scholarly journals 419 A Laboratory Demonstration of Water Stress on Plant Growth

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 465D-465
Author(s):  
J.W. Buxton ◽  
T.D. Phillips

Students in plant science courses have difficulty thoroughly understanding the effect of water stress on net photosynthesis and its consequences—reduced plant growth, productivity, quality, and profit. A laboratory demonstration utilizing a controlled water table irrigation system (CWT) provides a nearly constant plant water potential. Pots are placed on a capillary mat with one end suspended in a trough with nutrient solution. The vertical distance from the solution surface to the pot bottom determines the water potential; the water potential is 0 when the pot bottom is at the same level as the nutrient solution. The greater the vertical distance from solution to the pot bottom, the lower the water potential. For this demonstration, the bench was sloped from 0 to 10 cm above the solution over a distance of 90 cm. Corn, squash, soybean, fescue, and marigold seed were directly sown to either 9- or 15-cm pots and then placed on the CWT sloped bench at five vertical distances above the solution. Weekly, students observed plant growth and at the end of 8 weeks evaluated root and shoot growth. For all species, plant growth was indirectly related to the distance above the nutrient solution. Plants at near 0 water potential were much larger than those grown 8 to 10 cm above the solution.

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 522d-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Buxton ◽  
D.L. Ingram ◽  
Wenwei Jia

Geraniums in 15-cm pots were irrigated automatically for 8 weeks with a Controlled Water Table (CWT) irrigation system. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution supplied by a capillary mat with one end of the mat suspended in a trough below the bottom of the pot. The nutrient solution remained at a constant level in the trough. Nutrient solution removed from the trough was immediately replaced from a larger reservoir. The vertical distance from the surface of the nutrient solution and the bottom of the pot determined the water/air ratio and water potential in the growing media. Treatments consisted of placing pots at 0, 2, 4, and 6 cm above the nutrient solution. Control plants were irrigated as needed with a trickle irrigation system. Geraniums grown at 0,2 and 4 CWT were ≈25% larger than the control plants and those grown at 6 CWT as measured by dry weight and leaf area. Roots of plants grown at 0 CWT were concentrated in the central area of the root ball; whereas roots of plants in other treatments were located more near the bottom of the pot. Advantages of the CWT system include: Plant controlled automatic irrigation; no run off; optimum water/air ratio.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Rodríguez-Fernández ◽  
María Fandiño ◽  
Xesús Pablo González ◽  
Javier J. Cancela

<p>The estimation of the water status in the vineyard, is a very important factor, in which every day the winegrowers show more interest since it directly affects the quality and production in the vineyards. The situation generated by COVID-19 in viticulture, adds importance to tools that provide information of the hydric status of vineyard plants in a telematic way.</p><p>In the present study, the stem water potential in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, is analysed in a vineyard belonging to the Rias Baixas wine-growing area (Vilagarcia de Arousa, Spain), with 32 sampling points distributed throughout the plot, which allows the contrast and validation with the remote sensing methodology to estimate the water status of the vineyard using satellite images.</p><p>The satellite images have been downloaded from the Sentinel-2 satellite, on the closets available dates regarding the stem water potential measurements, carried out in the months of June to September, because this dates are considered the months in which vine plants have higher water requirements.</p><p>With satellite images, two spectral index related to the detection of water stress have been calculated: NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) and MSI (Moisture Stress Index). Stem water potential measurements, have allowed a linear regression with both index, to validate the use of these multispectral index to determine water stress in the vineyard.</p><p>Determination coefficients of r<sup>2</sup>=0.62 and 0.67, have been obtained in July and August 2018 and 0.54 in June of 2019 for the NDWI index, as well as values of 0.53 and 0.63 in July 2018 and June 2019 respectively, when it has been analysed the MSI index.</p><p>Between both seasons, the difference observed, that implies slightly greater water stress in 2019, is reflected in the climate conditions during the summer months, with an average accumulated rainfall that doesn’t exceed 46 mm of water. Although, the NDWI index has allowed to establish better relationships in the 2018 season respect to the MSI index and the 2019 season, (r<sup>2</sup>=0.60 NDWI in 2018), as well as greater differences in terms of water stress presented in the vineyard.</p><p>With the spectral index calculated, it has been possible to validate the use of these index for the determination of the water stress of the vineyard plants, as an efficient, fast and less expensive method, which allows the application of an efficient irrigation system in the vineyard.</p>


1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 687-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Paez ◽  
H. Hellmers ◽  
B. R. Strain

SummaryIf atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration continues to increase, plant growth and crop yield could be affected. New Yorker and Better Boy cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were used to investigate possible intraspecific variation in the response of crop species to increased CO2. Because precipitation and temperature are predicted to change with the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration, the response of the two cultivars to the interaction between CO2 and water stress was also examined. Seeds of the two cultivars were germinated and grown under controlled environmental conditions, in either 350 or 675 μ1 CO2/1.The plant water status of the two cultivars was inherently different but was little affected by the CO2 concentration when the plants were well watered. When water was withheld for 5 days the total leaf water potential and osmotic potential decreased in both CO2 treatments but less rapidly in high CO2 than in low. Under low CO2 total leaf water potential decreased to a lower value than osmotic potential. The differences were due, at least in part, to the reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration rate under high CO2.Increased CO2 ameliorated the detrimental effects of drought stress on plant growth. The results indicate that increased CO2 could differentially affect the relative drought resistance of species cultivars.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 996-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Beeson

Elaeagnus pungens Thunb., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Photinia ×fraseri `Red Top', and Rhododendron sp. `Fashion' (azalea) growing in 10.4-liter containers were irrigated only at dawn with overhead impact sprinklers or pulse-irrigated three or four times each day with a drip system. Plant water potential was measured diurnally each week for 24 weeks, and growth was measured at the end of the growing season in December. Overhead irrigation resulted in less growth of all species than plants maintained near 100% container moisture with pulse irrigation. With the exception of photinia, more growth was associated with significantly lower daily accumulated water stress. Water stress of overhead-irrigated plants was generally not severe enough to cause stomata1 closure.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Cesar Ronquim ◽  
Carlos Henrique B. A. Prado ◽  
João Paulo de Souza

Growth and leaf nutrient content were compared in young potted plants of Copaifera langsdorffii in sunny and shaded areas without water stress. Besides, carbon assimilation and leaf water relations were evaluated by net photosynthesis, potential photochemical efficiency and leaf water potential during daily courses in dry and rainy periods under natural conditions in both contrasting irradiances. Higher values of total biomass, height and leaf area occurred in sunny than in shaded area. On the other hand, all young plants survived in shade under natural water stress probably by reason of fast and intense biomass accumulation in favor of roots in early development. There was no significant difference about nutrient concentration in leaves between plants growing in sunny and shaded areas. Net photosynthesis in shade increased occasionally when bunches of direct light reached the leaves. Theses sunflecks took place more frequently and at high intensity in dry period but they were more effective for net photosynthesis in rainy period. The ability of young plants to persist under natural conditions in contrasting irradiance up to 1,230 days after sowing could explain the wide distribution of C. langsdorffii in Cerrado physiognomies and in different types of forest.


1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nitzsche ◽  
Gerald A. Berkowitz' ◽  
Jack Rabin

The objective of this research was to develop an effective antitranspirant formulation for reducing transplant shock (transitory water stress) in bell pepper (Capsicm annuum L.) seedlings. A formulation with a paraffin wax emulsion (Folicote at 5%) and a spreader/sticker type surfactant (Biofilm at 0.5%) was effective as an antitranspirant. This formulation was less phytotoxic than other formulations tested. Application of the formulation led to increased leaf water potential (Ψ w) i in transplanted seedlings for several days as compared with untreated transplants. When this, (relatively) nonphytotoxic formulation was used in a field study for 1 year, increased seedling Ψ w during a period of imposed water stress led to less leaf abscission and increased plant growth throughout the growing season. Chemical names used: alkylarylpolyethoxyethanol (Biofilm).


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 516B-516
Author(s):  
Jack W. Buxton

The controlled water table irrigation system (CWT) consists of a capillary mat placed on a level bench so one side extends over the edge of the bench into a trough containing a nutrient solution maintained at a controlled distance below the bench. The nutrient solution is drawn by capillarity up to and over the bench surface. As plants use the nutrient solution or as water evaporates from the media, it is replaced from the trough. The automatic system maintains a constant air/water ratio in the growing media. Study 1: Geraniums were grown in 15-cm pots at 0, 2, and 4 cm CWT. Geraniums at 0 and 2 cm CWT had the greatest leaf area and dry weight. Plants at 0 and 2 cm CWT were more than 25% greater at 4 cm CWT. The roots of plants at 0 cm CWT were concentrated at 2 to 4 cm above the bottom of the container; whereas roots at 2 cm CWT uniformly extended from the center to the bottom. Study 2: Water potential in a coarse and fine textured media was determined at the bottom, middle and top of the container at 0, 2, and 4 cm CWT every 2.5 h during the light period. Water potential was about the same in each media within each CWT treatment. At the container bottom at 0 CWT water potential was 0; whereas the water potential at 2 and 4 CWT was lower. The water potential from top to bottom decreased slightly about mid afternoon on a sunny day when water demand was the greatest. The CWT system is potentially a commercially adaptable irrigation system for container crops. It also is a cheap, reliable tool for studying water stress on the crop growth and quality.


HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 565D-565c
Author(s):  
C.A. Mach ◽  
J.W. Buxton ◽  
R.S. Gates

The CWT irrigation system consists of a capillary mat placed on a level bench so one side extends over the edge of the bench into a trough containing a nutrient solution maintained at a controlled distance below the bench. The nutrient solution is drawn by capillarity up to and over the bench surface. As plants use the nutrient solution or as water evaporates from the media, it is replaced from the trough. The automatic system maintains a constant air/water ratio in the growing media. Geraniums were grown in a peat based media in 15-cm pots at 0, 2, and 4 cm CWT. In a separate study, the water potential was determined in two media. Water potential was determined at the bottom, middle, and top of the container at 0, 2 and 4 cm CWT every 2.5 hrs during the light period. Geraniums at 0 and 2 cm had the greatest leaf area and dry weight. The 0- and 2-cm treatments were >25% greater than plants at 4 cm CWT. The roots of plants at 0 cm CWT were concentrated at 2–4 cm above the bottom of the container, whereas roots at 2 cm CWT uniformily extended from the center to the bottom. Water potential was about the same in each media within each CWT treatment. The water potential from top to bottom decreased slightly about midafternoon on a sunny day when water demand was the greatest. Media at 0 CWT at the container bottom had 0 water potential; whereas the water potential at 2 and 4 CWT had a lower water potential.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi ◽  
Marc W. Van Iersel ◽  
Roberto Testezlaf

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the effects of distinct moisture contents to trigger subirrigation on salvia photosynthesis and plant growth, and to verify the feasibility of subirrigation use in water stress imposition research in this crop. We evaluated two substrate volumetric water contents (VWC) as treatments (0.2 and 0.4 m3 m-3) to trigger subirrigation, with 4 replications. Each replication was composed of 10 plants. An automated semi-continuous multi-chamber crop CO2-exchange system was used, with capacitance soil moisture sensors for continuous moisture monitoring. Manual subirrigation with nutrient solution was performed when VWC dropped below the thresholds. In both treatments, the values of net photosynthesis, daily carbon gain and carbon use efficiency reduced over time, from 2 to 1.1 μmol s-1 from 2.2 to 1 μmol d-1 from 0.7 to 0.45 mol mol-1, respectively, in both soil moisture treatments. Total shoot dry mass (p=0.0129), shoot height in the tip of the highest flower (p<0.0001) and total leaf area (p=0.0007) were statistically higher at 0.4 m3 m-3 treatment. The subirrigation system was not efficient to impose water stress, due to excessive variation on VWC values after each irrigation event in both treatments. Higher soil moisture promoted positive plant growth responses in salvia cultivated by subirrigation.


HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 633a-633
Author(s):  
Jack W. Buxton ◽  
Wenwei Jia

Cabbage seed was germinated and grown to transplanting size in a 98-cell tray using an automatic irrigation system based on the principle of maintaining a constant water table (CWT) relative to the growing medium in transplant trays. Seedlings obtained a nutrient solution from a capillary mat with one end suspended in a trough containing the solution. The distance between the nutrient solution surface and the transplant tray bottom was regulated with a water level controller. The nutrient solution was resupplied from a larger reservoir. A polyester material on top of the capillary mat allowed solution movement to the roots but prevented root penetration into the mat. The water table placement below the tray determined the water content in the growing medium. Seedling growth was evaluated using two growing media combined with two water table placements. Excellent quality seedlings were produced; the CWT irrigation system satisfactory provided water and nutrients for the duration of the crop. The only problems observed were dry cells, less than 2%, because of no media–mat contact and algae growth on the media surface using the higher water table. The CWT irrigation system is adaptable to existing greenhouse vegetable transplant production systems. It is automatic and can provide a constant optimum amount of moisture for seedling growing. It can be adjusted for phases of seedling growing such as more water during germination and can create water stress near transplanting time to either harden off or hold plants because of unfavorable planting conditions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document