Effects of Severe Water Stress on Maize Growth Processes in the Field

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of water stress on the growth and yield of summer maize (Zea mays L.) over four phenological stages: Seedling, jointing, heading, and grain-filling. Water stress treatments were applied during each of these four stages in a water-controlled field in the Guanzhong Plain, China between 2013 and 2016. We found that severe water stress during the seedling stage had a greater effect on the growth and development of maize than stress applied during the other three stages. Water stress led to lower leaf area index (LAI) and biomass owing to reduced intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE). These effects extended to the reproductive stage and eventually reduced the unit kernel weight and yield. In addition, the chlorophyll content in the leaf remained lower, even though irrigation was applied partially or fully after the seedling stage. Severe and prolonged water stress in maize plants during the seedling stage may damage the structure of the photosynthetic membrane, resulting in lower chlorophyll content, and therefore RUE, than those in the plants that did not experience water stress at the seedling stage. Maize plants with such damage did not show a meaningful recovery even when irrigation levels during the rest of the growth period were the same as those applied to the plants not subjected to water stress. The results of our field experiments suggest that an unrecoverable yield loss could occur if summer maize were exposed to severe and extended water stress events during the seedling stage.

Water management for irrigation, crop yield and social attitudes: a socio-agricultural agent-based model to explore a collective action problem

“…In turn, and in line with observations (e.g. Cavero et al 2000, Heggenstaller et al 2009, Feng et al 2019, Song et al 2019, the total crop biomass b in each farm grows exponentially during the main growing season, with rate g, i.e. (Vico and Porporato 2013),…”

Increase maize productivity and water use efficiency through application of potassium silicate under water stress

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Effects of biofertilizers and iron nano‐oxide on maize yield and physiological properties under optimal irrigation and drought stress conditions

“…Zarabi, Allah Dadi, Akbari, Irannejad, and Akbari (2010) also suggested that under conditions of water stress, the negative impacts of stress can be reduced through fertilizer management. Studies by other researchers also show that water stress greatly reduces maize grain yield (Song, Jin, & He, 2019). Seasonal drought is one of the most important factors limiting maize production in the world, with global maize yield diminishing by a mean of 17% each year, though in some areas up to 70% has been reported (Dastbandan Nejad, T, Saki., & Lack, S., 2010).…”

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