University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Relationship of crop metabolism and water status to irrigation need

Jurgens, S.; Johnson, R.R.; Boyer, J.S.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89946

Description

Title
Relationship of crop metabolism and water status to irrigation need
Author(s)
  • Jurgens, S.
  • Johnson, R.R.
  • Boyer, J.S.
Contributor(s)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Issue Date
1975-06
Keyword(s)
  • Water resource development
  • Water resource development--Illinois
  • Agriculture
  • Irrigation
  • Crop yield
  • Photosynthesis
  • Translocation
  • Drought
  • Water use
Geographic Coverage
Illinois (state)
Abstract
Irrigation represents the largest segment of consumptive water use in the U.S. Consequently, improvements in the efficiency of irrigation can have an important effect on the amount of water available for other uses. This research was initiated to determine the physiological limitations to crop yield during drought. The identification of these parameters may provide a way of estimating plant need for irrigation and avoiding unnecessary applications of water. Maize was grown to maturity, and photosynthesis and translocation of photosynthates were studied when drought occurred during grain development. Both carbon-14 labeling of the photosynthetic products and dry weight determinations indicated that net photosynthesis was substantially reduced whereas translocation was relatively rapid during drought. Furthermore, grain production occurred in proportion to the cumulative photosynthesis for the season. It was concluded that photosynthesis was more limiting than translocation to grain fill under dry conditions and that photosynthetic behavior could be used to reflect the need of maize crops for water.
Publisher
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89946
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • U.S. Department of the Interior
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1975 held by S. Jurgens, R.R. Johnson, J.S. Boyer

Owning Collections

Illinois Water Resources Center - Agriculture PRIMARY