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In Situ Measurement of Soil and Plant Leaf Water Potential
Author(s) -
Rawlins S. L.,
Gardner W. R.,
Dalton F. N.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1968.03615995003200040016x
Subject(s) - transpiration , water potential , environmental science , soil water , water content , irrigation , greenhouse , agronomy , soil science , chemistry , biology , geology , photosynthesis , biochemistry , geotechnical engineering
For a pepper plant ( Capsicum frutescens L.) growing in a greenhouse, soil water potential was measured with tensiometers and a thermocouple psychrometer, plant water potential was inferred from a calibrated beta gauge, and transpiration was measured by weighing the soil‐plant system. Water moved through the transpiration stream in the direction of the gradient of the water potential. Regardless of the distribution of water in the soil, transpiration was unaffected by soil water content until it dropped to a value corresponding to −6 to −8 bars water potential. Below this water content, transpiration decreased linearly with soil water content to a soil water potential of −37 bars. At this time the plant water potential was below −50 bars and the transpiration rate was near zero. After irrigation the plant regained full turgor.