Chloride Changes Soil–Plant Water Relations in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

There is evidence that chloride (Cl―) can lead to both an improved hydration and water use efficiency in plants due to its osmotic properties. The potato crop is widely assumed to be sensitive to Cl―. This is based on studies which found tuber yield or tuber starch reductions following a Cl― fertilization. However, there are also contradictory reports which could not find any detrimental effect of Cl― fertilization on potato plant development. As potato is inefficient in the use of water, we aimed to test if it is possible to improve the hydration status of potato without reducing tuber yield and dry matter by means of Cl― fertilization. We conducted a pot experiment with four different Cl― doses and investigated soil–plant water relations, biomass, tuber yield and dry matter development. Our findings deliver an indication that the potato crop is much less sensitive to Cl― than previously assumed and, more importantly, that a Cl― supply can indeed improve the potato shoot water status. This happened without impairing tuber yield and dry matter. Since potato is very sensitive to drought stress, we assume that Cl― fertilization is a promising measure to improve the drought resilience of potato.

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Effect of Water Regime and Nitrogen Fertilisation on Growth Dynamics, Water Status and Yield of Burley Tobacco (Nicotianatabacum L.)

Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International/Contributions to Tobacco Research ◽

10.2478/cttr-2013-0784 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 223-233

Author(s):

C Ruggiero ◽

G Angelino ◽

S Ascione ◽

A Napolitano

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Nitrogen Fertilization ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Water Status ◽

Turgor Pressure ◽

Plant Water Status ◽

Plant Water ◽

Nitrogen Fertilisation ◽

Burley Tobacco ◽

Use Efficiency

AbstractThe results of a two-year research project into burley tobacco are reported and discussed. Three irrigation levels (40, 80 and 120% restitution of evapotranspiration (ET)) were factorially combined with four levels of nitrogen fertilisation (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg ha). Leaf area, leaf and stem dry matter and root development were measured. We monitored the water status of the 0-90 cm soil layer, the plants and stomatal resistance. Relations were also studied between leaf turgor pressure and plant growth, between the irrigation regime and plant water status, and between root and shoot development. Finally, water use efficiency (WUE) and quality and quantity of cured leaves yields were evaluated. Nitrogen fertilisation did not affect plant water status, although it promoted plant growth, both in terms of leaf area and leaf and stem dry matter, and induced a yield increase in quantity and quality. Our trial showed little interaction between nitrogen fertilization level and water regime. Under such agronomic condition, the margins for increasing plant growth with nitrogen fertilization are limited, which is why application of nitrogen rates in excess of 160 kg haappear inadvisable. The difference in irrigation volumes led to a different soil water content which affected plant water status, stomatal functioning, plant growth, both in the roots and shoots, yield and quality of the cured leaves. The latter did not vary with the increase in water volume, while yield increased. Water use efficiency increased as the irrigation volume decreased and varied during the cropping cycle, increasing until early bloom, then decreasing. Relations between leaf turgor pressure and plant growth highlighted the different response of plants subjected to water stress compared with non-stressed plants.

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Dynamics of change in stomatal response and water status of Picea abies during a persistent drought period: a contribution to the traditional view of plant water relations

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/18.4.211 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 211-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

U. Maier-Maercker

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Water Relations ◽

Water Status ◽

Traditional View ◽

Plant Water Relations ◽

Plant Water ◽

Stomatal Response ◽

Drought Period ◽

Persistent Drought

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Evapotranspiration, Water Use Efficiency, Moisture Extraction Pattern and Plant Water Relations of Rape (Brassica campestris) Genotypes in Relation to Root Development under Varying Irrigation Schedules

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479700018238 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 227-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

V. Raja ◽

K. C. Bishnoi

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Relations ◽

Water Retention Capacity ◽

Plant Water Relations ◽

Genotypic Differences ◽

Plant Water ◽

Moisture Extraction ◽

Extraction Pattern ◽

Use Efficiency

SUMMARYA field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil at Hisar, India during the autumn seasons 1984–85 and 1985–86 to study root characters, evapotranspiration, water use efficiency, moisture extraction pattern and plant water relations of rape genotypes under varying irrigation schedules. Root volume and dry weight increased, while tap root and lateral root lengths decreased with irrigation. Increased irrigation frequency increased evapotranspiration but decreased water use efficiency. The relative water content and osmotic potential of the leaves increased with more frequent irrigation, but plant water retention capacity decreased. There were genotypic differences between the characters examined.

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Plant Water Relations, Irrigation Management and Crop Yield

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479700021402 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 161-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Ralph A. Fischer ◽

Robert M. Hagan

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Water Relations ◽

Water Status ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Crop Growth ◽

Plant Water Relations ◽

Physiological Effects ◽

Plant Water ◽

Water Usage

SummaryResponses of crop yield to water stress are classified on the basis of physiological considerations. Crop growth is sensitive to water stress, particularly because of the physiological effects of stress on the production and maintenance of photosynthetic tissue. Crop yield, depending on the nature of the harvested organ and the origin of its constituents, may be more or less sensitive to water stress than crop growth. In applying this information to irrigation management, there is a need for simple quantitative measures of plant water status. The problem of avoiding water stress during critical ontogenetic stages and, conversely, the possibility of using moderate water stress at certain times to improve yield and the efficiency of water usage, are discussed.

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Effects of Saline and Deficit Irrigation on Soil-Plant Water Status and Potato Crop Yield under the Semiarid Climate of Tunisia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11092706 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 2706 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hiba Ghazouani ◽

Giovanni Rallo ◽

Amel Mguidiche ◽

Basma Latrech ◽

Boutheina Douh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Potato Crop ◽

Water Status ◽

Plant Water ◽

Applied Water ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid

Water supplies have been decreasing in several semi-arid regions, and it is therefore necessary to adopt irrigation strategies aimed at maximizing water use efficiency. In this paper, the effects of saline and deficit irrigation on water use efficiency and on potato crop response, based on observations of soil and plant water status, were investigated. Experiments were carried out in Central Tunisia, by monitoring potato crop growth during two seasons in four distinct treatments (T1–T4), represented by two different irrigation doses and two water qualities. For irrigation scheduling purposes, thresholds of soil matric potential, soil water content and Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) were identified with the aim to quantify the effects of water and/or salinity stress on the achievable yield. Experiments allowed verifying that crop yield is strongly affected by the seasonal amount and quality of applied water. Despite differences of crop yield between treatments T2, T3 and T4 not being statistically significant (P < 0.05), crop yield varied between 26.3 t/ha (T3 in 2015) to 16.3 t/ha (T4 in 2015). However, crop yield decline of 17.0 t/ha and 12.0 t/ha per each 100 mm decrease of applied water were observed under the application of water electrical conductivity of 1.6 dS/m and 4.1 dS/m respectively. On the other hand, an increase of 1.0 dS/m in water electrical conductivity caused a yield decline rate of about 10%. The results achieved showed that under the semi-arid climate of Tunisia, potato crop irrigation should be scheduled to avoid water deficit; however, the possibility to reduce water supply can be envisaged when water availability is limited, but with the awareness to accept the shortage of production. Finally, when saline water is the only source available to the farm, it is necessary to avoid the reduction of irrigation doses, to prevent excessive salt accumulation in the root zone with unavoidable effects on crop yield.

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