Water relations of pulse, oilseed and cereal crops under semiarid conditions on the Northern Great Plains.
(A03-cutforth972820-poster)
Authors:
S. Angadi* - AAFC, Swift Current, SK
H. Cutforth - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada B. McConkey - AAFC, Swift Current, SK K. Volkmar - AAFC, Brandon, MB M. Entz - U of Man., Winnipeg MB S. Brandt - AAFC, Scott, SK D. Ulrich - AAFC, Scott, SK
P. Miller - Montana S. U., Bozman, MT
Abstract:
In the predominantly wheat-fallow area of the semiarid Canadian prairie, alternate crops provide options to diversify and extend crop rotations. Understanding the drought physiology of alternate crops is essential to assess the production risks of new cropping systems. We compared the water relations of pulses (dry (field) pea and chickpea) and Brassica oilseeds (canola and mustard) with spring wheat under different moisture availabilities in field trials conducted in 1997 and 1998 at Swift Current, SK, Canada. The crops exhibited different strategies to overcome water stress. Wheat buffers against drought by developing a deep root system. High water use is sustained by a high leaf:soil water potential gradient. Very low plant water potentials are balanced by osmotic solutes to maintain turgor. Brassica oilseeds are also deep-rooted, and have a high water demand. They are less able to adapt to water stress because of low osmotic adjustment. Turgor is maintained through moderate to high cell wall elasticity. Despite their shallow rooted growth habit, pulses adapt to drought stress by demanding less water. Cell turgor is maintained through a combination of osmoregulation and high cell wall elasticity.
Speaker Information: Herb Cutforth, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre, Box, Swift Current, SK S9H 3X2; Phone: 306 778-7259; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Monday, November 3, 2003, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Presentation Start: 4:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 112)
Keywords: water potential; root system; water use efficiency; water extraction