Work

Increasing the concentration of film antitranspirant increases yields of rapeseed under terminal drought by improving plant water status

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Film antitranspirant (AT) can effectively reduce yield loss of droughted rapeseed by blocking stomata if applied at the critical stage. However, the physiological mechanism by which film AT mitigates drought damage remains unclear. To investigate the effect of different concentrations of AT from 1% to 3% on yield and its components of rapeseed under terminal drought, we carried out two field experiments at two locations in the year 2021, using rain shelters to simulate terminal drought at Bird’s nest (BN) and Flat Nook (FN). The study was conducted in a randomised complete block design with different concentrations of film AT (Vapor Gard, a.i., di-1-p-menthene) from 0% to 3% applied at flowering stage of droughted rapeseed. Soil and plant water status, leaf gas exchange, seed yield and yield components, etc., were examined. Drought depressed leaf gas exchange and resulted in large yield losses. Aboveground biomass, seed yield, pod number and oil yield showed linear increases with AT concentrations consistently from both sites. With a 1% increase in concentration, seed yield was projected to increase by 0.61 t/ha and 0.23 t/ha at BN and FN, respectively. The improvement in seed yield was highly associated with pod number (R2 = 0.97 and 0.76, respectively; p < 0.001). Further, pod number and leaf relative water content were positively correlated, albeit with differences between two sites. Increasing concentrations of film AT can enhance yield benefits on droughted rapeseed, and the greater yield from film AT appeared to be mediated through the improvement in leaf water status. As high concentrations of film AT are less cost-effective and limit the commercial use, and conventional spraying methods only cover the adaxial leaf surface of rapeseed, how to improve leaf coverage considering both sides of the leaf would merit further investigation.

Source: Agricultural Water Management

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108350

Authors: Jie Xiang, Laura H. Vickers, Martin C. Hare, Peter S. Kettlewell

Institution: Harper Adams University

Language: English

Topic: Irrigation Practices and Water Management

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,600