RE: Reply to comments by J.R. Kiniry concerning NeSmith, D.S., and J.T. Ritchie. 1992. Short‐ and Long‐Term responses of corn to a preanthesis soil water deficit. 84:107–113

Zou, W., Si, B., Han, X. and Jiang, H. 2012. The effect of long-term fertilization on soil water storage and water deficit in the Black Soil Zone in northeast China. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 439–448. The Black Soil Zone in northeast China is one of the most important areas of agricultural production in China and plays a crucial role in food supply. However, further improvement in crop yield hinges on effective management of soil water. There is a poor understanding of how different fertilization methods affect crop water use efficiency. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different fertilization methods on soil water storage and deficit in Black soils. A long-term experiment was conducted at the National Field Research Station of Agro-ecosystems, at Hailun County, Heilongjiang province in northeastern China from 1999 to 2008. Three fertilizer treatments including no fertilizer (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NP) and inorganic fertilizer plus organic material (NPM) were tested. The results showed that soil water storage decreased in the order CK, NP, and NPM during the growing season and the differences in soil water storage in the active root zone (0–70 cm) and below the active root zone (70–130 cm) and soil water deficit were statistically significant among the three treatments. Due to the uneven temporal distribution of rainfall and crop water uptake, soil water content was very dynamic in all three treatments: The low soil water storage and resulting soil water deficit (defined as the monthly difference between potential evapotranspiration and soil available water storage) within the 0- to 70-cm soil profile were found in both June and July. Further, soil receiving NPM was more likely to have a soil water deficit, but less likely to have excessive water. A lower risk of excess water may result in deeper root penetration and increased water use at greater depth, and thus the water deficit under the NPM treatment may not be the limiting factor for crop production. Therefore, NPM seems a viable management practice for improving crop yields in the Black Soil Zone in northeast China, possibly due to higher soil organic carbon and nutrient supply and lower probability of excess water.

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A transcriptomic analysis reveals the adaptability of the growth and physiology of immature tassel to long-term soil water deficit in Zea mays L

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.08.027 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 155 ◽

pp. 756-768

Author(s):

Hongwei Li ◽

Shuangjie Jia ◽

Yulou Tang ◽

Yanping Jiang ◽

Shenjiao Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Transcriptomic Analysis ◽

Soil Water Deficit

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A COMPARISON OF THE RESPONSES OF MATURE AND YOUNG CLONAL TEA TO DROUGHT

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s001447970100309x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 391-402 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

D. J. Nixon ◽

P. J. Burgess ◽

B. N. K. Sanga ◽

M. K. V. Carr

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Fine Roots ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Soil Water Deficit ◽

Dry Matter Distribution ◽

Irrigated Crops ◽

Structural Roots ◽

Using Data

To assist commercial producers with optimizing the use of irrigation water, the responses to drought of mature and young tea (Camellia sinensis) crops (22 and 5 years after field planting respectively) were compared using data from two adjacent long-term irrigation experiments in southern Tanzania. Providing the maximum potential soil water deficit was below about 400–500 mm for mature, and 200–250 mm for young plants (clone 6/8), annual yields of dry tea from rainfed or partially irrigated crops were similar to those from the corresponding well-watered crops. At deficits greater than this, annual yields declined rapidly in young tea (up to 22 kg ha−1 mm−1) but relatively slowly in mature tea (up to 6.5 kg ha−1 mm−1). This apparent insensitivity of the mature crop to drought was principally due to compensation during the rains for yield lost in the dry season. Differences in dry matter distribution and shoot:root ratios contributed to these contrasting responses. Thus, the total above-ground dry mass of well-irrigated, mature plants was about twice that for young plants. Similarly, the total mass of structural roots (>1 mm diameter) to 3 m depth was four times greater in the mature crop than in the young crop and, for fine roots (<1 mm diameter), eight times greater. The corresponding shoot:root ratios (dry mass) were about 1:1 and 2:1 respectively. In addition, each unit area of leaf in the canopy of a mature plant had six times (by weight) more fine roots available to extract and supply water than did a young plant. These results show that young tea should be irrigated in preference to mature tea, especially where the maximum soil water deficit is likely to exceed 250 mm.

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Relation of Soil Water Deficit, Involved by Precipitation and Corn Yield on Vinkovci Area (Eastern Croatia)

Cereal Research Communications ◽

10.1007/bf03543502 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 289-296

Author(s):

M. Jurišić ◽

Ž. Vidaček ◽

Ž. Bukvić ◽

D. Brkić ◽

R. Emert

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Soil Water Deficit

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Water use by winter wheat as affected by soil management

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600043458 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 189-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. J. Goss ◽

K. R. Howse ◽

Judith M. Vaughan-Williams ◽

M. A. Ward ◽

W. Jenkins

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Water Use ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Maximum Depth ◽

Water Extraction ◽

Soil Water Deficit ◽

Potential Yield

SummaryIn each of the years from September 1977 to July 1982 winter wheat was grown on one or more of three clay soil sites (clay content 35–55%) in Oxfordshire where the climate is close to the average for the area of England growing winter cereals.The effects on crop water use of different soil management practices, including ploughing, direct drilling and subsoil drainage, are compared. Cultivation treatment had little effect on the maximum depth of water extraction, which on average in these clay soils was 1·54 m below the soil surface. Maximum soil water deficit was also little affected by cultivation; the maximum recorded value was 186±7·6 mm. Subsoil drainage increased the maximum depth of water extraction by approximately 15 cm and the maximum soil water deficit by about 17 mm.Generally soil management had little effect on either total water use by the crop which was found to be close to the potential evaporation estimated by the method of Penman, or water use efficiency which for these crops was about 52 kg/ha par mm water used.Results are discussed in relation to limitations to potential yield.

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The Effect of Dry Pegging Zone Soil on Pod Formation of Florunner Peanut1

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/i0095-3679-24-1-6 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 19-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

P. J. Sexton ◽

J. M. Bennett ◽

K. J. Boote

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Root Zone ◽

Soil Water Deficit ◽

Seed Growth ◽

Pod Development

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) fruit growth is sensitive to surface soil (0-5 cm) conditions due to its subterranean fruiting habit. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil water content in the pegging zone (0-5 cm) on peanut pod growth rate and development. A pegging-pan-root-tube apparatus was used to separately control soil water content in the pegging and root zone for greenhouse trials. A field study also was conducted using portable rainout shelters to create a soil water deficit. Pod phenology, pod and seed growth rates, and final pod and seed dry weights were determined. In greenhouse studies, dry pegging zone soil delayed pod and seed development. In the field, soil water deficits in the pegging and root zone decreased pod and seed growth rates by approximately 30% and decreased weight per seed from 563 to 428 mg. Pegs initiating growth during drought stress demonstrated an ability to suspend development during the period of soil water deficit and to re-initiate pod development after the drought stress was relieved.

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