Root growth and soil-water extraction by winter and spring wheat

Entz, Martin H.; Gross, Kevin; Fowler, D. B.

doi:10.4141/cjps92-136

Cited by 33 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Some studies have shown that the soil water depletion front was closely related to the rooting depth (Entz et al, 1992;Angadi and Entz, 2002). Other studies have highlighted the primary role of the top root system in uptake of soil water (Clothier and Green, 1994).…”

Section: Patterns Of Root Water Uptakementioning

confidence: 99%

Root growth and soil water utilization of winter wheat in the North China Plain

Zhang

Pei

Chen

2004

Hydrological Processes

173

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major crop in the North China Plain (NCP). The monsoon climate in this region causes most rain to fall in the summer season, but during the winter-wheat growing season (October-May) the rainfall is far less than the water requirements for the crop. The efficiency of soil water use by winter wheat needs to be improved to reduce the need for irrigation. In this paper, we report the results of two seasons' work on soil water utilization, root growth and distribution, root water uptake by the crop under different irrigation treatments, and possible ways to improve soil water-use efficiency. The field experiments were carried out at Luancheng Station (37°53 0 N, 114°41 0 E) from 1996 to 1997 and 1998 to 1999, two growing seasons of winter wheat. Five treatments for each season: rain-fed and irrigated winter wheat with different irrigation numbers from 1 up to 4, were set up in a randomized plot design. Soil available water-holding capacity at the experimental site was about 454 mm for the top 2 m soil profile. Root sampling results showed that winter wheat had a prolific root system with an average maximum rooting depth of 2 m. Most of the root system was concentrated in the upper 40 cm of soil. Root length density in the top layer of soil (0-20 cm) was very high, with values over 5 cm cm 3 . The distribution of water uptake from the soil profile under high soil moisture conditions was the same as the distribution of root length density. The roots in the top layer of soil played an important role in soil water uptake. When root length density was less than 0Ð8 cm cm 3 , the root was the main factor limiting the complete utilization of soil water by crops. The scarcity of roots in the deep soil layers restricted the full utilization of soil water by the crops. Thus, at maturity, over 100 mm of available water remained in the root zone for the rain-fed treatment, although the upper layers had already entered water deficit. The crop took up 80% of the total available soil water in the treatment without irrigation in a dry season. For irrigated wheat, from 40 to 50% of crop water uptake was from the stored soil water. Available stored soil water played an important role in the higher production of wheat crops in the NCP. Effective measures to increase the utilization of stored soil water could improve crop performance under conditions of limited water supply. Results showed that deep tillage to break the soil pan improved root growth in the deeper soil layers, and sowing the crop evenly also enhanced water uptake from the top soil layer to compete with soil evaporation.

show abstract

Section: Patterns Of Root Water Uptakementioning

confidence: 99%

Root growth and soil water utilization of winter wheat in the North China Plain

Zhang

Pei

Chen

2004

Hydrological Processes

173

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Plants were dug out along with huge mass of soil. Soil masses were washed with tap water under constant pressure (Entz et al 1992). Care was taken to wash all root systems in the same way (i.e., using the same spatial washing pattern and total washing time).…”

Section: Root Length and Root/shoot Ratio Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of varied water regimes on root length, dry matter partitioning and endogenous plant growth regulators in sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.)

Rauf

Sadaqat

2007

Journal of Plant Interactions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A field experiment was conducted to quantify the effect of varied water regimes on root length, partitioning of dry matter and plant growth regulators by using sunflower genotypes differing in maturity and drought tolerance. Significant depressing effect of drought stress was evident on traits (i.e., reproductive dry matter, leaf area index and cytokinin concentrations in leaves). However, root/shoot, reproductive/vegetative ratios and Abscisic acid (ABA) concentration were found to increase under drought stress. Drought stress also changed the dry matter accumulation pattern of genotypes. In most cases it reduced the days to reach the maximum peak showing early senescence. ABA was identified as a multi-functional plant growth regulator under drought stress, causing early senescence of plants and translocation of assimilates to the roots and reproductive part while root growth under drought stress was explained by the indole-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations. Maintaining higher cytokinin contents were involved in accumulation of higher reproductive dry matter under drought stress. Although ABA and IAA were both involved in the development of defense responses during the adaptation and survival to drought stress but higher productivity under drought stress was only realized through maintaining higher cytokinin contents.

show abstract

“…It is speculated, from experience over years, that at this stage the plant becomes dependent on 'slowly' available water from the deeper soil layers (l m to 2 m). Only a few roots are present in the deeper soil layers and soil water uptake is slow (Gregory et al, 1977;Entz, Gross & Fowler, 1991). The use of this slowly available soil water, or 'slow water', as soil water becomes depleted, combined with the slowing down of the metabolism, is a survival mechanism of the wheat plant under water stress conditions.…”

Section: Soil Water Contentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of CERES-wheat v2.10: Soil water content under rainfed conditions

Toit

Purchase

Hensley

1997

South African Journal of Plant and Soil

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the semi-arid wheat production areas of the Free State province, the low and erratic rainfall, especially during early spring, is the most limiting natural resource for rainfed wheat production. Accurate simulation of soil water content by crop growth simulation models is therefore critically important. Validation data were collected on four benchmark ecot9pes for rainfed wheat production in the Free State province of South Africa over a three-year period. The trials were planted in a randomized block design with four replications. Three cultivars were planted and tested on each ecotope. Plant components, yield components and soil water content measurements were done according to IBSNAT standards for a minimum data set for model validation. Soil water content was monitored continuously with a neutron water meter during the growing season, with more emphasis on the warmer and wetter part of it. The soil physical and chemical properties required as input by the model were determined. Measured data were compared with simulated data, as produced by the standard version of CERES-wheat version 2.10, using graphical and statistical methods. Simulation of the soil water content through the growing season was generally reasonably accurate, but over and under-predictions occurred during critical growth stages. The simulation of plant and yield components was not accurate and large over and under-predictions occurred.In die Vrystaat is die voorkoms en tydigheid van lentereens en die wisselvallige verspreiding daarvan deur die groeiseisoen die mees beperkende faktor in droelandkoringproduksie. Om die rede word uitsonderlik baie op opgegaarde grondwater voor planttyd staatgemaak om die kans op 'n ekonomiese opbrengs te verseker. Die akkurate simulasie van grondwaterinhoud deur gewasgroeisimulasiemodelle is dus krities belangrik om die groei en ontwikkeling van die koringplant in die Vrystaat akkuraat te simuleer. Validasiedata is op vier verteenwoordigende ekotope in die Vrystaat oor 'n tydperk van drie jaar ingesamel. Die proewe is in 'n ewekansige blokontwerp met vier herhalings geplant. Drie kultivars is in elke proef geplant. Metings is uitgevoer volgens IBSNAT-voorskrifte vir die insameling van 'n minimum datastel vir die toets van simulasiemodelle. Grondwaterinhoud is periodiek gedurende die groeiseisoen gemeet. Gemete data is met die simulasiedata van CERES-wheat 2.10 vergelyk deur gebruik te maak van grafiese en statistiese metodes. Die simulasie van grondwaterinhoud is oor die algemeen" redelik akkuraat, maar oor-en ondervoorspellings kom voor tydens kritieke groeistadia. Die simulasie van plant-en oeskomponente is onakkuraat, met groot oor-en ondervoorspellings wat voorkom."

show abstract

Root growth and soil-water extraction by winter and spring wheat

Cited by 33 publications

References 24 publications

Root growth and soil water utilization of winter wheat in the North China Plain

Root growth and soil water utilization of winter wheat in the North China Plain

Effects of varied water regimes on root length, dry matter partitioning and endogenous plant growth regulators in sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.)

Evaluation of CERES-wheat v2.10: Soil water content under rainfed conditions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About