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The Relation between Pod Dehiscence, Relative Humidity and Moisture Equilibrium in Birdsfoot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus 1
Author(s) -
Metcalfe D. S.,
Johnson I. J.,
Shaw R. H.
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1957.00021962004900030006x
Subject(s) - point of delivery , relative humidity , trefoil , lotus corniculatus , moisture , humidity , water content , agronomy , horticulture , botany , environmental science , biology , materials science , meteorology , composite material , physics , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Synopsis Birdsfoot trefoil pods of clone B74 dehisced at a relative humidity of 29.5% but not at 35%. Pods from a bulk sample of the Empire strain dehisced at a relative humidity of 40% suggesting that differences occur among lots of mature pod. There was a close interdependence of relative humidity, moisture equilibrium and pod splitting. At low relative humidity, moisture content of pods was, reduced rapidly to the point of dehiscence. Temperature, a factor in relative humidity, varied as much as 10° F. from air temperature. Increase of pod temperature in full sunlight may be enough to reduce relative humidity and pod moisture and bring about pod dehiscence.