Physiological Manipulation and Yield Response of Wheat Grown with Split Root System under Deficit Irrigation

Rashid Iqbal; Mathias Neumann Andersen; Muhammad Aown Sammar Raza; Muhammad Adil Rashid; Salman Ahmad

Author(s)

Rashid Iqbal Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University,Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele,Denmark; Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur,Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele,Pakistan

Mathias Neumann Andersen Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University,Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele,Denmark

Muhammad Aown Sammar Raza Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur,Pakistan

Muhammad Adil Rashid Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University,Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele,Denmark

Salman Ahmad Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur,Pakistan

Abstract

Water shortage is the main limitation for agricultural production in many parts of the world. Drought or unavailability of water may seriously limit plant growth as well as yield. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of various irrigation strategies i.e. Full (FI), deficit (DI) and partial rootzone drying (PRD) on physiological, water relations, water use eficiency (WUE), and yield related attributes of wheat. These irrigation treatments were started at anthesis stage and maintained for 30 days. For FI and DI, 100 and 50% of evapotranspiration (ET) was replaced by irrigating the entire pot surface every 4-5 days. For PRD, root system was split into two equal halves and during each irrigation event, only one-half of the root system was irrigated with the same amount of water as applied to DI, and subsequently, irrigation was switched to the second half. PRD irrigation significantly improved WUE (both photosynthetic and intrinsic) and instantaneous carboxylation eficiency of Rubisco than FI and DI. Higher Abscisic acid (ABA) production under PRD reduced stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis and transpiration rate. Magnitude of osmotic adjustment (i.e. leaf water, osmotic and tugor potential) was lowest and highest under FI, DI and PRD, respectively. However, PRD had lower shoot biomass and grain yield per plant as compared to FI but higher than the DI. Despite improving the WUE, PRD tended to compromise the yield of wheat crop but PRD is recommended instead of DI. Results imply that PRD treatment can be an option under water shortage; however, its suitability and efficacy should further be tested under field conditions.

Publication Details

Page(s) 514-526

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, Volume: 32, Issue: 2, Year: 2019

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Keywords

water use efficiency, grain yield, Osmotic adjustment, Leaf gas exchange, Irrigation strategies