Subtropical Modern Greenhouse Cucumber Canopy Transpiration Under Summer Climate Condition

Greenhouse canopy transpiration not only has effects on greenhouse air temperature and humidity, but also is important for determining the set-point of fertigation. In this study, Penman-Monteith equation was used to calculate the greenhouse cucumber canopy transpiration under summer climate condition. The effects of greenhouse environmental factors on canopy transpiration were analyzed based on the measurements of greenhouse microclimate factors and canopy transpiration. The results showed that Penman-Monteith equation was reliable and robust in estimating greenhouse cucumber canopy transpiration under summer climate condition. Greenhouse cucumber canopy transpiration rate increased linearly with the increase of net radiation and water vapor pressure deficit (VPD) above the canopy. But the maximum value of the canopy transpiration rate occurred at the same time as that of VPD whereas about two hours later than that of net radiation. Based on the results, it was concluded that in addition to radiation, air humidity should also be considered when determine the set-point of fertigation.

Study on Transpiration and Stomatal Conductance Characteristics of C3 and C4 Plant

The transpiration experiment was done under greenhouse conditions with a C3 plant sweet pepper （Capsicum annuum Linn.） and two C4 plants, sorghum （Sorghum bicolor L.Moench） and maize （Zea mays Linn.）. Three species were irrigated with three different water treatment levels of 100%, 66% and 33% which gave a comparison of tolerance and adaptation to irrigation and two different levels of water stress. The measurements of transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were done between 8.00 a.m. and 16.00 p.m. with measurements about each 1.5 h with an infrared gas analyzer. The results showed that Z. mays probably due to a higher leaf area had very low values and was significantly different （LSD pairwise comparison） from C. annuum and S. bicolor. The hypotheses that C4 plants and C3 plants have different transpiration rates and stomatal conductance could not be shown with the results. However, the hypotheses that for the same species, the highest values in transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were with the 100% irrigation treatment and the lowest values were with the 33% irrigation treatment could be accepted due to the results of this trial.

Transpiration of the Tamarind Artificial Forest in the Arid-Hot Valleys of Jinshajiang River,Yunnan

The transpiration characteristics of the tamarind artificial forest in the arid-hot valleys of Jinshajiang River, Yunnan were investigated through the measurement of the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance of tamarind leaf and the related envi- ronmental factors. The results showed that the transpiration of the tamarind in the clear sky had the close positive correlations with photosynthetically active radiation and air temperature and negative correlation with atmosphere moisture in the whole growth period. The daily change tendency of the transpiration rate was the similar with stomatal conductance, and the transpiration had the positive correlation with stomatal conductance. The transpiration rate of tamarind was highest in the rainy season of June and July and was relatively low in the drought season of March and April. The transpiration water consumption in rainy season of June and July was obviously higher than that in drought season of March and April. It fully suggested that the tamarind showed very good drought resistance and adaptability to the arid-hot valleys of Yunnan .

Root distribution of three co-occurring desert shrubs and their physiological response to precipitation

Root distribution of three desert shrubs,Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.,Haloxylon ammodendron(C.A.Mey.) Bunge and Reaumuria soongorica(Pall.) Maxim.was investigated under co-occurring conditions using a method for excavating the whole root system.Assimilation shoot water potential and transpiration rates were monitored during the wet-dry cycle.Leaf-specific apparent hydraulic conductance and the index of water stress impact for the three species were calculated from shoot water potential and transpiration rate.The results showed that,along the soil profile,the root system of T.ramosissima mainly distributed at 50 to 310 cm interval,with an average total absorbing root-surface area of 30,249.2 cm2 per plant;the root system of H.ammodendraom distributed at 0 to 250 cm interval with an average total absorbing root-surface area of 12,847.3 cm2 per plant;the root system of R.soongorica distributed at 0-80 cm interval,with an average total absorbing root-surface area of 361.8 cm2.The root distribution shows the following:T.ramosissima uses groundwater as its main water source;H.ammodendraom uses both groundwater and rainwater;and R.soongorica uses rainwater only.During the wet-dry cycle,the hydraulic parameters of T.ramosissima showed no responses to precipitation.R.soongorica responded most significantly,and the responses of H.ammodendraom were intermediate.In conclusion,the plant response to rain events is closely related to their root distribution and plant water-use strategy.

Effects of Drought Stress on Photosynthetic Characteristics of Kentucky Bluegrass

Drought stress is one of the major constraints on turf growth and performance in northern China. Based on previous assessments of drought tolerance levels, four varieties of Kentucky bluegrass （Poa pratensis L.） representing different types （＇Baron＇, BVMG type; ＇Blackstone＇, Cheri type; ＇Kenblue＇, Midwest type; and ＇Bluemoon＇, Midnight type） were chosen for this study. Grass materials were established in a glasshouse, and the changes in their photosynthetic and metabolic characteristics were analyzed during a period of imposed drought stress. Drought stress led to decrease in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in all four cultivars, but the relative changes in each characteristic varied among varieties. The results also showed that changes in the photosynthetic and metabolic characteristics of different varieties under drought stress were related to the morphological characteristics of the plants. Varieties with longer narrow leaves, longer roots, higher root-to-shoot ratios, and higher chlorophyll contents showed greater rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, and lower transpiration rates.

Intra-specific variations of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations in Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Population demography, seed production, biomass allocation, net photosynthesis and transpiration of two Leymus chinensis divergent populations and between two years in Songnen plain, northeast China were compared. Strong differences between the dry 1997 and moist 1998 occurred in vegetative shoot and sexual shoot densities, sexual differentiation and tiller densities, as well as in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence, seed weights and biomass allocation in each population respectively ( P < 0.01). While strong differences between the two populations occurred in vegetative shoot densities, sexual shoot densities, sexual differentiation and seed weights in each year ( P < 0.01). The differences between the two populations in tiller densities and in biomass allocation to sexual shoots were significant ( P <0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two populations in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence and biomass allocation to rhizomes and vegetative shoots ( P >0.05). Excepting the transpiration rate in the early June, the differences between the two populations in net photosynthesis and transpiration rate of vegetative shoots and sexual shoots were strongly significant in the early June and July respectively ( P <0.01). Relative stable variations in population demography and physiological traits between the two populations indicated that they are divergently in the Songnen Plain.

Cotton stomatal closure under varying temperature and vapor pressure deficit,correlation with the hydraulic conductance trait

Background:Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)is often grown in locations characterized by high atmospheric evaporative demand.It has been hypothesized that plants which resist hydraulic flow under this condition will limit water use and conserve soil water.Therefore,in a series of controlled environment experiments ten cotton cultivars were exposed to two different temperature and vapor pressure deficit(VPD)conditions(i.e.,38℃,>3 kPa and 32℃,1∼1.5 kPa)as well as a progressive soil drying.Then,individual differences in shoot hydraulic conductance(K_(shoot))was measured using a hydraulic conductance flow meter(HCFM).Physiological parameters were reported included leaf area,dry leaf weight,stomatal conductance(g_(s)),and water use efficiency coefficient(WUE_(k)).Results:Differences were observed in K_(shoot) among cultivars under the 38℃,>3 kPa but not the 32℃,1∼1.5 kPa environment.Under the 38℃,>3 kPa environment,correlations were found between K_(shoot),stomatal conductance(gs),VPD breakpoint,WUEk,total leaf area,dry leaf weight,fraction transpirable soil water(FTSW)threshold,and slope of TR decline after FTSW threshold.Conclusion:Results show that the ability of some cotton cultivars to restrict water loss under high evaporative demand through early stomatal closure is associated with the cultivars’K_(shoot).The K_(shoot) is influential in the limitation of TR trait under high temperature and VPD.

Effects of regulated deficit irrigation on soil salinity,physiological processes and fruit quality of gray jujube under desert conditions

Regulated deficit irrigation(RDI)was applied to gray jujube trees in an oasis region,to determine the effects of this irrigation system on soil salinity,gray jujube physiological processes,fruit yield,and fruit quality.Treatments consisted of severe,moderate and low deficit irrigation(irrigated with 85%,70%and 55%of CK,respectively)at the flowering stage to fruit set stage.During the other growth stages,all treatments were irrigated with 80%of pan evaporation,which was the same as that in control.The results indicated that soil salinity was enhanced during the periods of water stress,but the high value of soil salinity declined by 3.48%-37.27%,at each depth,after irrigation was resumed.RDI caused a decline in the photosynthetic rate,transpiration rate,and stomatal conductance,but enhanced the water use efficiency of the leaves.However,the leaf photosynthetic rate was effectively enhanced after the recovery of irrigation,especially in the moderate deficit irrigation treatment,which exceeded the control.This led to an improved fruit yield,which was 9.57%higher than that of the control.The deficit treatments caused a significant increase in the soluble solid content,soluble sugar content,single fruit weight and sugar/acid ratio.Enhanced vitamin C content,resulting from deficit treatments,has also been observed in the gray jujube.Therefore,this research shows that RDI provides some benefits in the production of gray jujube trees in desert conditions.