits to the redshift quasar formation are also briefly discussed to the flat case. For Ω M =0.4 we found that the redshift formation is constrained by zf≥8.0.


1966 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Bourget ◽  
B. J. Finn ◽  
B. K. Dow

Young seedlings of flax and cereals, grown in a greenhouse, were subjected to 0, 12.5, and 25.0 cm of soil moisture tension for periods of 7, 14, and 21 days The grain, straw, and root yields of all plant species, except barky, increased with increasing soil moisture content was maintained near field capacity during the growth of plants. The yields of oats, winter wheat, and fall rye decreased with increasing duration of flooding, whereas those of barley, flax and spring wheat were variable. Correlation coefficients between yields of tops and roots were positive.


2018 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 248-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Angiolini ◽  
Gianmaria Bonari ◽  
Marco Landi

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