Effect of deficit irrigation and growing seasons on plant water status, fruit yield and water use efficiency of squash under saline soil

Plant and soil water status, crop water use and water use efficiency, as affected by irrigation treatment, were monitored over two seasons for soybean cv. Ross, sown in the late wet season in the Ord Irrigation Area in north Western Australia. Irrigation treatments were, in both seasons, furrow irrigation after cumulative open pan evaporative losses of 30, 60 120 and 240 mm, and in the second year, an additional treatment, saturated soil culture (continuous furrow irrigation, analogous to irrigation after 0 mm pan evaporation). As expected, during periods of strong evaporative demand plant water status, as indicated by leaf water potential and leaf conductance of water vapour, was consistently greater in the more frequently irrigated treatments, while soil water depletion occurred to greater extent and depth in the less frequently irrigated treatments. However, total soil water use was directly proportional to crop growth, so that there was little evidence that water use efficiency was enhanced by restricting water supply in this environment. Indeed, efficiency of water use even under the continuous furrow irrigation system was comparable with that from other irrigation treatments. The responses are interpreted to imply that there is unlikely to be any economic advantage to the use of limited supplemental irrigation in this environment.

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Influence of tree shade on plant water status, gas exchange, and water use efficiency of Panicum maximum Jacq. and Themeda triandra Forsk. in a Kenya savanna

African Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2028.1995.tb00787.x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 114-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J. I. KINYAMARIO ◽

M. J. TRLICA ◽

T. J. NJOKA

Keyword(s):

Gas Exchange ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Status ◽

Plant Water Status ◽

Panicum Maximum ◽

Plant Water ◽

Themeda Triandra ◽

Use Efficiency

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Effect of drip deficit irrigation and soil mulching on growth of common bean plant, water use efficiency and soil salinity

Scientia Horticulturae ◽

10.1016/j.scienta.2017.07.007 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 225 ◽

pp. 235-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M.H. Abd El-Wahed ◽

G.A. Baker ◽

M.M. Ali ◽

Fatma A. Abd El-Fattah

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Common Bean ◽

Water Use ◽

Soil Salinity ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Bean Plant ◽

Plant Water ◽

Common Bean Plant ◽

Plant Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency

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Deficit Irrigation and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza as a Water-Saving Strategy for Eggplant Production

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae6030045 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. A. Badr ◽

W. A. El-Tohamy ◽

S. D. Abou-Hussein ◽

N. S. Gruda

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Physiological Status ◽

Full Irrigation ◽

Continuous Irrigation ◽

Dry Biomass ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Lower Tolerance

Crop production in arid regions requires continuous irrigation to fulfill water demand throughout the growing season. Agronomic measures, such as roots-soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, have emerged in recent years to overcome soil constraints and improve water use efficiency (WUE). Eggplant plants were exposed to varying water stress under inoculated (AM+) and non-inoculated (AM−) to evaluate yield performance along with plant physiological status. Plants grown under full irrigation resulted in the highest fruit yield, and there were significant reductions in total yield and yield components when applying less water. The decline in fruit yield was due to the reduction in the number of fruits rather than the weight of the fruit per plant. AM+ plants showed more favorable growth conditions, which translated into better crop yield, total dry biomass, and number of fruits under all irrigation treatments. The fruit yield did not differ between full irrigation and 80% evapotranspiration (ET) restoration with AM+, but a 20% reduction in irrigation water was achieved. Water use efficiency (WUE) was negatively affected by deficit irrigation, particularly at 40% ET, when the water deficit severely depressed fruit yield. Yield response factor (Ky) showed a lower tolerance with a value higher than 1, with a persistent drop in WUE suggesting a lower tolerance to water deficits. The (Ky) factor was relatively lower with AM+ than with AM− for the total fruit yield and dry biomass (Kss), indicating that AM may enhance the drought tolerance of the crop. Plants with AM+ had a higher uptake of N and P in shoots and fruits, higher stomatal conductance (gs), and higher photosynthetic rates (Pn), regardless of drought severity. Soil with AM+ had higher extractable N, P, and organic carbon (OC), indicating an improvement of the fertility status in coping with a limited water supply.

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Deficit Irrigation as a Sustainable Practice in Improving Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Cauliflower under Mediterranean Conditions

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9110732 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 732 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Abdelkhalik ◽

Pascual ◽

Nájera ◽

Baixauli ◽

Pascual-Seva

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Water Status ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Irrigation Water Use Efficiency ◽

Irrigation Water Use ◽

Use Efficiency

Water shortage is one of the major constraints in vegetable production. Deficit irrigation is a sustainable technique that improves irrigation water use efficiency. Field studies were conducted during two growing seasons to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on plant growth, plant water status, productive response (curd yield and quality), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and crop profitability of cauliflower. Nine irrigation treatments were used, applying 100%, 75% (moderate), or 50% (severe) of the irrigation water requirements (IWR) during the entire growing season (Continued Deficit Irrigation, CDI), or 75% and 50% of IWR during one of the following stages (Regulated Deficit Irrigation, RDI): Juvenility, curd induction, and curd growth. Severe deficit irrigation applied during juvenility and curd induction reduced the plant size, but it only led to a significant reduction of marketable yield (22%), and average curd size and weight if it was maintained throughout the crop cycle, supposing the highest IWUE (43.6 kg m−3). Moderate CDI or severe RDI during juvenility did not reduce significantly the curd yield compared to fully irrigated plants (4.4 kg m−2), thereby obtaining similar gross revenues (16,859 € ha−1) with important water savings (up to 24.3%), improving IWUE (up to 34.2 kg m−3).

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Effect of summer-fall deficit irrigation on morpho-physiological, anatomical responses, fruit yield and water use efficiency of cucumber under salt affected soil

Scientia Horticulturae ◽

10.1016/j.scienta.2018.04.014 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 237 ◽

pp. 148-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Taia A. Abd El-Mageed ◽

Wael M. Semida ◽

Ragab S. Taha ◽

Mostafa M. Rady

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Salt Affected Soil ◽

Use Efficiency

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Drought Responses of Mycorrhizal and Nonmycorrhizal Neem Plants of Comparable Size and Tissue Nutrition

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.647c ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 647c-647

Author(s):

L. Phavaphutanon ◽

F.T. Davies ◽

T.W. Boutton ◽

S.A. Duray

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Status ◽

Peak Stress ◽

Plant Water ◽

Drought Period ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

D Values ◽

P Supply ◽

Comparable Size

Mycorrhizal (VAM) and phosphorus (P)-supplemented nonmycorrhizal neem plants (non-VAM) of comparable size and tissue nutrition were subjected to a slowly developing drought. VAM and non-VAM plants responded to drought similarly. However, mycorrhiza compensated for low P supply, allowing VAM plants to have comparable growth, tissue P, and other physiological parameters as non-VAM plants, which received higher P supply. Drought decreased growth, transpiration (E), photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and plant water status. Osmotic adjustment did not occur, but the relatively low osmotic potential of this species helped maintain turgor during drought. Plant water relations and A of stressed plants fully recovered in 24 hours after rehydration, while gs and E partially recovered. Instantaneous water use efficiency (A/E) increased during drought and recovery, except for a decrease at peak stress due to very low A. Carbon isotope discrimination (D) values of mature leaves remained constant regardless of mycorrhiza or drought. However, D decreased in expanding leaves that developed during a drought period, indicating an increased long-term water use efficiency of these leaves.

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