EFFECT OF DEFICIT IRRIGATION ON YIELD, RELATIVE LEAF WATER CONTENT, LEAF PROLINE ACCUMULATION AND CHLOROPHYLL STABILITY INDEX OF COTTON–MAIZE CROPPING SEQUENCE

SUMMARYWater stress induces some physiological changes in plants and has cumulative effects on crop growth and yield. Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) on yield and some physiological parameters in cotton and maize in a sequential cropping system. Creation of soil moisture gradient is indispensable to explore the beneficial effects of partial root zone drying (PRD) irrigation and it could be possible only through alternate deficit irrigation (ADI) practice in paired row system of drip layout that is commonly practiced in India. In the present study, PRD and DI concepts (creation of soil moisture gradient) were implemented through ADI at two levels of irrigation using drip system. Maize was sown after cotton under no till condition without disturbing the raised bed and drip layout. Relative leaf water content (RLWC) and chlorophyll stability index (CSI) of cotton and maize were reduced under water stress. A higher level of leaf proline content was observed under severe water-stressed treatments in cotton and maize. RLWC and CSI were highest and leaf proline content was lowest in mild water deficit (ADI at 100% crop evapotranspiration once in three days) irrigation in cotton and maize. The same treatments registered higher values for crop yields, net income and benefit cost ratio for both the crops.

Download Full-text

Screening Marker Varieties with Drought Resistance in Cultivated Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Using Identification Method with Soil Moisture Gradient

ACTA AGRONOMICA SINICA ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1006.2008.02026 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 34 (11) ◽

pp. 2026-2032 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

An-Ning ZHANG

Keyword(s):

Oryza Sativa ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Drought Resistance ◽

Moisture Gradient ◽

Cultivated Rice ◽

Identification Method ◽

Soil Moisture Gradient ◽

Screening Marker

Download Full-text

Bacterial and fungal community responses to reciprocal soil transfer along a temperature and soil moisture gradient in a glacier forefield

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.02.017 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 61 ◽

pp. 121-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Anita Zumsteg ◽

Erland Bååth ◽

Beat Stierli ◽

Josef Zeyer ◽

Beat Frey

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Fungal Community ◽

Moisture Gradient ◽

Community Responses ◽

Glacier Forefield ◽

Soil Moisture Gradient ◽

Soil Transfer

Download Full-text

Vegetation of the Witbank Nature Reserve and its importance for conservation of threatened Rocky Highveld Grassland

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v40i2.275 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

C.M. Smit ◽

G.J. Bredenkamp ◽

N. Van Rooyen ◽

A.E. Van Wyk ◽

J.M. Combrinck

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Moisture Gradient ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Soil Moisture Gradient ◽

Great Escarpment

A vegetation survey of the Witbank Nature Reserve, comprising 847 hectares, was conducted. Phytosociological data were used to identify plant communities, as well as to determine alpha and beta diversities. Eleven plant communities were recognised, two of these are subdivided into sub- communities, resulting in 14 vegetation units. These communities represent four main vegetation types, namely grassland, woodland, wetland and disturbed vegetation. Grassland communities have the highest plant diversity and wetland vegetation the lowest. Floristic composition indicates that the vegetation of the Rocky Highveld Grassland has affinities to the grassland and savanna biomes and also to the Afromontane vegetation of the Great Escarpment. An ordination scatter diagram shows the distribution of the 14 plant communities or sub-communities along a soil moisture gradient, as well as along a soil depth/surface rock gradient. The sequence of communities along the soil moisture gradient is used for calculating beta-diversity indices. It is concluded that the relatively small size of the Witbank Nature Reserve is unlikely to have significant negative effects on the phytodiversity of the various plant communities. This nature reserve is therefore of considerable importance in conserving a representative sample of the Rocky Highveld Grassland.

Download Full-text