Sowing summer grain crops early in late winter or spring: effects on root growth, water use, and yield

Plant and Soil, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 18, 2024

Abstract Context Drought and extreme heat at flowering are common stresses limiting the yield of summer crops. Adaptation to these could be increased by sowing crops early in late winter or spring, avoid overlap drought with critical crop stages around flowering. Though little is known about effects cold weather on root growth, water use final grain sorghum. Objective This study aims explore conditions sorghum growth function (i.e., use), yield. Methods Two years field experiments were conducted Darling Eastern Downs region Qld, Australia. Each trial consisted three times (late winter, summer), two levels irrigation rainfed supplementary irrigated), four plant population densities (3, 6, 9 12 pl m −2 ), six commercial hybrids. Roots shoots sampled flag leaf stage sowing, irrigation, replications, for a single hybrid density (9 ). Crop functional traits derived from consecutive electromagnetic induction (EMI) surveys At maturity biomass, components determined across all treatments. Results The combinations seasons, created large variations that affected production Early transferring vegetative reproductive increasing numbers tillers. Cold temperatures tended produce smaller rooting systems, root-to-shoot ratios, larger average diameters. Total length pre-flowering mean air up 20 °C. Linear relationships observed between an EMI index activity empirically values (cm cm −3 ) Conclusions Sowing sorghum, crop, spring transferred post-flowering later season. Root reduced lower than °C, indicating need increase tolerance sowing. higher sown related has potential development high throughput phenotyping applications.

Language: Английский

Does late water deficit induce root growth or senescence in wheat?

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: June 7, 2024

In crops like wheat, terminal drought is one of the principal stress factors limiting productivity in rain-fed systems. However, little known about root development after heading, when water uptake can be critical to wheat crops. The impact water-stress on growth was investigated two cultivars, Scout and Mace, under well-watered post-anthesis three experiments. Plants were grown outside 1.5-m long pots at a density similar local recommended farming practice. Differences observed between genotypes, especially for conditions which developed maintained larger system than Mace. While both genotypes had shallow roots that appeared senesce moderate stimulated shallow-root but accelerated senescence For deep roots, post-heading biomass conditions, while stress, only net as Mace senesced. Water severe intensity affected similarly, with all depths. Senescence also above ground. Under retained leaf greenness (i.e. stay-green phenotype) slightly longer difference accentuated rapid if by stress. As an overall result, grain per plant (‘yield’) more Scout. findings from this study will assist improvement modelling systems crop models, relevant phenotyping methods selection cultivars better adaptation drought.

Language: Английский