scholarly journals Eucalyptus sp. seedling response to potassium fertilization and soil water.

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo César Teixeira ◽  
José Leonardo Moraes Gonçalves ◽  
José Carlos Arthur Junior ◽  
Cleci Dezordi

A considerable portion of Brazil‘s commercial eucalypt plantations is located in areas subjected to periods of water deficit and grown in soils with low natural fertility, particularly poor in potassium. Potassium is influential in controlling water relations of plants. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of potassium fertilization and soil water potential (Ψw) on the dry matter production and on water relations of eucalypt seedlings grown under greenhouse conditions. The experimental units were arranged in 4x4x2 randomized blocks factorial design, as follow: four species of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus urophylla, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and hybrid Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla), four dosages of K (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg dm-3) and two soil water potentials (-0.01MPa and -0.1 MPa). Plastic containers with 15 cm diameter and 18 cm height, with Styrofoam base, containing 3.0 dm3 of soil and two plants per container were used. Soil water potential was kept at -0.01MPa for 40 days after seeding. Afterward, the experimental units were divided into two groups: in one group the potential was kept at -0.01MPa, and in the other one, at -0.10 MPa. Soil water potential was controlled gravimetrically twice a day with water replacement until the desired potential was reestablished. A week before harvesting, the leaf water potential (Ψ), the photosynthetic rate (A), the stomatal conductance (gs) and the transpiration rate were evaluated. The last week before harvesting, the mass of the containers was recorded daily before watering to determine the consumption of water by the plants. After harvesting, total dry matter and leaf area were evaluated. The data were submitted to analysis of variance, to Tukey's tests and regression analyses. The application of K influenced A, gs and the transpiration rate. Plants deficient in K showed lower A and higher gs and transpiration rates. There were no statistical differences in A, gs and transpiration rates in plants with and without water deficit. The addition of K reduced the consumption of water per unit of leaf area and, in general, plants submitted to water deficit presented a lower consumption of water.

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Jensen ◽  
IE Henson ◽  
NC Turner

Plants of Lupinus cosentinii Guss. cv. Eregulla were grown in a sandy soil in large containers in a glasshouse and exposed to drought by withholding water. Under these conditions stomatal closure had previously been shown to be initiated before a significant reduction in leaf water potential was detected. In the experiments reported here, no significant changes were found in water potential or turgor pressure of roots or leaves when a small reduction in soil water potential was induced which led to a 60% reduction in leaf conductance. The decrease in leaf conductance and root water uptake closely paralleled the fraction of roots in wet soil. By applying observed data of soil water and root characteristics, and root water uptake for whole pots in a single-root model, the average water potential at the root surface was calculated. Potential differences for water transport in the soil-plant system, and the resistances to water flow were estimated using the 'Ohm's Law' analogy for water transport. Soil resistance was negligible or minor, whereas the root resistance accounted for 61-72% and the shoot resistance accounted for about 30% of the total resistance. The validity of the measurements and calculations is discussed and the possible role of root- to-shoot communication raised.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
H. C. Pringle, III ◽  
L. L. Falconer ◽  
D. K. Fisher ◽  
L. J. Krutz

Abstract. Irrigated acreage is expanding and groundwater supplies are decreasing in the Mississippi Delta. Efficient irrigation scheduling of soybean [ (L.) Merr] will aid in conservation efforts to sustain groundwater resources. The objective of this study was to develop irrigation initiation recommendations for soybean grown on Mississippi Delta soils. Field studies were conducted on a deep silty clay (SiC) in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 and on a deep silty clay loam (SiCL) and deep silt loam (SiL) or loam (L) soil in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Irrigation was initiated multiple times during the growing season and soybean yield and net return were determined to evaluate the effectiveness of each initiation timing. Growth stage, soil water potential (SWP), and soil water deficit (SWD) were compared at these initiation timings to determine which parameter or combination of parameters consistently predicted the resulting greatest yields and net returns. Stress conditions that reduce yield can occur at any time from late vegetative stages to full seed on these deep soils. The wide range of trigger values found for SWP and SWD to increase yields in different years emphasizes the complexity of irrigation scheduling. Monitoring soil moisture by itself or use of a single trigger value is not sufficient to optimize irrigation scheduling to maximize soybean yield with the least amount of water every year on these soils. Monitoring one or more parameters (e.g., leaf water potential, canopy temperature, air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind) is needed in conjunction with soil moisture to directly or indirectly quantify the abiotic stresses on the plant to better define when a yield reducing stress is occurring. Keywords: Irrigation initiation, Irrigation scheduling, Soil water deficit, Soil water potential, Soybean, Water conservation.


1978 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Gregory ◽  
M. McGowan ◽  
P. V. Biscoe

SummaryVolumetric soil water content and soil water potential were measured beneath a winter wheat crop during the 1975 growing season. Almost no rain fell between mid-May and mid-July and the soil dried continuously until the potential was less than – 20 bars to a depth of 80 cm. Evaporation was separated from drainage by denning an ‘effective rooting depth’ at which the hydraulic gradient was zero.Rates of water uptake per unit length of root (inflow) were calculated for the whole soil profile and for individual soil layers. Generally, inflow decreased throughout the period of measurement from a maximum of 2·5 × 10–3 to a minimum of 0·66 × 10–3 ml water/cm root/day. Values in individual layers were frequently higher than the mean inflow and the importance of a few deep roots in taking up water during a dry season is emphasized. A similar correlation between inflow and soil water potential was found to apply for the 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm layers during the period of continual soil drying. This relationship represents the maximum inflow measured at a given soil water potential; actual inflow at any particular time depends upon the interrelationship of atmospheric demand, soil water potential and the distribution of root length in the soil.


HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 795-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana L. Baumann ◽  
Beth Ann Workmaster ◽  
Kevin R. Kosola

Wisconsin cranberry growers report that fruit production by the cranberry cultivar `Ben Lear' (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is low in beds with poor drainage, while the cultivar `Stevens' is less sensitive to these conditions. We hypothesized that `Ben Lear' and `Stevens' would differ in their root growth and mortality response to variation in soil water potential. Rooted cuttings of each cultivar were grown in a green-house in sand-filled pots with three different soil water potentials which were regulated by a hanging water column below a fritted ceramic plate. A minirhizotron camera was used to record root growth and mortality weekly for five weeks. Root mortality was negligible (2% to 6%). Whole plant relative growth rates were greatest for both cultivars under the wettest conditions. Rooting depth was shallowest under the wettest conditions. Whole-plant relative growth rates of `Ben Lear' were higher than `Stevens' at all soil water potentials. `Stevens' plants had significantly higher root to shoot ratios and lower leaf area ratios than `Ben Lear' plants, and produced more total root length than `Ben Lear' at all soil water potentials. Shallow rooting, high leaf area ratio, and low allocation to root production by `Ben Lear' plants may lead to greater susceptibility to drought stress than `Stevens' plants in poorly drained cranberry beds.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C. SILVA JR. ◽  
C.G. GONÇALVES ◽  
M.C. SCARANO ◽  
M.R.R. PEREIRA ◽  
D. MARTINS

ABSTRACT: The action of herbicides on weeds that develop under water deficit can be compromised, because the routes of penetration of hydrophilic herbicides are reduced due to the lower hydration of the cuticle in these plants. Moreover, hydrophobic compounds found in the epicuticular wax coating of plants under water stress, hinder the penetration of hydrophilic compounds. This study evaluated the control efficiency of glyphosate on guineagrass plants when submitted to different water deficits. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, and treatments were composed of guineagrass plants submitted to three soil water conditions [low water deficit (13%), intermediate water deficit (10%) and high water restriction (8%)], three doses of glyphosate (0.0, 270.0 and 540.0 g ha-1) and two phenological stages of plant development (4-6 leaves and 1-3 tillers). The water management started when plants presented two developed leaves. Visual evaluations were performed 7, 14, 21 and 35 days after the application of the herbicide; the morpho-physiological parameters of the specific leaf area, stomatal conductance and the difference between the environment temperature and the leaf temperature on the day of the herbicide application were also analyzed at the end of the study, as well as the dry matter of shoot and root. With the increase of the water restriction, there was a decrease in the analyzed morpho-physiological parameters, as well as in the dry matter accumulation of the shoot and roots of the studied plants. Plant control was more efficient when a 540 g ha-1 dose of glyphosate was applied, and when they were controlled at their vegetative stage of 1-3 tiller, and with a water management of 13%. It is possible to state that guineagrass under water restriction have less control efficacy when treated with glyphosate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Elena Mania ◽  
Valentina Andreoli ◽  
Silvia Cavalletto ◽  
Claudio Cassardo ◽  
Silvia Guidoni

The knowledge at site level of meteorological and environmental variables involved in vine vegetative development and in grape maturation process is not enough to perceive the plant behaviour in a heterogeneous agro-system such as a vineyard. A useful support for winegrowers decision-making arises from the use of crop growth models able to simulate physiological processes that occur in the atmosphere-plant-soil interface. The study was conducted, during the 2016 and 2017 season, in a Nebbiolo vineyard equipped with ‘above’ and ‘below’ the canopy meteorological sensors. Meteorological measures, soil characteristics and vineyards features were used as input of the VICMOTO model developed to simulate phenological phases, leaf area and grape yield development, water available for the plant in the soil vine water status and berry sugar accumulation. Specific field surveys were used to calibrate and validate the numerical model. VICMOTO showed quite good performance in simulating phenological phases, sugar accumulation and yield, while vine leaf area and soil water potential are less accurate. The calibration and validation of VICMOTO requires measurements to be carried out on different sites and years. In order to obtain a better agreement between simulations and measures, it might be appropriate to modify the parameters and algorithms related to vegetative development and soil water potential.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Palta ◽  
Z. Plaut

The effect of transient water deficits on seed yield and components of seed yield of narrow-leafed lupin was measured in plants grown in a controlled environment under simulated field conditions. Lupins were grown in large columns of soil and transient water deficits were induced at pod set on the mainstem and first-order apical branches by withholding water for a 5-day period. Soil water content, leaf water potential, turgor pressure, and leaf conductance declined similarly during each period of transient water deficit. Differences in these parameters were apparent 2 days after water was withheld, and over the 5-day period, leaf water potential declined to −1.3 MPa and leaf conductance fell to 44% of the well-watered controls. Total dry matter per plant was reduced by the transient water deficit treatments. The reduction resulted from less accumulation of dry matter on the first, second, and third order apical branches. Leaf area on these branches was also reduced by abscission of the leaves after the water deficit was released. Seed yield per plant after each period of transient water deficit was reduced by 30–33%, relative to the well-watered controls. The reduction was largely due to a reduction in seed yield on the branches, mainly because they had fewer pods and seeds per pod. Seed dry weight and harvest index were not significantly affected by each period of transient water deficit. We conclude that differences in final seed yield between the well- watered controls and the transient water deficit treatments resulted from differences in pod number and seeds per pod. Low dry matter accumulation and reduction in leaf area on the first- and second-order apical branches under the transient water deficit were associated with the differences. Whereas the differences in pod number generated differences in the size of the reproductive sink, the differences in leaf area generated differences in the source capacity for assimilates for pod set and pod-filling.


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