The effect of Bradyrhizobium inoculation and Kelpak application on plant growth, symbiotic performance and water-use efficiency of 18 cowpea genotypes grown in the field at Marapyane, South Africa

Agronomic biofortification of horticultural crops using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) under crop residue incorporation systems remains largely underexploited. Bacillus subtilis (B1), Bacillus laterosporus (B2), or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (B3) was inoculated on soil containing chili residue, while chili residue without PGPR (NP) served as the control. Two hybrid long cayenne peppers, succeeding a leaf mustard crop were used in the intensive cultivation study. Net photosynthesis, leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic water use efficiency, shoot and root biomass, and fruit yield were evaluated. Derivatives of folate, minerals, and nitrate contents in the pepper fruits were also assessed. B1 elicited higher net photosynthesis and photosynthetic water use efficiency, while B2 and B3 had higher transpiration rates than B1 and NP. B1 and B3 resulted in 27–36% increase in pepper fruit yield compared to other treatments, whereas B3 produced 24–27.5% and 21.9–27.2% higher 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and total folate contents, respectively, compared to B1 and NP. However, chili residue without PGPR inoculation improved fruit calcium, magnesium, and potassium contents than the inoculated treatments. ‘Xin Xian La 8 F1’ cultivar had higher yield and plant biomass, fruit potassium, total soluble solids, and total folate contents compared to ‘La Gao F1.’ Agronomic biofortification through the synergy of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and chili residue produced better yield and folate contents with a trade-off in the mineral contents of the greenhouse-grown long cayenne pepper.

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Evaluation Effects of Different Planting Systems on Water Use Efficiency, Relative Water Content and some Plant Growth Parameters in Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb213565 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 88-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mousa IZADKHAH ◽

Mehdi TAJBAKHSH ◽

Abdollah HASANZADEH GORATTEPH

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Allium Cepa ◽

Relative Water Content ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Allium Cepa L ◽

Relative Water ◽

Use Efficiency

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Water use efficiency, photosynthesis and plant growth of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.): a glasshouse experiment

Acta Physiologiae Plantarum ◽

10.1007/s11738-018-2795-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stella Lovelli ◽

Maria Valerio ◽

Tim D. Phillips ◽

Mariana Amato

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Salvia Hispanica ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Glasshouse Experiment ◽

Salvia Hispanica L

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Analysis of virtual water flows associated with the trade of maize in the SADC region: importance of scale

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-13-1967-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1967-1977 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

J. M. Dabrowski ◽

E. Masekoameng ◽

P. J. Ashton

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Content ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Virtual Water ◽

Blue Water ◽

Maize Production ◽

Water Flows ◽

Use Efficiency

Abstract. The concept of virtual water encourages a country to view agricultural crops in terms of the amount of water required to produce those crops, with a view to implementing trading policies that promote the saving of scarce water resources. Recently, increased attention has focussed on partitioning the virtual water content of crops into green and blue water (derived from rainfall and irrigation, respectively) as the latter has higher opportunity costs associated with its use and therefore impacts directly on scarcity. Maize is the most important crop traded within the SADC region. South Africa is the largest producer and exporter of maize, with the majority of its exports destined for other SADC countries. In comparison to other SADC countries, South Africa produces maize relatively efficiently, with a low virtual water content and a high green (868 m3 t−1) to blue (117 m3 t−1) water ratio. The blue water content is however higher than for maize produced in all other SADC countries, with the exception of Namibia (211 m3 t−1). Current trade patterns therefore result in a net expenditure of blue water (66×106 m3), almost all of which is exported by South Africa (65×106 m3). South Africa is one of the most water scarce countries in the region and analysis of virtual water flows indicates that current SADC maize trading patterns are influenced by national productivity as opposed to water scarcity. The virtual water content of maize was estimated for each of South Africa's nineteen Water Management Area's (WMA) and used as a proxy to represent water use efficiency for maize production. The virtual water content varied widely across all of the WMAs, ranging from 360 m3 t−1 in the Ustutu Mhlatuze to 1000 m3 t−1 in the Limpopo. A comparison of the virtual water content and production of maize (expressed as a percentage of the total national production) identified those WMAs where maize production is highly water inefficient (e.g. Lower Orange and Limpopo WMAs). Results suggest that, while a national estimate of the virtual water content of a crop may indicate a relatively efficient use of water, an analysis of the virtual water content at smaller scales can reveal inefficient use of water for the same crop. Therefore, analysis of the virtual water content of crops and trading of agricultural products at different spatial scales (i.e. regional, national and WMA) could be an important consideration within the context of water allocation, water use efficiency and alleviation of water scarcity.

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Increasing water use efficiency of irrigated sugarcane production in South Africa through better agronomic practices

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2015.02.010 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 176 ◽

pp. 87-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Francois C. Olivier ◽

Abraham Singels

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Sugarcane Production ◽

Agronomic Practices ◽

Use Efficiency

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Soil water regimes of rotationally grazed perennial and annual forages

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s99-027 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 627-637 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

D. A. Twerdoff ◽

D. S. Chanasyk ◽

M. A. Naeth ◽

V. S. Baron ◽

E. Mapfumo

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Management Practices ◽

Grazing Intensity ◽

Water Dynamics ◽

Research Station ◽

Grazing Intensities ◽

Use Efficiency

To maintain a sustainable agricultural system, management practices such as grazing must ensure adequate soil water for plant growth, yet minimize the risk of soil erosion. The objective of this study was to characterize the soil water regime of perennial and annual forages under three grazing intensities (heavy, medium and light). The study was conducted at the Lacombe Research Station, Alberta, on an Orthic Black Chernozem of loam to silt loam texture. The forages used were smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis L. 'Carlton'), meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius L. 'Paddock'), a mixture of triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack 'Pika') and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'AC Lacombe') and triticale. Soil water measurements were conducted between April and October of 1994 and 1995 using a neutron scattering hydroprobe to a depth of 90 cm. Surface (0–7.5 cm) soil water was more responsive to grazing intensity than soil water accumulated to various depths. For all grazing treatments and forages, both surface soil water and accumulated soil water generally fluctuated between field capacity and wilting point during the growing season. Although plant water status was not determined, no visual permanent wilting of forages was observed during the study. Differences in evapotranspiration (ET), as determined by differences in soil water were evident among forage species but not grazing intensities, with perennials having high ET in spring and annuals having high ET in summer. Estimated values of water-use efficiency (WUE) were greater for perennials than for annuals and grazing effects on WUE were minimal. From a management perspective, grazing of annuals and perennials altered soil water dynamics but still maintained adequate soil water for plant growth. Key words: Evapotranspiration, forages, grazing intensity, water-use efficiency

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