Water Use Efficiency Of Soybean Research Articles

Soil moisture prediction, evapotranspiration, yield and water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max L.) crop under variable weather conditions in a semi-arid environment

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2009 and 2010 in a sandy loam soil of New Delhi to study the effect of weather, achieved by sowing at normal (D1) and late (D2), on soil moisture prediction, evapotranspiration (ET), yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of three varieties (V1: JS 335, V2: Pusa 9712 and Pusa 9814) of soybean. Study of soybean phenology showed that there was reduction in the number of days taken for the crop to complete life cycle with delayed sowing. The agrometeorological water balance model could satisfactorily predict soil moisture content during soybean crop growth period with RMSE (%) varying between 6.27 to 12.06 and correlation coefficient between 0.828 to 0.982. The ET decreased significantly with delay in sowing; however there was no significant variation among the varieties. Among the stages of the soybean crop, mid season stage had highest ET followed by development stage, late season stage and initial stage. Normal sowing resulted in higher yield but lower WUE than the late sowing. Among the cultivars, JS 335 resulted in lower yield and WUE than Pusa 9712 and Pusa 9814. It may be recommended that, Pusa 9712 or Pusa 9814 may be sown during first and second week of July (normal sowing) to achieve higher yield in the semi-arid environment of Delhi region.

Water Use Efficiency of Soybean under Different Tillage and Irrigation Methods

Water Use Efficiency of Soybean under Different Tillage and Irrigation Methods

Interaction of Carbon Dioxide Enrichment and Soil Moisture on Photosynthesis, Transpiration, and Water Use Efficiency of Soybean

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is one of the most important oil and protein sources in the world. Interactive effect of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) and soil water availability potentially impact future food security of the world under climate change. A rhizotron growth chamber experiment was conducted to study soil moisture interactions with elevated CO2 on gaseous exchange parameters of soybean under two CO2 concentrations (380 and 800 μmol·mol－1) with three soil moisture levels. Elevated CO2 decreased photosynthetic rate (11.1% and 10.8%), stomatal conductance (40.5% and 36.0%), intercellular CO2 concentration (16.68% and 12.28%), relative intercellular CO2 concentration (17.4% and 11.2%), and transpiration rate (43.6% and 39%) at 42 and 47 DAP. This down-regulation of photosynthesis was probably caused by low leaf nitrogen content and decrease in uptake of nutrients due to decrease in stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. Water use efficiency (WUE) increased under elevated CO2 because increase in total dry weight of plant was greater than that of water use under high CO2 conditions. Plants under normal and high soil moisture levels had significantly higher photosynthetic rate (7% to 16%) favored by optimum soil moisture content and high specific water content of soybean plants. Total dry matter production was significantly high when plants grown under elevated CO2 with normal (74.3% to 137.3%) soil moisture level. Photosynthetic rate was significantly and positively correlated with leaf conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration but WUE was significantly negatively correlated with leaf conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate. However, the effect of high CO2 on plants depends on availability of nutrients and soil moisture for positive feedback from CO2 enrichment.

Effects of elevated CO2 on the growth, seed yield, and water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) under drought stress

This study aims to evaluate the effects of elevated carbon dioxide (EC) on soybean growth in the water-deficient region of Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. A pot experiment involving two CO2 concentrations (ambient, 380.1±32.2μmolmol−1 and elevated, 740.6±45.4μmolmol−1) and two water levels (normal and drought) were conducted in enclosed top chambers. The results showed that plant height, leaf area, and shoot dry weight were increased by 25.4%, 15.8%, and 33.4% under normal water and EC conditions, respectively, at the seed-filling stage. Seed yield per plant was also improved by 25.3%. Under drought conditions, EC did not show a significant effect on plant height, leaf area, and seed yield. However, shoot dry weight was increased by 56% at the seed-filling stage. This increase was due to the higher biomass allocation toward the stems. Under normal water conditions, the photosynthetic rate (Pn) was higher (21.7–43.3%) in EC than in ambient carbon dioxide (AC) at the seed-filling stage. Under drought conditions, Pn remained high, but the transpiration rate (Tr) was reduced by EC. In addition, the water use efficiency at yield and biomass levels (WUEyield and WUEbiomass) were increased by 26.2% and 55.4% under normal water conditions in EC at the seed-filling stage. However, they were only increased by 5.9% and 13.4%, respectively, under drought conditions. These results suggested that EC improved the growth and WUE of soybean more effectively under normal water conditions than under drought stress conditions. In conclusion, EC did not mitigate drought-induced inhibition of seed yield in soybean, although it increased Pn and WUE. Soybean should be cropped under well irrigation regimes or at regions with sufficient precipitation to adapt and take full advantage of EC.

Dark-adapted leaf conductance, but not minimum leaf conductance, predicts water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Walden-Coleman, A. E., Rajcan, I. and Earl, H. J. 2013. Dark-adapted leaf conductance, but not minimum leaf conductance, predicts water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 13–22. The conductance to water vapor of dark-adapted leaves (gdark) has been shown to be negatively correlated with whole-plant water use efficiency (WUE) in soybean, but the physiological basis of this relationship is unknown. It is also not clear how gdark compares with the minimum leaf conductance of wilted leaves (gmin), a trait that has been studied extensively across a broad range of species. We compared gdark to gmin of soybean leaves and found that gdark values were consistently much higher than gmin values measured on the same leaves. Also, across seven soybean varieties known to differ for WUE, gdark but not gmin was correlated with WUE. Thus, gdark and gmin should be considered distinct traits. We measured gdark at two different leaf positions, and found that gdark measured at the lower leaf position (two main stem nodes below the youngest fully expanded leaf) was best correlated with WUE. We then used this method to screen a selection of current commercial soybean varieties adapted to Ontario, Canada, for variation in gdark. The range in gdark among the commercial varieties was as broad as that measured previously among more diverse genotypes, suggesting that Ontario soybean varieties might also vary widely for WUE.

Dark-adapted leaf conductance, but not minimum leaf conductance, predicts water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Walden-Coleman, A. E., Rajcan, I. and Earl, H. J. 2013. Dark-adapted leaf conductance, but not minimum leaf conductance, predicts water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 13-22. The conductance to water vapor of dark-adapted leaves (gdark) has been shown to be negatively correlated with whole-plant water use efficiency (WUE) in soybean, but the physiological basis of this relationship is unknown. It is also not clear how gdark compares with the minimum leaf conductance of wilted leaves (gmin), a trait that has been studied extensively across a broad range of species. We compared gdark to gmin of soybean leaves and found that gdark values were consistently much higher than gmin values measured on the same leaves. Also, across seven soybean varieties known to differ for WUE, gdark but not gmin was correlated with WUE. Thus, gdark and gmin should be considered distinct traits. We measured gdark at two different leaf positions, and found that gdark measured at the lower l...

Effect of pulse drip irrigation and mulching systems on yield, quality traits and irrigation water use efficiency of soybean under sandy soil conditions

Two field experiments were carried out during growing seasons 2010 and 2011, it executed in research farm of national research center in Nubaryia region, Egypt to study the effect of pulse drip irrigation and mulching systems for saving water, increasing and improving yield of soybean. The study factors were, pulse drip irrigation technology (adding of daily water requirements on 4 times, 8 times, 12 times compared with adding of daily water requirements on 1 time) and mulching systems (covering the soil with black plastic mulch “BPM”, rice straw mulch “RSM” and the control treatment was soil surface without mulch “WM”). The following parameters were studied to evaluate the effect of pulse drip irrigation and mulching systems: 1) Soil moisture distribution in root zone, 2) Growth characters of soybean plant, 3) Yield of soybean, 4) Irrigation water use efficiency of soybean “IWUE soybean”, and 5) Oil content and oil yield, 6) Protein content and protein yield, 7) Economical parameter. According to the economical view and the results of statistical analysis for effect of pulse drip irrigation and mulching systems on yield, quality traits and IWUE soybean indicated that, applying the irrigation requirements on 8 pulses/day with using BPM is the best conditions because under these conditions was occurred the highest value of yield, quality traits and IWUE soybean and there was significant deference between this case and other treatments. Where, pulse irrigation technique increase from water movement in horizontal direction than vertical direction hence improve from soil moisture distribution and wetted soil volume in root zone and using BPM decrease from evaporation process rate from soil surface hence decreasing of salts accumulation in addition to decreasing of weed growth in the root zone. All traits at AIR on 12 pulses/ day are decreased by increasing of pulses, this may be due to irrigation water was very small with every pulse at AIR on 12 pulses/day in addition increasing the total time of time-off, this mean, un-sufficient application for irrigation water to remove water stress in the root zone.

Effect of conservation tillage and fertilization on photosynthetic physiology of soybean at full-bloom stage

依据陕西安塞田间试验, 采用LI-6400便携式光合仪, 在自然条件下, 对黄土丘陵区旱作农田传统翻耕化肥(CF)、翻耕有机肥(CM)、翻耕无肥(CN)、免耕化肥(NF)、免耕有机肥(NM)、免耕无肥(NN)等处理下盛花期大豆叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、水分利用效率及影响因子日变化进行了研究。结果表明: 6种不同处理的大豆叶片净光合速率日变化均为双峰曲线, 峰值分别在11:30、16:00出现。NM、NF处理对提高大豆净光合速率有明显的促进作用, 其中以有机肥(NM)最为显著。气孔导度与蒸腾速率之间达极显著正相关(<i>P</i><0.01, <i>r</i>=0.999 4)。气孔导度日变化也为双峰, 峰值分别出现在11:30、16:00。不同处理下, 大豆的水分利用效率呈单峰曲线, 峰值出现在10:00, 低谷出现在13:00以后。其中, NF、NM处理能显著提高大豆盛花期的水分利用效率。相关分析表明: 气孔导度、蒸腾速率、叶温、光合有效辐射及基于叶温的蒸汽压亏缺是大豆光合作用的促进因子, 而胞间CO2浓度、空气中CO2浓度、空气相对湿度则为主要的限制因子。CF、NF处理在8:30~10:20和13:00, CM、NN处理在8:30、11:30~13:00、17:30, CN、NM处理则在8:30、13:30各影响因子与净光合速率相关程度较高, 相关系数一般在±0.9以上。在黄土丘陵区旱作农田大豆最适宜的管理方式为NM、NF。

Improvement of Subsurface Irrigation with Saline Water in a Sandy Soil and its Effects on Water Use Efficiency of Soybean and Soil Salinity

Improvement of Subsurface Irrigation with Saline Water in a Sandy Soil and its Effects on Water Use Efficiency of Soybean and Soil Salinity

Effect of inorganic fertilizer and farmyard manure on soil physical properties, root distribution, and water-use efficiency of soybean in Vertisols of central India

A field experiment was conducted on a Vertisol for three consecutive years (1998–2000) to study the effects of combined use of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure (farmyard manure) on soil physical properties, water-use efficiency, root growth and yield of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a soybean–mustard cropping system. Application of 10 Mg farmyard manure and recommended NPK (NPK + FYM) to soybean for three consecutive years improved the organic carbon content of the surface (0–15 cm) soil from an initial value of 4.4 g kg −1 to 6.2 g kg −1 and also increased seed yield and water-use efficiency by 103% and 76%, respectively, over the control. The surface (0–15 cm) soil of the plots receiving both farmyard manure and recommended NPK had larger mean weight diameter (0.50 mm) and a higher percentage of water stable aggregates (55%) than both the inorganically fertilized (NPK) (0.44 mm and 49%) and unfertilized control plots (0.41 mm and 45.4%). The saturated hydraulic conductivity (13.32 × 10 −6 m s −1) of the NPK + FYM treatment of the 0–7.5 cm depth was also significantly greater than that of the NPK (10.53 × 10 −6 m s −1) and control (8.61 × 10 −6 m s −1) treatments. The lowest bulk density (1.18 Mg m −3) in the 0–7.5 cm layer was recorded in NPK + FYM whereas it was highest in the control plots (1.30 Mg m −3). However, at sub-surface (22.5–30 cm) layer, fertilizer and manure application had little effect on bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Root length density (RLD) up to the 30 cm depth was highest in the NPK + FYM plots and it was 31.9% and 70.5% more than NPK and control plots. The RLD showed a significant and negative correlation ( r = −0.88 ∗∗) with the penetration resistance.

Stomatal control and water use efficiency of soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) during progressive soil drying

The objectives of this study were to investigate the involvement of root and shoot factors in controlling leaf gas exchange of soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) during progressive soil drying, and its implication in improving water use efficiency (WUE) at mild soil water deficits. Soybeans were grown in pots in a climate-controlled glasshouse. Shoot dry mass (DM), transpiration ( E), stomatal conductance ( g s), light-saturated photosynthetic rate ( A max), leaf water potential ( Ψ l), leaf osmotic potential ( Ψ π), leaf turgor pressure ( Ψ pl), root water potential ( Ψ r), and xylem sap ABA concentration ([ABA] xylem) were followed in well-watered and drought-stressed plants. As soil dried, g s, E, A max, Ψ l, Ψ π, Ψ pl, Ψ r, [ABA] xylem, and DM of the drought-stressed plants started to diverge from the well-watered controls from 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 11, 7, 7, and 14 days after imposition of stress (DAIS), respectively. During soil drying, [ABA] xylem increased linearly with decreasing Ψ r. To minimize day-to-day variation, g s, Ψ pl, [ABA] xylem, and WUE of the drought-stressed plants were expressed relative to the well-watered controls. It was found that the relative g s decreased linearly from 1.0 to about 0.40 with increasing relative [ABA] xylem; thereafter it decreased further to 0.10 and was linearly correlated with decreasing relative Ψ pl, indicating that at mild soil water deficits g s was seemingly controlled by root-originated ABA; and Ψ pl significantly affected g s only at severe soil water deficits. Relative WUE at single leaf level (WUE leaf) was around 1.0 for fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) > 0.60–0.65, thereafter it increased exponentially and reached a peak at FTSW = 0.25–0.30. As FTSW approached zero then relative WUE leaf declined linearly to less than 1.0. Similarly, relative WUE at whole plant level (WUE plant) increased exponentially as FTSW < 0.60 and reached a peak at FTSW ≈ 0.20, and then declined dramatically as the soil was further dried. The results indicate that WUE, at both single leaf and whole plant levels, was improved at mild soil water deficits.

Modeling the water use efficiency of soybean and maize plants under environmental stresses: application of a synthetic model of photosynthesis-transpiration based on stomatal behavior

Understanding the variability of plant WUE and its control mechanism can promote the comprehension to the coupling relationship of water and carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystem, which is the foundation for developing water-carbon coupling cycle model. In this paper, we made clear the differences of net assimilation rate, transpiration rate, and WUE between the two species by comparing the experiment data of soybean (Glycine max Merr.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants under water and soil nutrient stresses. WUE of maize was about two and a half times more than that of soybean in the same weather conditions. Enhancement of water stresses led to the marked decrease of Am and Em of two species, but water stresses of some degree could improve WUE, and this effect was more obvious for soybean. WUE of the two species changed with psiL in a second-order curve relation, and the WUE at high fertilization was higher than that at low fertilization, this effect was especially obvious for maize. Moreover, according to the synthetic model of photosynthesis-transpiration based on stomatal behavior (SMPTSB) presented by Yu et al. (2001), the WUE model and its applicability were discussed with the data measured in this experiment. The WUE estimated by means of the model accorded well with the measured values. However, this model underestimated the WUE for maize slightly, thus further improvement on the original model was made in this study. Finally, by discussing some physiological factors controlling Am and WUE, we made clear the physiological explanation for differences of the relative contributions of stomata- and mesophyll processes to control of Am and WUE, and the applicability of WUE model between the two species. Because the requirement to stomatal conductance by unit change of net assimilation rate is different, the responses of opening-closing activity of stomata to environmental stresses are different between the two species. To obtain the same level of net assimilation rate, soybean has to open its stomata more widely to keep small stomatal resistance, as compared with maize.

Carbon Dioxide and Temperature Effects on Evapotranspiration and Water Use Efficiency of Soybean

Rising CO2 and potential global warming will cause changes in evapotranspiration (ET). Our research objective was to determine the impact of CO2 and air temperature on canopy ET, water use efficiency (WUE), foliage temperature, and canopy resistance (Rc) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Plants were grown in sunlit, controlled‐environment chambers at cyclic maximum/minimum air temperatures from 28/18°C to 44/34°C and CO2 of 350 or 700 μmol mol−1 Maximum ET rate in the early afternoon at 35 d after planting ranged from 7.5 mol m−2 s−1 at 28/18°C to 19.0 mol m−2 s−1 at 44/34°C. Daily ET during the middle of the season ranged from 260 mol H2O m−2 d−1 (4.7 mm d−1) at 28/18°C to 660 mol H2O m−2 d−1 (11.9 mm d−1) at 44/34°C. Mean daily ET was linearly related to mean air temperature (Tair) as: [Mean daily ET = 21.4 × Tair − 306, r2 = 0.99 (mol H2O m−2 d−1), or mean daily ET = 0.385 × Tair − 5.5 (mm d−1)]. Doubled CO2 caused a 9% decrease in ET at 28/18°C, but CO2 had little effect at 40/30°C or 44/34°C. Whole‐day WUE declined linearly with air temperature, with a slope of −0.150 [(μmol CO2 mmol−1 H2O) °C−1]. Changes in ET and WUE were governed by changes in foliage temperature and Rc. In conclusion, increases in temperature anticipated by climate change could more than offset decreases of ET that would be caused by increases in CO2

Effect of irrigation and management practices for water use efficiency of soybean

Field experiments were conducted on soybean (var. Col) during summer and Kharif seasons of 1996 with two irrigation schedules viz., 0.40 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratio and three methods of irrigation viz., all furrow, alternate furrow and double row furrow irrigation coupled with three management practices which included application of coirpith at 12.5 t ha-1 as soil mulch; KCI at 0.5 per cent foliar spray and control. Higher grain yield was recorded during kharif than summer. Scheduling irrigation at 0.60 IW/CPE ratio through all furrow method along with coirpith application at 12.5 t/ha recorded higher grain yield during both the seasons.

An Additional QTL for Water Use Efficiency in Soybean

Water use efficiency (WUE) is one of the physiological traits that has been associated with drought tolerance in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr]. In a previous publication, we reported the identification of four quantitative trait loci (QTL) that conditioned WUE in a F4-derived soybean population obtained from a cross of ‘Young’ × PI416937. The purposes of this study were to identify WUE QTL in a F2-derived soybean population from a cross of ‘S100’ × ‘Tokyo’ and to determine the consistency of WUE QTL across the two soybean populations. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) linkage map was created from 142 markers and 116 F2-derived lines of the population. The map covered about 1100 cM of the soybean genome with 120 markers linked on 25 linkage groups. Twenty-two of the markers remained genetically unlinked. The WUE of the parents and the F2-derived lines was evaluated in a greenhouse at Athens, GA, in 1996. S100 produced 9% more dry matter per unit of water used than did Tokyo. Progeny lines with greater WUE than S100 were identified in this population. Two independent markers were associated with WUE in this soybean population. There was no interaction between the two markers. One (A063E) of the two independent markers was also associated with WUE in the Young × P1416937 population. Marker A489H, on Linkage Group (LG) L, was unique to the S100 × Tokyo population and explained 14% of the variation in WUE in this soybean population. Interval mapping with MAPMAKER/ QTL indicated that the most probable location of the QTL on LG L was at marker locus A489H. The likelihood of odds (LOD) score for the presence of a QTL at this location was 3.4. Thus, we have identified a previously unreported QTL for WUE on LG L.

Effects of low concentrations of O3, leaf age and water stress on leaf diffusive conductance and water use efficiency in soybean

Ozone, leaf age and water stress each affected leaf conductance in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. Hodgson], but there were no interactions among these factors. Exposure to increased concentrations of O3 (0.01, 0.05, 0.09. and 0.13 μl l−1) resulted in linear declines in abaxial and adaxial conductances in leaves of all ages. There were no differences in relative response to O3 between the two leaf surfaces. For well‐watered plants, water use efficiency also decreased with exposure to increased O3 concentrations (water‐stressed plants were not tested). Abaxial conductance increased as leaves aged from 4 to 10 days and then declined with further aging. Adaxial conductance decreased with all increases in leaf age beyond 4 days, and the ratio of abaxial/adaxial conductance increased continuously throughout the leaf lifespan. During water‐stress cycles (water withheld for 2–3 days) leaves of water‐stressed plants had lower conductances than those from well‐watered plants, and there was no difference in relative response between abaxial and adaxial stomata.

Response of four grain legumes to water stress in south-eastern Queensland. III. Dry matter production, yield and water use efficiency

Dry matter production, yield and water use efficiency of soybean (Glycine max), black gram (Vigna mungo), green gram (V. radiata) and cowpea (V. unguiculata) under irrigated, rain-fed fallowed and rain-fed double-cropped culture were evaluated at Dalby in south-east Queensland. Differential species responses to cultural treatments were related to strategies of growth and water use in response to water stress. The major effect of differences between strategies related to differences in the short term rate of soil water use, which together with the seasonal pattern of water availability influenced both the total, and seasonal pattern of water use. Regardless of strategy adopted, dry matter production was primarily a function of water use. However, seed yield and water use efficiency for seed yield depended on the seasonal pattern of water use. The relative agronomic success of the various strategies therefore depended on the seasonal profiles of water availability. Some implications of the differences in stress response strategy for adaptation of these species to agricultural environments are discussed.

Effects of water table depth and calcium perioxide application on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and soybean (Glycine max)

The effects of three water table (WT) depths (0, 15 and 40 cm) and calcium peroxide (Calper) on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, L.) and soybean (Glycine max) were investigated in field lysimeters for a sandy loam soil. Cowpea growth was the best at 40 cm WT depth. Leaf area, plant height, dry matter production, number of leaves and pods, grain yield and consumptive water use of cowpea increases with deeper (lower) WT depth. Application of calcium peroxide improved per cent emergence, leaf area, dry matter, number of leaves and pods, weight of 100 seeds, grain yield and water use in cowpea. The optimum WT depth for vegetative growth of soybean was 15 cm, although the highest grain yield was obtained at 40 cm WT depth. Number of pods, grain yield and water use efficiency of soybean increased with deeper water table depth. Application of calcium peroxide to soybean increased number of leaves and pods per plant, and grain yield for the 15 cm WT depth treatment.