根区交替控制灌溉条件下玉米根系吸水规律

为了阐明根区交替控制灌溉(CRDAI)条件下玉米根系吸水规律,通过田间试验,在沟灌垄植模式下采用根区交替控制灌溉研究玉米根区不同点位(沟位、坡位和垄位)的根长密度(RLD)及根系吸水动态。研究表明,根区土壤水分的干湿交替引起玉米RLD的空间动态变化,在垄位两侧不对称分布,并存在层间差异;土壤水分和RLD是根区交替控制灌溉下根系吸水速率的主要限制因素。在同一土层,根系吸水贡献率以垄位最大,沟位最低;玉米营养生长阶段,10—30 cm土层的根系吸水速率最大;玉米生殖生长阶段,20—70 cm为根系吸水速率最大的土层,根系吸水贡献率为43.21%—55.48%。研究阐明了交替控制灌溉下根系吸水与土壤水分、RLD间相互作用的动态规律,对控制灌溉下水分调控机理研究具有理论意义。     

商洛低山丘陵区农林复合生态系统光能竞争与生产力

农林复合系统是改善商洛低山丘陵区脆弱生态环境、促进该区域经济发展的重要举措。以该区具有代表性的核桃(Juglans regia L.)、大豆(秦豆8号)和丹参(Radin salviae Miltiorrhizae)农林复合模式为对象,研究不同农林复合系统对光能分布、农作物生长、生产的影响。研究结果表明,不同复合模式下,大豆、丹参的光合有效辐射、光合速率、生物量及产量均有不同程度的下降,且距树行愈近,影响愈大。叶片水势与大豆、丹参的光合速率、生物量以及产量不相关或负相关,而15—30 cm土壤含水量与大豆的生物量和产量以及丹参的生物量正相关,大豆、丹参的生产量与其光合有效辐射呈显著正相关性,这说明农林复合系统中光能竞争是导致间作大豆、丹参产量下降的主要原因。     

Roots,soil water and crop yield: tree crop interactions in a semi-arid agroforestry system in Kenya

Variations in soil water, crop yield and fine roots of 3–4 year-old Grevillea robusta Cunn. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. growing in association with maize (Zea mays L.) were examined in semiarid Kenya during the long rains of 1996 and 1997. Even although tree roots penetrated more deeply than maize roots, maximum root length densities for both tree species and maize occurred in the top 200 mm of the soil profile where soil moisture was frequently recharged by rains. Populations of roots in plots containing trees were dominated by tree roots at the beginning of the growing season but because tree roots died and maize root length increased during the cropping season, amounts of tree and maize roots were similar at the end of the season. Thus, there was evidence of temporal separation of root activity between species, but there was no spatial separation of the rooting zones of the trees and crops within that part of the soil profile occupied by crop roots. Tree root length density declined with increasing distances from rows of trees and with depth in the soil profile. Although Grevillea trees were largest, plots containing G. sepium trees always contained more tree roots than plots containing G. robusta trees and Gliricidia was more competitive with maize than Grevillea. Overall, Gliricidia reduced crop yield by about 50% and Grevillea by about 40% relative to crop yield in control plots lacking trees and reductions of crop yield were greatest close to trees. There was less soil moisture in plots containing trees than in control plots. Such difference between control plots and plots containing trees were maximal at the end of the dry season and there was always less soil moisture close to trees than elsewhere in the plots. Plots containing Gliricidia trees contained less soil water than plots containing Grevillea trees.     

Effect of deep and shallow root systems on the dynamics of soil inorganic N during 3-year crop rotations

Unused inorganic nitrogen (N_inorg) left in agricultural soils will typically leach to deeper soil layers. If it moves below the root zone it will be lost from the system, but the depth of the root zone depends on the crop species grown. In this experiment we studied the effect of 3-year crop sequences, with different combinations of deep-rooted and shallow-rooted crops, on soil N_inorg dynamics to 2.5 m soil depth and the possibility of crop utilization of N leached to deep soil layers. We grew ten different crop sequences for 3 years. The crops and catch crops grown were selected to allow different sequences of deep-rooted and shallow-rooted crops. Very different rooting depths were obtained, from only 0.5 m (leek), to ∼1.0 m (ryegrass and barley), 1.5 m (red beet), 2.0 m (fodder radish and white cabbage) and more than 2.5 m by the chicory catch crop. The results showed a significant retention of N_inorg within the 2.5 m soil profile from one year to the next, but the retained N had leached to deeper parts of the profile during the winter season. Only little N_inorg was retained over two winter seasons. The retention in the deeper soil layers allowed N_inorg to be taken up by succeeding deep-rooted main crops or catch crops. The effects of crop rooting depth on N_inorg in the subsoil layers from 1.0 to 2.5 m were striking. White cabbage reduced N_inorg below 1.0 m with up to 113 kg N ha^-1 during its growth. Grown after catch crops, leek and red beet left on average 60 kg N ha⁻¹ less below 1.0 m than leek and red beet grown without a preceding catch crop. We conclude that it is possible to design crop rotations with improved nitrogen use efficiency by using the differences in crop rooting patterns; deep-rooted crops or catch crops can be used to recover N_inorg leached after previous crops, and catch crops can be grown before shallow-rooted crops to lift the deep N_inorg up to layers where these crops have their roots.     

Soil profile gravel concentration and its effect on rainfed crop yields

Summary Soil characteristics in the crop root zone are critical to soil water and nutrient availability to rainfed crops and determine crop production in coarse textured soils. A four-year field study was conducted in the foot-hills of North Himalayas near Chandigarh (India) on a coarse textured soil (Gravelly udic ustocrepts) to evaluate the effect of varying soil profile gravel concentration on the yield of rainfed crops of Taramira (Eruca sativa Mill.) in winter followed by maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) in summer. Taramira gave a mean grain yield of 683, 410 and 275 kg ha^–1 at gravel concentration (GC) of 18, 28 and 40 percent by volume in the surface one metre soil depth. The grain and forage yield of summer crops decreased with the increasing GC. The gross monetary returns decreased in the order: Sorghum fodder, cowpea, sesamum and maize. The dilution of soil mass with increasing GC and corresponding decrease in nutrient and water holding capacity of the soil appears to have depressed the crop yields. The results indicated that the legume which can also conserve rainwater with dense canopy like cowpea or crops having vigorous fibrous root system and are relatively drought tolerant like sorghum may provide better economic returns in light textured soil containing gravel upto 40 percent.     

Effects of varying levels and frequencies of irrigation on growth,yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency of maize and cowpeas on a sandy loam ultisol

Summary A greenhouse study was carried out on an Nsukka sandy loam Ultisol having low soil moisture retention capacity to investigate the soil moisture regime and irrigation frequency required for optimum growth, yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). Four irrigation amounts (400 cm³, 300 cm³, 200 cm³ and 100 cm³ equivalent to 100, 75, 50 and 25% of field capacity, respectively) and four irrigation frequencies (daily, 2-day, 3-day and 4-day intervals) were tested in a factorial randomized design with three replications.Growth of maize was best when irrigation with water equivalent to 75% field capacity at daily interval but the optimum yields and nutrient uptake of both crops as well as cowpea nodulation were obtained when irrigating with water equivalent to 100% field capacity at daily or 2-day interval. The optimum water use efficiency was, however, achieved when irragating with amount equivalent to 100% field capacity at a 2-day interval. Irrigation with water equivalent to 50 or 25% field capacity at any interval resulted in various degrees of moisture stress which manifested in poor crop performance.     

Crop nitrogen use and soil mineral nitrogen accumulation under different crop combinations and patterns of strip intercropping in northwest China

Increasing crop nitrogen use efficiency while also simultaneously decreasing nitrogen accumulation in the soil would be key steps in controlling nitrogen pollution from agricultural systems. Long-term field experiments were started in 2003 to study the effects of intercropping on crop N use and soil mineral N accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv 2014)/maize (Zea mays L. cv Shendan16), wheat/faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv Lincan No. 5) and maize/faba bean intercropping and monocropping systems. Monocropping was compared with two types of strip intercropping: continuous intercropping (two crops intercropped continuously on the same strips of land every year) and rotational intercropping (two crops grown adjacently and rotated to the other crop??s strip every year). Maize/faba bean intercropping had greater crop N uptake than did wheat/faba bean or wheat/maize. Wheat/maize accumulated more mineral N in the top 140 cm of the soil profile during the co-growth stage from maize emergence to maturity of wheat or faba bean. Continuously intercropped maize substantially decreased soil mineral N accumulation under wheat and faba bean rows (60?C100 cm soil depth) at maize harvest. Soil mineral N accumulation under wheat rows increased with rotational intercropping with faba bean. Rotational intercropping may potentially alleviate the adverse effects of wheat on N use by other crops and increase the nitrogen harvest index of wheat, maize and faba bean. Intercropping using species with different maturity dates may be more effective in increasing crop N use efficiency and decreasing soil mineral N accumulation.     

Soil tillage systems to reduce the harmful effect of extreme weather and hydrological situations

Soil as the largest potential natural water reservoir in the Carpathian Basin has increasing importance under conditions of predicted climate change resulting in increase of probability of extreme hydrological events. Soil management changes soil structure and has a major effect on soil water, heat and nutrition regimes. In this study the effect of four tillage treatments in combination with catch crop management was studied on soil hydraulic properties and water regime under semi-arid conditions. Investigations were carried out in a long-term soil tillage experiment established on Calcic Chernozem soil in Hungary. Tillage variants comprised mouldboard ploughing, disking, loosening combined with disking and direct drilling. The crop sequence between September 2003 and September 2004 comprised maize (main crop), rye (catch crop) and pea (forage). In May 2004, disturbed samples and undisturbed soil cores were collected from each tillage treatment/catch crop combination. The main soil physical and hydrophysical properties were determined in laboratory. In each treatment, capacitive soil moisture probes were installed up to 80 cm depth to ensure continuous measurement of soil water content. Total soil water amounts of chosen soil layers and soil water content dynamics as a function of depth were evaluated for selected periods in order to quantify the effect of the studied management systems on soil water regime. The main conclusion from the experiment is that under such (or similar) ecological conditions, the uniform, „over-standardized“ adaptation of tillage methods for soil moisture conservation is rather risky, their application needs special care and the future is for site-specific precision technologies. These are, in combination with catch crop application can be efficient measures of environmental protection and soil structure and water conservation.     

黄土高原半干旱区苜蓿草地土壤干燥化特征与粮草轮作土壤水分恢复效应

实地测定了黄土高原半干旱区固原不同生长年限苜蓿草地和连作8a苜蓿草地翻耕轮作不同年限粮食作物后深层土壤水分特征,分析了苜蓿草地土壤干燥化特征和粮草轮作对土壤水分的恢复效应.结果表明:(1)苜蓿连作1a、5a、8a和12a等4类苜蓿草地0～1000cm土层平均土壤湿度值为6.6%,平均土壤水分过耗量702.8mm,平均土壤干燥化速率147.1mm/a,达到强烈干燥化程度,苜蓿连作5a土壤干层深度超过1000cm,苜蓿连作8a土壤干层深度超过1360cm,苜蓿草地合理利用年限为7a.(2)连作8a苜蓿草地翻耕并轮作4～7a和25a粮食作物等5类粮田0～1000cm土层土壤湿度介于6.74%～11.95%,土壤贮水量恢复值介于210.6～887.3mm,平均土壤水分恢复速率为80.8mm/a.轮作6a后粮田土壤干层轻度恢复程度以上深度达到1000cm.通过粮草轮作使苜蓿草地土壤湿度恢复到当地土壤稳定湿度需要13a以上.黄土高原半干旱区适宜的粮草轮作模式为:7a苜蓿→13a粮食作物.     

Phosphorus mining efficiency declines with decreasing soil P concentration and varies across crop species

High soil P concentrations hinder ecological restoration of biological communities typical for nutrient-poor soils. Phosphorus mining, i.e., growing crops with fertilization other than P, might reduce soil P concentrations. However, crop species have different P-uptake rates and can affect subsequent P removal in crop rotation, both of which may also vary with soil P concentration. In a pot experiment with three soil-P-levels (High-P: 125–155 mg P_Olsen/kg; Mid-P: 51–70 mg P_Olsen/kg; Low-P: 6–21 mg P_Olsen/kg), we measured how much P was removed by five crop species (buckwheat, maize, sunflower, flax, and triticale). Total P removal decreased with soil-P-level and depended upon crop identity. Buckwheat and maize removed most P from High-P and Mid-P soils and triticale removed less P than buckwheat, maize, and sunflower at every soil-P-level. The difference in P removal between crops was, however, almost absent in Low-P soils. Absolute and relative P removal with seeds depended upon crop species and, for maize and triticale, also upon soil-P-level. None of the previously grown crop species significantly affected P removal by the follow-up crop (perennial ryegrass). We can conclude that for maximizing P removal, buckwheat or maize could be grown.     

Effects of tree competition on corn and soybean photosynthesis, growth, and yield in a temperate tree-based agroforestry intercropping system in southern Ontario, Canada

In 1987, the University of Guelph established a large tree-based intercropping system on 30 ha of prime agricultural land in southern Ontario, Canada. The purpose was to investigate various aspects of intercropping trees with prime agricultural crops. In this study, objectives were to investigate tree competitive effects (i.e., shading and competition for soil moisture) on under-story crop net assimilation (NA), growth, and yield. The effects of tree competition on corn (C4 plant) and soybean (C3 plant) photosynthesis and productivity in the intercropped system were studied during the 1997 and 1998 growing seasons. Corn and soybeans were intercropped with hybrid poplar (clone-DN-177) and silver maple (Acer sacharrinum) at a within-row spacing of 6 m and between-row spacing of 12.5 or 15 m. Trees were absent from control rows. Tree rows were oriented approximately north and south. Twelve crop locations were sampled around each tree. These were at 2 and 6 m east and west of the tree, located along a primary axis running through the tree trunk and perpendicular to the tree row, and at 2 m north and south of each location along the primary axis. Net assimilation and plant water deficit measurements were made three times daily (morning, noon, afternoon) on sampling days in July. Generally, tree competition significantly reduced photosynthetic radiation (PAR), net assimilation (NA), and growth and yield of individual soybean or corn plants growing nearer (2 m) to tree rows in both years and soil moisture in 1998. NA was highly correlated with growth and yield of both crops. These correlations were higher for corn than soybeans in both years, with corn, rather than soybeans being more adversely impacted by tree shading. In 1997, poplar, rather than maple, had the greatest competitive effect on NA. In 1997, the lowest plant water deficits, for soybeans and for corn, were observed for the maple treatment. Nonetheless, in both years, daily plant water deficits were non-significantly and poorly correlated with NA and growth and yield of both crops. However, soil moisture (5 and 15 cm depth) was significantly correlated with soybeans yield in 1998. Possible remediation strategies are discussed to reduce tree competitive interactions on agricultural crops.     

咸阳地区近年苹果林地土壤含水量动态变化

利用人力钻采样法和烘干称重法, 研究了咸阳地区2002-2008年间苹果林地6 m深度范围土壤含水量的动态变化、土壤干层的等级、土壤干层水分恢复、动力机制与消耗过程。资料表明, 咸阳地区干旱年苹果林地土壤含水量较低, 发育了长期性土壤干层。2003和2007丰水年苹果林地土壤干层中的水分得到了显著恢复, 经过当年的水分补给, 土壤干层已经消失。丰水年土层中重力水含量较高, 并能到达2 m深度以下。持续时间较长的重力水的存在是土壤干层水分恢复的驱动力, 但干层水分恢复的直接动力是薄膜水的水膜压力。在年降水量800 mm或更多的条件下, 不论黄土厚度有多大, 土层水分完全能够满足人工林生长的需要。咸阳地区干旱年苹果林地土壤水分不足, 土壤水分收入量小于支出量, 土壤水分为负平衡, 没有剩余的水分通过入渗补给地下水;丰水年苹果林地土壤水分充足, 土壤水分收入量大于支出量, 土壤水分为正平衡, 有剩余的水分通过入渗补给地下水。在年降水量为800 mm左右的丰水年, 该区补给的土壤水分可维持苹果林地在3 a内不会出现长期性干层, 3 a之后一般还会出现长期性土壤干层。     

Intercropping Competition between Apple Trees and Crops in Agroforestry Systems on the Loess Plateau of China

Agroforestry has been widely practiced in the Loess Plateau region of China because of its prominent effects in reducing soil and water losses, improving land-use efficiency and increasing economic returns. However, the agroforestry practices may lead to competition between crops and trees for underground soil moisture and nutrients, and the trees on the canopy layer may also lead to shortage of light for crops. In order to minimize interspecific competition and maximize the benefits of tree-based intercropping systems, we studied photosynthesis, growth and yield of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) by measuring photosynthetically active radiation, net photosynthetic rate, soil moisture and soil nutrients in a plantation of apple (Malus pumila M.) at a spacing of 4 m × 5 m on the Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that for both intercropping systems in the study region, soil moisture was the primary factor affecting the crop yields followed by light. Deficiency of the soil nutrients also had a significant impact on crop yields. Compared with soybean, peanut was more suitable for intercropping with apple trees to obtain economic benefits in the region. We concluded that apple-soybean and apple-peanut intercropping systems can be practical and beneficial in the region. However, the distance between crops and tree rows should be adjusted to minimize interspecies competition. Agronomic measures such as regular canopy pruning, root barriers, additional irrigation and fertilization also should be applied in the intercropping systems.     

Water and salt movement in soil driven by crop roots: a controlled column study

Water deficit and salt accumulation in soil presents serious problems to crop production in semi-arid regions. These problems depend on the active transpiration stream and the selective absorption of ions by crop roots. In this study, a large sized soil column system was used to examine the dynamics of water and ion transport and salt accumulation in soil layers. Special reference was placed on the effects of the active and selective absorption by roots of different crops (i.e., corn plants, sunflower plants and no plants). The column system was equipped with on-line systems for the control of groundwater level. Soil water content sensors enabled time-course evaluations of the volumetric water content and hence upward flux of the groundwater in the soils at different depths. Furthermore, the distribution and accumulation of ions in soil layers, plant organs and xylem sap were analyzed using ion chromatography. In this column experiment, diurnal and longer term changes in water movement and ion accumulation in soil, affected by root absorption characteristics of plants, were evaluated quantitatively. The results demonstrated that the column system was applicable for the quantitative analysis of the effects of root absorption by different crops on water deficit and salinization in soils.     

Water regime of upland oak forests of the south Russian forest steppe

In the southern forest steppe, the upland oak forests on loamy dark grey soils, which have the automorphic mode of water supply, usually endure droughts during the second half of the vegetative season due to the creation and use by biogeocenoses of some moisture reserves into soil and groundwater (GW), which are accessible to deep layers of root systems of trees. Two shallow sandy horizons interlaying moraine loams of the Dnieper glaciation at altitudes of 120 and 143 m above sea level serve as collectors and transporters of GW, the table of which is 10-15 m lower than the surface of the watershed plateaus and terraces. By autumn, trees desiccate subsoil horizons to the capillary fringe of GW. In early spring, the moisture of dried horizons is restored. The reserves of GW permit the upland oak forests to preserve rather high values of predawn leaf water potential such as Ψ _PD ≥ ?0.8 MPa despite the decrease in water potential of soil at a depth of 0-2 m of the soil layer to a value of Ψ _S ≈ ?2.4 MPa.     

玉米早期根系构型及其生理特性对土壤水分的响应

为了探明玉米早期根系结构及其对土壤水分的生理响应,揭示玉米幼苗的抗旱机理,以蠡玉18为材料,采用盆栽试验,设置轻度胁迫(LS)、中度胁迫(MS)、重度胁迫(SS)和正常供水(CK)4个水分处理,系统研究从播种开始持续水分处理对夏玉米苗期根系形态结构及活力、保护酶系统及生理调节物质的影响。结果表明:随着水分胁迫程度的加剧,玉米根长、根表面积、根体积和根干重等各形态指标较CK下降幅度逐渐增大,不同水分胁迫使夏玉米苗期根系结构存在差异。轻度和中度胁迫显著增加了细根(0.05—0.25 mm)根长和根表面积比例,重度水分胁迫显著降低粗根(0.50 mm)根长与根表面积比例。玉米苗期根冠比、根系活力和丙二醛(MDA)含量随水分胁迫程度的增强而上升,随着胁迫时间的延长,根冠比逐渐降低。根系可溶性蛋白含量随土壤水分含量的下降而下降,MS、SS处理较CK显著降低(P0.05)。夏玉米根系中SOD对水分胁迫较CAT、POD更敏感,轻度水分胁迫下主要依赖CAT、中度水分胁迫下主要依赖POD、重度水分胁迫下主要依赖SOD来降低氧化伤害;且重度胁迫下,随着胁迫时间的延长保护酶活性下降。苗期玉米通过增加根冠比、增强根系活力和不同保护酶活性及降低可溶性蛋白等渗透调节物质来协同减少水分胁迫的危害。     

Root and inorganic nitrogen distributions in sesbania fallow,natural fallow and maize fields

One hypothesis for a benefit of integrating trees with crops is that trees with deep root systems can capture and pump up nutrients from below the rooting zone of annual crops. Few studies have compared both root and nutrient distribution for planted trees, crops and grassland vegetation. A field study was conducted on a Kandiudalfic Eutrudox in the highlands of western Kenya to measure rooting characteristics and distribution of inorganic N and water in three land-use systems (LUS): (i) Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. fallow, (ii) uncultivated natural weed fallow and (iii) unfertilized maize (Zea mays L.) monoculture. The maximum rooting depth was 1.2 m in the maize LUS, 2.25 m in a 13-month-old natural fallow, and > 4 m in a 15-month-old sesbania fallow. Total root length was 1.26 km m^-2 for the maize LUS, 5.98 km m^-2 for the natural fallow, and 4.56 km m^-2 to 4 m for the sesbania fallow. Root length to 1.2 m was greater (p < 0.01) for natural fallow than for maize and sesbania fallow. A considerable portion of the sesbania root length to 4 m was in the subsoil; 47% was at 1.2 to 4 m and 31% was at 2.25 to 4 m. Deep rooting of sesbania coincided with lower soil water below 2 m in the sesbania fallow than the natural fallow. Nitrate-N, but not ammonium-N, to 4 m was affected by LUS. Total nitrate to 4 m was 199 kg N ha^-1 for the maize LUS, 42 kg N ha^-1 for the natural fallow and 51 kg N ha^-1 for the sesbania fallow. Soil nitrate in the maize LUS was highest at 0.3 to 1.5-m depth on this Oxisol with anion sorption capacity. No such accumulation of subsoil nitrate was present under sesbania and natural fallow.     

Size-dependent growth and the development of inequality in maize,sunflower and soybean

Links were investigated between allometry of plant growth and dynamics of size structure of well-fertilized, irrigated crops of soybean (Glycine max L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) grown at standard plant-population densities (D), as in commercial crops (D = 30, 6 and 8.5 plants m-2, respectively), and at high densities (2D). Patterns of size-dependent growth of shoot and seed mass accumulation were distinctly different among species. In soybean and sunflower, non-linear relationships between size and subsequent growth led to strong hierarchical populations in terms of both shoot and seed biomass. Curvilinear (soybean) and sigmoid (sunflower) size-dependent growth determined strongly asymmetrical (soybean) and bimodal (sunflower) frequency distributions of shoot biomass indicating predominantly size asymmetrical competition among individuals. In comparison, a lower plant-to-plant variation coupled with a typical linear allometry of growth to plant size indicated symmetrical two-sided plant interference in maize. Despite the weak development of hierarchies in shoot biomass, a strong inequality in reproductive output developed in crowded populations of maize indicating an apparent breakage of reproductive allometry.     

Photosynthesis, productivity, and yield of maize are not affected by open-air elevation of CO2 concentration in the absence of drought

While increasing temperatures and altered soil moisture arising from climate change in the next 50 years are projected to decrease yield of food crops, elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) is predicted to enhance yield and offset these detrimental factors. However, C4 photosynthesis is usually saturated at current [CO2] and theoretically should not be stimulated under elevated [CO2]. Nevertheless, some controlled environment studies have reported direct stimulation of C4 photosynthesis and productivity, as well as physiological acclimation, under elevated [CO2]. To test if these effects occur in the open air and within the Corn Belt, maize (Zea mays) was grown in ambient [CO2] (376 micromol mol(-1)) and elevated [CO2] (550 micromol mol(-1)) using Free-Air Concentration Enrichment technology. The 2004 season had ideal growing conditions in which the crop did not experience water stress. In the absence of water stress, growth at elevated [CO2] did not stimulate photosynthesis, biomass, or yield. Nor was there any CO2 effect on the activity of key photosynthetic enzymes, or metabolic markers of carbon and nitrogen status. Stomatal conductance was lower (-34%) and soil moisture was higher (up to 31%), consistent with reduced crop water use. The results provide unique field evidence that photosynthesis and production of maize may be unaffected by rising [CO2] in the absence of drought. This suggests that rising [CO2] may not provide the full dividend to North American maize production anticipated in projections of future global food supply.     

Use of the root contact concept,an empirical leaf conductance model and pressure-volume curves in simulating crop water relations

A simulation model “DanStress” was developed for studying the integrated effects of soil, crop and climatic conditions on water relations and water use of field grown cereal crops. The root zone was separated into 0.1 m deep layers of topsoil and subsoil. For each layer the water potential at the root surface was calculated by a single root model, and the uptake of water across the root was calculated by a root contact model. Crop transpiration was calculated by Monteith's combination equation for vapour flow. Crop conductance to water vapour transfer for use in Monteith's combination equation was scaled up from an empirical stomatal conductance model used on sunlit and shaded crop surfaces of different crop layers. In the model, transpirational water loss originates from root water uptake and changes in crop water storage. Crop water capacitance, used for describing the water storage, was derived from the slope of pressure-volume (PV) curves of the leaves. PV curves were also used for deriving crop water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor pressure. The model could simulate detailed diurnal soil-crop water relations during a 23-day-drying cycle with time steps of one hour. During the grain filling period in spring barley (Hordeum distichum L.), grown in a sandy soil in the field, measured and predicted values of leaf water and osmotic potential, RWC, and leaf stomatal conductance were compared. Good agreement was obtained between measured and predicted values at different soil water deficits and climatic conditions. In the field, measured and predicted volumetric soil water contents (θ) of topsoil and subsoil layers were also compared during a drying cycle. Predicted and measured θ-values as a function of soil water deficits were similar suggesting that the root contact model approach was valid. From the investigation we concluded: (I) a model, which takes the degree of contact between root surface and soil water into account, can be used in sandy soil for calculation of root water uptake, so that the root conductance during soil water depletion only varies by the degree of contact; (II) crop conductance, used for calculation of crop transpiration, can be scaled up from an empirical single leaf stomatal conductance model controlled by the level of leaf water potential and micrometeorological conditions; (III) PV curves are usable for describing crop water status including crop water storage.