scholarly journals Effects of Severe Water Stress on Maize Growth Processes in the Field

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 5086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libing Song ◽  
Jiming Jin ◽  
Jianqiang He

In this study, we investigated the effects of water stress on the growth and yield of summer maize (Zea mays L.) over four phenological stages: Seedling, jointing, heading, and grain-filling. Water stress treatments were applied during each of these four stages in a water-controlled field in the Guanzhong Plain, China between 2013 and 2016. We found that severe water stress during the seedling stage had a greater effect on the growth and development of maize than stress applied during the other three stages. Water stress led to lower leaf area index (LAI) and biomass owing to reduced intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE). These effects extended to the reproductive stage and eventually reduced the unit kernel weight and yield. In addition, the chlorophyll content in the leaf remained lower, even though irrigation was applied partially or fully after the seedling stage. Severe and prolonged water stress in maize plants during the seedling stage may damage the structure of the photosynthetic membrane, resulting in lower chlorophyll content, and therefore RUE, than those in the plants that did not experience water stress at the seedling stage. Maize plants with such damage did not show a meaningful recovery even when irrigation levels during the rest of the growth period were the same as those applied to the plants not subjected to water stress. The results of our field experiments suggest that an unrecoverable yield loss could occur if summer maize were exposed to severe and extended water stress events during the seedling stage.

Plant Disease ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Booker ◽  
P. Umaharan ◽  
C. R. McDavid

Field experiments were carried out in St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies to determine the effects of time of inoculation of Cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) and cultivar on crop growth and yield in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Crop growth and yield loss were investigated through growth analysis and yield component analysis on three cultivars in two seasons (wet and dry). Time of inoculation had the most profound impact on yield. Inoculations during the early log phase (seedling stage), 12 days after seeding (DAS), consistently had the greatest impact (50 to 85% yield loss) compared with those inoculated during the exponential growth phase (24 DAS; 22 to 66% yield loss) or linear growth phase (35 DAS; 2 to 36% yield loss). The effects were particularly pronounced in the dry season and in the more determinate cultivar, H8-8-27. Reduction in maximum leaf area index, leaf area duration, or maximum vegetative dry matter explained reductions in yield. Yield reductions resulted primarily from reduced pod number per plant and, to a lesser extent, from reduced average pod dry weight. The results show that CPSMV control measures should be aimed at delaying infection by CPSMV to minimize the impact on cowpea yield.


HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 601d-601
Author(s):  
Chuhe Chen ◽  
J. Scott Cameron ◽  
Stephen F. Klauer

Leaf fluorescence characteristics, chlorophyll (Chl) content and 4th-derivative spectra were measured six times before, during, and after water stress development in F. chiloensis and F. ×ananassa grown in growth chambers. The younger strawberry leaves under water stress maintained higher Chl a, Chl b, and total Chl contents than those under nonstressed conditions, while the older ones lost Chl quickly under water stress and then died. In comparison to F. ×ananassa, F. chiloensis had significantly higher Chl a, Chl b, and total Chl contents and peak amplitudes of Cb 630 and Ca 693 in 4th-derivative spectra under stressed and nonstressed conditions. The differences in peak amplitude of Ca 693 between the two species increased under water stress. Fq was the most sensitive fluorescence characteristic to water stress and was reduced significantly under stress. Fm and Fv decreased significantly under more severe water stress. A reduction in Fv suggests that severe water stress might cause thylakoid damage and photoinhibition in the leaves, which resulted in a very depressed CO2 assimilation level. F. chiloensis had significantly higher Ft and Fq before and under water stress development (but not after stress recovery) than F. ×ananassa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Subramanian E ◽  
◽  
Sathishkumar A ◽  
Rajesh P ◽  
◽  
...  

The present study aimed to the effect of different organic manures on the growth and yield attributes of cotton by conducting field experiments during rice fallow season of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai.. The cotton growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production and monopodial branches plant-1 were significantly influenced by the application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer through vermicompost (on equal N basis). Also application of recommended dose of fertilizer through vermicompost (on equal N basis) recorded significantly higher yield attributes viz., sympodial branches plant-1, number of bolls plant-1, boll weight and seed cotton yield (17.4 and 18.6 q ha-1 during both the years, respectively). Economic analysis also indicated that Insitu vermicomposting produced higher net returns with higher B:C ratio.


HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1038-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Boote ◽  
Maria R. Rybak ◽  
Johan M.S. Scholberg ◽  
James W. Jones

Parameterizing crop models for more accurate response to climate factors such as temperature is important considering potential temperature increases associated with climate change, particularly for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), which is a heat-sensitive crop. The objective of this work was to update the cardinal temperature parameters of the CROPGRO-Tomato model affecting the simulation of crop development, daily dry matter (DM) production, fruit set, and DM partitioning of field-grown tomato from transplanting to harvest. The main adaptation relied on new literature values for cardinal temperature parameters that affect tomato crop phenology, fruit set, and fruit growth. The new cardinal temperature values are considered reliable because they come from recent published experiments conducted in controlled-temperature environments. Use of the new cardinal temperatures in the CROPGRO-Tomato model affected the rate of crop development compared with prior default parameters; thus, we found it necessary to recalibrate genetic coefficients that affect life cycle phases and growth simulated by the model. The model was recalibrated and evaluated with 10 growth analyses data sets collected in field experiments conducted at three locations in Florida (Bradenton, Quincy, and Gainesville) from 1991 to 2007. Use of modified parameters sufficiently improved model performance to provide accurate prediction of crop and fruit DM accumulation throughout the season. Overall, the average root mean square error (RMSE) over all experiments was reduced 44% for leaf area index, 71% for fruit number, and 36% for both aboveground biomass and fruit dry weight simulations with the modified parameters compared with the default. The Willmott d index was higher and was always above 0.92. The CROPGRO-Tomato model with these modified cardinal temperature parameters will predict more accurately tomato growth and yield response to temperature and thus be useful in model applications.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 755-762
Author(s):  
Amandeep Kaur ◽  
L. K. Dhaliwal

Field experiments were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab) to study the effect of different agronomic aspects of bed planting on growth and yield of rice during Kharif seasons of 2012 and 2013. The 30 days old seedlings of both rice varieties PR-118 (V1) and PR-116 (V2) were transplanted on 15th June (D1), 30th June (D2) and 15th July (D3). The two rice varieties were transplanted under bed planting (M1) and conventional planting (M2) methods respectively. The results showed that growth parameters like number of tillers per plant, dry weight per plant leaf area index (LAI) and plant height were significantly higher in bed planting than conventional method. In bed planting method, grain yield of rice (48.82q/h) was found to be more than the conventional method (35.74 q/h) during 2012.Varieties PR-118 yielded 47.61q/h more than PR-116 (39.97 q/h) in bed planting. Yield contributing characters like number of effective tillers, number of grains per plant and 1000-grain weight of rice were more in bed planting than conventional method. Harvest index and biological yield was also found to be more in bed planting method than conventional planting. Rice transplanted on 15th June yielded (50.15q/h) more than 30th June (41.45q/h) and 15th July (35.27q/h). Similar results were found in Kharif 2013. Interaction between dates of transplanting and varieties and between varieties and planting methods were found significant.


Author(s):  
I. R. Danbima ◽  
I. J. Tekwa ◽  
A. T. Gani

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of groundnut shell incorporation rates on the growth and yield of maize. Research methods: The study was carried out at the students’ demonstration farm of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, in 2018. Seeds were sown on a prepared land treated with four (4) doses of groundnut shells (0, 25, 50 and 75 tons/ha) arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated 4 times. Each plot was marked out at 2.0 m length × 2.0 m width with 0.5 m gap between the replicated plots and blocks. Maize growth parameters were determined at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after sowing and maize yield parameters were determined at 10 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS). Findings: The groundnut shell application rates increased maize growth parameters such as, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leave area index, and stem girth, number of cobs per plant and cobs weight. The results revealed that plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index and stem girth were significantly (P≤ 0.05) influenced by the treatments, except for the control treatment at 2- WAS. The higher application rates (50 and 75 t/ha) of groundnut shell significantly (P≤ 0.05) influenced the plant growth components better than the 25 and 0 t/ha treatment rates. Research limitations: There were no limitations to report. Originality/Value: The results suggests that groundnut shell incorporation rate at 50 t/ha could be recommended as the most appropriate and profitable for high performance of maize plants in Mubi. The results generally suggest that maize plants may tolerate even higher rates of groundnut shell incorporation beyond the rates used in the study.


1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
CWL Henderson

The effects of soil compaction and deep ripping on the growth and yield of crop (wheat, barley, oats, triticale, narrow leaf lupins and field peas) and pasture species (barrel medic and subterranean clover) were investigated for deep, sandy soils near Geraldton, Western Australia. In 1984 (an average rainfall season), growth and yields of all species were substantially reduced by soil compaction. Lupins were not included in the experiment. Barley, wheat and pea yields were reduced by around 45%; oat and triticale yields by 30%; and spring biomass of both pasture species was reduced by about 30%. The differences in response between the species were not significant (P>0.05). In 1985 (a very dry year), amelioration of soil compaction by deep ripping increased the dry matter at flowering of all the species, including lupins, by about 30%. Severe water stress in the cereals after flowering prevented the conversion of this dry matter advantage into grain yield differences. Because of late flowering and slow maturation, the yield of the oats was significantly (P<0.05) lower on the deep-ripped areas, compared with the yield on the compacted soil. Deep ripping increased the yield of peas by 60% and lupins by 20%, probably because flowering and seed filling were completed before the onset of severe water stress. For deep, sandy soils in mediterranean environments, maximum economic benefit would normally accrue from deep ripping prior to the cereal phase, given that current agronomic principles generally preclude the growing of peas on these soils. Selection of cereal species mainly depends on relative yields and prices; however, the results suggest that use of cultivars with rapid early growth, early flowering and quick maturity would maximise the response to compaction amelioration and minimise the risk of poor grain filling.


2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
C. Lourduraj

Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Aliyar Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India during summer 1994 and 1995 on groundnut, adopting a split plot design. Two irrigation regimes based on Irrigation Water/Cumulative Pan Evaporation (IW/CPE) ratios of 0.60 (I1) and 0.75 (I2) were allotted to the main plot. Twelve treatments involving combinations of organic manure with mineral fertilizer were assigned to the subplots. Irrigation scheduled at IW/CPE 0.75 led to higher plant height, number of branches plant –1, dry matter production and leaf area index, resulting in higher yield than IW/CPE 0.60. All the growth attributes and the yield increased in response to a higher level of mineral fertilizer application and organic manure application. The combined application of inorganic and organic manures significantly enhanced the growth attributes and yield of groundnut compared to the sole application of either of them.


Author(s):  
Rasheedat Ajala ◽  
Moses Awodun ◽  
Segun Oladele

Wood ash generated from wood industries have enormous potential which can be utilized due to its properties which influences soil chemistry and fertility status of tropical acidic soils. Field experiments were conducted on an acidic sandy loam alfisol to investigate the effects of wood ash on the growth indices and chlorophyll content of maize and lima beans intercrop during the late and early seasons of 2014 and 2015 at Akure in the rainforest zone of southwestern Nigeria. The treatments were 100% sole maize with ash, 100% sole maize without ash, 75% maize + 25% lima beans with ash, 75% + 25% lima beans without ash, 50% maize + 50% lima beans with ash, 50% maize + 50% lima beans without ash, 25% maize + 75% lima beans with ash and 25% maize + 75% lima beans without ash. Wood ash was applied at 2.4kg/plot. Wood ash increased chlorophyll content in all amended treatments except in amended 25:75% maize-lima beans intercrop and 25:75% maize –lima beans intercrop without ash, however 75:25% maize-lima beans amended with wood ash significantly (P≥0.05) recorded the highest chlorophyll content. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, leaf length, stem diameter, number of flowers, number of pods, weight of plant and total biomass of amended maize-lima beans intercrop were significantly (P≥0.05) increased by wood ash application. Based on experimental findings, 25:75% maize-lima beans intercrop and 75%:25% maize-lima beans intercrop amended with wood ash was concluded to be more recommendable in the study area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 029-038
Author(s):  
Sibeko Nomkhosi B ◽  
Mzwandile Mabuza ◽  
Tamado Tana

Okra is a nutritious summer vegetable crop in Eswatini. However, it has slow and uneven germination. Seed pre-sowing treatment through osmo-priming can enhance the germination, growth and yield of okra. Thus, laboratory and field experiments were conducted at Luyengo, Middleveld of Eswatini in 2019/2020 cropping season to determine the effect of osmo-priming on germination, growth and yield of okra. Treatments included priming of seeds with Polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% and unprimed control. Completely randomized design was used for the laboratory experiment and randomized complete block design was used for the field experiment. Results showed significant (p<0.01) effect of seed priming on the germination index, mean germination time and final germination percentage of okra seeds. Significantly the highest germination index (5.2) and final germination percentage (66) were recorded in priming with 15% PEG. Similarly, seeds priming with 15% PEG resulted in significantly the highest number of leaves per plant (12.07), leaf area index (1.49), canopy height (120.9 cm), and number of branches per plant (8.13). Moreover, okra seeds primed in 15% PEG resulted in the highest pod length and total green pod yield (2009.8 kg ha-1). Thus, it can be concluded that seed priming with 15% PEG is the most effective in improving the germination, growth and yield of okra in the study area.


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