Visual assessment of total plant relative water content, with the aid of photographic standards, as a guide to scheduling irrigation

Abstract

The relative water contents (RWC) of the top and bottom leaves of maize plants were measured. The RWC of the top leaf was higher than that of the bottom leaf when the plant was under water stress. Photographic standards based on the RWC of the whole plant were developed and tested against plants in the field. The results showed that the standards give an accurate indication of the plant's water status. Standards based on the upper leaf only would result in irrigations too infrequent to prevent severe restrictions to photosynthesis.