Interactive Effects of Nitrogen and Water Stresses on Water Relations of Field‐Grown Corn Leaves¹

Abstract

Water and N stresses often limit corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields. Although the effects of either water or N stress on crop growth and development, physiology, and yield have been widely studied, relatively little information is available on the interactive effects of these stresses when imposed in combination. The objective of this study was to define and evaluate the interactive effects of water and N stresses on leaf water potential components, transpiration rate, and stomatal resistance of field-grown corn leaves. Corn grown on a Kendrick fine sand soil (loamy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Paleudult) was subjected to two water management treatments (optimal irrigation, and a 10-day water stress period, which immediately preceded 50% silking). Within each water management treatment, two N levels (low, 62 kg ha-1 ; high, 275 kg ha-1 ) were imposed. During the water stress period, both midday and diurnal measurements of leaf water potential (if L), leaf osmotic potential (if.), leaf turgor potential (if,), leaf transpiration, and leaf diffusive resistance were determined on combinations of the water and N stress treatments. Although high-N plants attained similar or slightly lower ifL than low N plants as a result of the water stress, high-N plants maintained

Xylem embolism and drought-induced stomatal closure in maize

“…Maize water relations during water stress have been extensively documented (e.g. Bennett et al 1986Bennett et al , 1987Tyree et al 1986;Tardieu et al 1992). The relationships between relative soil water content (RSWC), leaf water potential (Y leaf ) and leaf water loss (E) reported in this study are consistent with the data in the literature.…”

Nutrient availability constrains the hydraulic architecture and water relations of savannah trees

“…Other studies have also shown that the capacity for osmotic adjustment increased in plants with increasing N supply (e.g. Bennett et al 1986;Garcia, Fuentes & Gallego 1996;Harvey 1997;DaMatta et al 2002).…”

Effects of soil water deficit and nitrogen nutrition on water relations and photosynthesis of pot-grown Coffea canephora Pierre

“…However, the N status has variable effects on plant water relations. For example, Morgan (1986) found that in wheat a greater amplitude of osmotic adjustment was associated with low N supply after withholding watering, while opposite responses in corn (Bennett et al 1986) and tomato (García et al 1996) have been observed. Furthermore, while N or water deficits usually decrease the rate of carbon assimilation (A), N limitation per se may affect stomatal behaviour in different ways; both increases (e.g., Livingston et al 1999) and decreases (e.g., Lima et al 1999) in stomatal conductance (g s ) have been noted.…”