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Winter Wheat Response to Barrier‐Induced Microclimate 1
Author(s) -
Skidmore E. L.,
Hagen L. J.,
Naylor D. G.,
Teare I. D.
Publication year - 1974
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/agronj1974.00021962006600040008x
Subject(s) - microclimate , agronomy , environmental science , photosynthesis , stomatal conductance , field experiment , chlorophyll , resistance (ecology) , water stress , biology , horticulture , botany , ecology
The purpose of this research was to investigate morphological and physiological response of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) to microclimate induced by a slatfence wind barrier. Six varieties of wheat were grown in 90‐m‐long plots running perpendicular to centrally placed, east‐west barriers. Meteorological conditions and plant response were observed on selected days. Stomatal resistance and leaf water potential were measured with stomatal resistance meter and pressure bomb, respectively. Rate of photosynthesis was evaluated by determining uptake of labeled CO 2 . When environmental conditions were conducive to plant water stress, the plants in the sheltered area had significantly lower stomatal diffusive resistance, tended to have higher leaf‐water potential, and photosynthesized at an equal or significantly greater rate than those in the open field, even though plants in shelter contained 24%less leaf chlorophyll than those in open field. On days when water stress was low, the difference in plant responses between open field and shelter was generally nonsignificant. The plants in the sheltered area generally grew taller, had larger leaves, and had improved water‐stress relationships compared with those in open field. Yet, the grain yields were not consistently increased for the growing environment at Manhattan, Kansas.