Abstract
Surface-irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on slowly draining clay soil is subjected to short-term periods of waterlogging at each irrigation which generally results in reduced productivity. The sequence of above- and below-ground plant responses to transient waterlogging and the role of N availability in modifying the immediate responses were studied. Lysimeters of Marah clay loam (a Natrustalf) were instrumented to monitor soil and plant responses to a 7-day waterlogging event beginning 67 days after sowing. Cotton (‘Deltapine 61’) plants (8 per lysimeter) were grown with two levels of added N (300 kg ha−1 and 30 kg ha−1) and two irrigation treatments (flooded and control). Measured soil-O2 levels decreased rapidly upon surface flooding because water displaced air and root zone respiration consumed O2. The rate of O2 consumption was 2.7 times greater in the high-N treatment than the low-N treatment. This difference was associated with a 1.8 fold difference in numbers of observed roots. Root growth was only slightly affected by flooding. Leaf growth decreased by 28%, foliage temperature increased 2.3% and apparent photosynthesis decreased by 16%. It is suggested that flooding reduced photosynthetic activity within 2 days while other stress symptoms became apparent after about 6 days. Although this stress was reflected in a trend for decreased plant productivity, the effect of flooding on boll dry mass at harvest was not significant at the level of replication used. The single waterlogging did not cause yield reductions comparable to those observed elsewhere when several waterlogging events were imposed.
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Contribution from the CSIRO, Centre for Irrigation Research, Griffith, NSW, Australia and USDA-ARS, Morris, MI, USA, in cooperation with the univ. of Minnesota.
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Meyer, W.S., Reicosky, D.C., Barrs, H.D. et al. Physiological responses of cotton to a single waterlogging at high and low N-levels. Plant Soil 102, 161–170 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370698
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02370698