Soil water relations and relative turgidity on leaves in the wheat crop

Abstract

Trials were conducted in 1961 and 1962 at Wagga in southern New South Wales to investigate the yield physiology of the wheat crop. Various cultural treatments were applied to a single variety (Heron). The increases in evapotranspiration and associated reductions in total soil moisture content caused by early sowing, by heavier fertilizer applications, and to a lesser extent by a heavier rate of sowing were reflected in an increased plant moisture stress (reduced leaf relative turgidity) at a given time in the spring. At a given stage of development, however, relative turgidity was not much affected by time of sowing, and in fact post-flowering plant moisture stress increased with later sowing.

There were only small treatment effects on the estimated depth and density of rooting. Relatively little water was extracted by crops from below 40 in.; dense crops reduced the soil moisture content throughout the root zone to less than the –15 bar value.

Leaf relative turgidity at sunrise showed a consistent inverse relationship to soil moisture content in the root zone. Leaf turgidity (sunrise) was maintained at 100% until root zone moisture levels approached the –15 bar value.