Physiological responses of cotton to a single waterlogging at high and low N-levels

Abstract

Surface-irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on slowly draining clay soil is subjected to short-term periods of waterlogging at each irrigation which generally results in reduced productivity. The sequence of above-and below-ground plant responses to transient waterlogging and the role of N availability in modifying the immediate responses were studied. Lysimeters of Marah clay loam (a Natrustalf) were instrumented to monitor soil and plant responses to a 7-day waterlogging event beginning 67 days after sowing. Cotton ('Deltapine 61') plants (8 per lysimeter) were grown with two levels of added N (300 kg ha and 30kg ha -I) and two irrigation treatments (flooded and control). Measured soil-O2 levels decreased rapidly upon surface flooding because water displaced air and root zone respiration consumed 02. The rate of 02 consumption was 2.7 times greater in the high-N treatment than the low-N treatment. This difference was associated with a 1.8 fold difference in numbers of observed roots. Root growth was only slightly affected by flooding. Leaf growth decreased by 28%, foliage temperature increased 2.3% and apparent photosynthesis decreased by 16%. It is suggested that flooding reduced photosynthetic activity within 2 days while other stress symptoms became apparent after about 6 days. Although this stress was reflected in a trend for decreased plant productivity, the effect of flooding on boll dry mass at harvest was not significant at the level of replication used. The single waterlogging did not cause yield reductions comparable to those observed elsewhere when several waterlogging events were imposed.

Consequences of waterlogging in cotton and opportunities for mitigation of yield losses

“…proportion of stele) and the O 2 affinity of oxidases ( Armstrong and Drew 2002 ). In field-grown cotton, root growth is a function of O 2 consumption in the soil by roots and microbes ( Meyer et al . 1987 ); growth inhibition starts under mildly hypoxic (O 2 < 10 %) conditions.…”

“…Nutrient deficiency in cotton leaves has been considered the main reason for the fall in leaf photosynthetic rates. However, there was a lack of improvement in photosynthesis of waterlogged cotton under foliar and soil fertilizer (N, P and K) application ( Meyer et al . 1987 ; Hodgson and MacLeod 1988 ; Ashraf et al .…”

“…2003 ). (3) Limited nutrient transport to leaf tissues damage chlorophyll and photosynthesis ( Meyer et al . 1987 ).…”

“…2008 ), although stomatal closure is not consistently reported for cotton. For example, some reports suggested that waterlogging reduces stomatal conductance and leaf water potential in cotton ( Meyer et al . 1987 ; Christianson et al .…”

Responses of Cotton at Different Growth Stages to Aeration Stress under the Influence of High Temperature

“…Many previous studies of cotton under aeration stress have demonstrated significant reductions in vegetative growth (Reicosky et al, 1985; Meyer et al, 1987; Christianson et al, 2010; Kuai et al, 2015), as well as impacts on reproductive growth (Hodgson, 1982; Bange et al, 2004; Kuai et al, 2015). However, these studies contained scant quantitative information comparing the responses of vegetative and reproductive growth to aeration stress.…”