|
|
||||||||
Texas A&M Univ. Agric. Res. and Ext. Center, Uvalde, TX 78801
Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843-2474
* Corresponding author (cj-fernandez{at}tamu.edu).
The combined effects of water and N deficits on leaf area production and water relations in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have not been investigated thoroughly. A study was conducted to evaluate the responses of leaf area production and water relations in cotton plants exposed to water and N deficits during the preflowering stage. Two N treatments-nutrient solution with 12 mM of N (N-supplied) and N-free nutrient solution (N-starved)-were applied to plants when the third true leaf was visible. Two irrigation treatments-daily irrigation (well watered) and no irrigation (water stressed)-were superimposed on each N treatment once the plants were moved into the test chambers when they reached a leaf area of 0.050 ± 0.002 m2. Leaf area and leaf water and osmotic potentials were measured at the end of each day-time period. Under well-watered conditions, leaf turgor potential in N-starved plants was about 0.3 kJ kg–1 lower than in N-supplied plants. When plants were exposed to water deficits, the decline of leaf water potential relative to soil water content was greater in N-starved plants than in N-supplied plants. Nitrogen deficiency delayed and decreased the magnitude of osmotic potential adjustment and, therefore, reduced the capacity of leaves to maintain turgor. Water and N deficits decreased whole-plant cumulative leaf area about 50 and 40%, respectively, through decreased daily production of mainstem and branch leaves and decreased final area of individual mainstem and branch leaves. Nitrogen deficiency induced a higher sensitivity of leaf growth inhibition to water deficits.
Received for publication April 26, 1995.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
D. Zhao, K. R. Reddy, V. G. Kakani, J. J. Read, and S. Koti Selection of Optimum Reflectance Ratios for Estimating Leaf Nitrogen and Chlorophyll Concentrations of Field-Grown Cotton Agron. J., January 1, 2005; 97(1): 89 - 98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. B. Fritschi, B. A. Roberts, R. L. Travis, D. W. Rains, and R. B. Hutmacher Response of Irrigated Acala and Pima Cotton to Nitrogen Fertilization: Growth, Dry Matter Partitioning, and Yield Agron. J., January 1, 2003; 95(1): 133 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| The SCI Journals | Agronomy Journal | Vadose Zone Journal | |||
| Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education |
Soil Science Society of America Journal | ||||
| Journal of Plant Registrations | Journal of Environmental Quality |
The Plant Genome | |||