Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities

Most of the studies addressing the influence of management practices on seasonal crop water use efficiency (i.e., the ratio between shoot biomass and evapotranspiration in a seasonal scale, WUE(B, ET, s)) have focused on their effect on evaporation. Processes specifically related to the crop transpi...

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Autores principales: Hernandez, Mariano Daniel, Alfonso, Cecilia, Echarte, María Mercedes, Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro, Echarte, Laura
Formato: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/9071
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378377421000810
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106816
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author Hernandez, Mariano Daniel
Alfonso, Cecilia
Echarte, María Mercedes
Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro
Echarte, Laura
author_browse Alfonso, Cecilia
Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro
Echarte, Laura
Echarte, María Mercedes
Hernandez, Mariano Daniel
author_facet Hernandez, Mariano Daniel
Alfonso, Cecilia
Echarte, María Mercedes
Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro
Echarte, Laura
author_sort Hernandez, Mariano Daniel
collection INTA Digital
description Most of the studies addressing the influence of management practices on seasonal crop water use efficiency (i.e., the ratio between shoot biomass and evapotranspiration in a seasonal scale, WUE(B, ET, s)) have focused on their effect on evaporation. Processes specifically related to the crop transpiration component received less attention as possible mechanisms underlying WUE(B, ET, s) responses. In this study, we provide empirical evidence in support to theoretical predictions on how agronomic management practices such as N supply or plant density changes modify maize (Zea mays L.) transpiration efficiency for shoot biomass production (i.e., the ratio between shoot biomass and transpiration in a seasonal scale, WUE(B, T, s)); and determine the contribution of crop conductance (gc) and radiation use efficiency (RUEB) to the response of WUE(B, T, s) to these management practices. Maize crops were grown at Balcarce, Argentina during four seasons. Treatments included two rates of N (i.e., 120 kg N ha−1 or non-fertilized during Seasons 1 and 2) or three plant densities (4, 8 and 12 plants m−2 with no N limitations, during Seasons 3 and 4). Measurements comprised (i) soil water content, evaporation and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (iPAR) during the whole crop season, and (ii) shoot dry matter at physiological maturity (PM). Crop evapotranspiration (ET) was calculated by means of a water balance and soil evaporation (E) was estimated with micro-lysimeters. Crop transpiration (T) was estimated as the difference between ET and E; RUEB and WUE(B, T, s) were estimated from the ratio between crop biomass at PM and seasonal iPAR or T, respectively; and gc was estimated as T/iPAR (mm MJ−1). Higher N supply and plant densities positively affected WUE(B, ET, s) of maize crops, by increasing WUE(B, T, s) (ca. 19% for N supply and 8–12% for plant density) in addition to decreasing soil water evaporation. Changes in WUE(B, T, s) due to N supply were accounted by RUEB changes while gc was the main trait contributing to WUE(B, T, s) response to plant density. Crop conductance significantly decreased with maximum LAI increments up to 3.9. This work highlights the importance of considering crop conductance changes in response to management practices such as changing plant density.
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institution Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina)
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spelling INTA90712021-04-13T12:01:07Z Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities Hernandez, Mariano Daniel Alfonso, Cecilia Echarte, María Mercedes Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro Echarte, Laura Maíz Transpiración Evaporación Radiación Biomasa Eficacia en el Uso del Agua Maize Transpiration Evaporation Radiation Biomass Water Use Efficiency Most of the studies addressing the influence of management practices on seasonal crop water use efficiency (i.e., the ratio between shoot biomass and evapotranspiration in a seasonal scale, WUE(B, ET, s)) have focused on their effect on evaporation. Processes specifically related to the crop transpiration component received less attention as possible mechanisms underlying WUE(B, ET, s) responses. In this study, we provide empirical evidence in support to theoretical predictions on how agronomic management practices such as N supply or plant density changes modify maize (Zea mays L.) transpiration efficiency for shoot biomass production (i.e., the ratio between shoot biomass and transpiration in a seasonal scale, WUE(B, T, s)); and determine the contribution of crop conductance (gc) and radiation use efficiency (RUEB) to the response of WUE(B, T, s) to these management practices. Maize crops were grown at Balcarce, Argentina during four seasons. Treatments included two rates of N (i.e., 120 kg N ha−1 or non-fertilized during Seasons 1 and 2) or three plant densities (4, 8 and 12 plants m−2 with no N limitations, during Seasons 3 and 4). Measurements comprised (i) soil water content, evaporation and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (iPAR) during the whole crop season, and (ii) shoot dry matter at physiological maturity (PM). Crop evapotranspiration (ET) was calculated by means of a water balance and soil evaporation (E) was estimated with micro-lysimeters. Crop transpiration (T) was estimated as the difference between ET and E; RUEB and WUE(B, T, s) were estimated from the ratio between crop biomass at PM and seasonal iPAR or T, respectively; and gc was estimated as T/iPAR (mm MJ−1). Higher N supply and plant densities positively affected WUE(B, ET, s) of maize crops, by increasing WUE(B, T, s) (ca. 19% for N supply and 8–12% for plant density) in addition to decreasing soil water evaporation. Changes in WUE(B, T, s) due to N supply were accounted by RUEB changes while gc was the main trait contributing to WUE(B, T, s) response to plant density. Crop conductance significantly decreased with maximum LAI increments up to 3.9. This work highlights the importance of considering crop conductance changes in response to management practices such as changing plant density. EEA Balcarce Fil: Hernández, Mariano D. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Fil: Alfonso, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Fil: Echarte, María Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Echarte, María Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Fil: Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Fil: Echarte, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Echarte, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. 2021-04-13T11:52:09Z 2021-04-13T11:52:09Z 2021-03-08 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/9071 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378377421000810 0378-3774 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106816 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Elsevier Agricultural Water Management 250 : 106816 (2021)
spellingShingle Maíz
Transpiración
Evaporación
Radiación
Biomasa
Eficacia en el Uso del Agua
Maize
Transpiration
Evaporation
Radiation
Biomass
Water Use Efficiency
Hernandez, Mariano Daniel
Alfonso, Cecilia
Echarte, María Mercedes
Cerrudo, Aníbal Alejandro
Echarte, Laura
Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities
title Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities
title_full Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities
title_fullStr Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities
title_full_unstemmed Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities
title_short Maize transpiration efficiency increases with N supply or higher plant densities
title_sort maize transpiration efficiency increases with n supply or higher plant densities
topic Maíz
Transpiración
Evaporación
Radiación
Biomasa
Eficacia en el Uso del Agua
Maize
Transpiration
Evaporation
Radiation
Biomass
Water Use Efficiency
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/9071
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378377421000810
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106816
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AT alfonsocecilia maizetranspirationefficiencyincreaseswithnsupplyorhigherplantdensities
AT echartemariamercedes maizetranspirationefficiencyincreaseswithnsupplyorhigherplantdensities
AT cerrudoanibalalejandro maizetranspirationefficiencyincreaseswithnsupplyorhigherplantdensities
AT echartelaura maizetranspirationefficiencyincreaseswithnsupplyorhigherplantdensities