Screening Corn Hybrids for Soil Waterlogging Tolerance at an Early Growth Stage

Gurpreet Kaur,Kelly Nelson,Peter Motavalli,Brendan Zurweller

doi:10.3390/agriculture9020033

Gurpreet Kaur, Kelly Nelson + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9020033

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Abstract

Identification of corn hybrids that can withstand wet soil conditions is one approach to prevent crop production losses from abiotic stress caused by excessive soil moisture during early spring season in the midwestern United States. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in 2013 to screen and identify corn hybrids tolerant or susceptible to soil waterlogging at the V2 growth stage. The main plots included waterlogging durations: no waterlogging; 14-day waterlogging and then allowing recovery from waterlogging stress for 7 days; and 21-day waterlogging. Subplots included eight commercial corn hybrids. The shoot and root biomass, plant height, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll meter readings were decreased due to waterlogging for 14 days and 21 days. Hybrid #2 appeared to be more tolerant to waterlogging as evidenced by greater growth and higher stomatal conductance and chlorophyll meter readings on newer leaves under waterlogged conditions. Hybrid #5 and Hybrid #8 were more susceptible to waterlogging than other hybrids. Large variability occurred among corn hybrids in response to soil waterlogging durations. Beneficial effects of improved soil conditions after excess water removal from 14-day waterlogged pots were not seen in this experiment, probably due to the short recovery time period between the excess water removal and experiment termination.

Highlights

Waterlogging stress resulting from excessive soil moisture conditions caused by either extreme precipitation events or poor drainage often limits corn production and N uptake as soil N losses increases under waterlogged conditions
#7 than for Hybrids #1, #3, and #5 (Figure 3C), whereas they all had similar stomatal conductance on the second leaf. These results suggest that the stomatal conductance improved on newer leaves
Soil waterlogging altered soil conditions and significantly affected corn growth and biomass production among several corn hybrids grown in pots

Summary

Introduction

Waterlogging stress resulting from excessive soil moisture conditions caused by either extreme precipitation events or poor drainage often limits corn production and N uptake as soil N losses increases under waterlogged conditions. The perched water table resulting from the low hydraulic conductivity of claypan soils makes them more susceptible to N losses [3]. Waterlogged soil conditions causing crop production losses is a persistent problem in Missouri [4,5]. Crop losses due to flooding or excess water are second only to drought in the Unites States in the past 12 years [6]. There is a higher probability of flooding in the future, which may cause significantly higher crop production losses [7]

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