Evaluation of the Effects of Water Stress and Relative Water Content on on Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted from April 1 to June 30 to evaluate the effects of water stress and relative water content on maize (Zea mays L.) crop under green house conditions which have two replication and two treatments. The first two pots were stressed after two months from sowing gradually until clear wilting symptoms were observed and the rest two pots were well irrigated as per the crop water need. Results of this study illustrate that, all vegetative growth of crops were significantly affected by water shortage in the soil profile. However, maize is tolerant than cool season crops due to its C4 metabolism nature and/or tropical adaptation behavior. Even after one week stress maize can recover quickly as it gets a shower of water. Vegetative growth, especially leaf expansion, and reproductive growth are very sensitive even to relatively moderate water stress. This sensitivity was related with cell turgidity and expansion. Highest relative water content (RWC) and leaf moisture content (LMC) was observed in fully irrigated treatments. From this result it is concluded that water stress reduce vegetative growth of the crops which can later reduce yield and quality of those crops. So that, management of appropriate soil moisture within plant root zone and adjusting of the crop water need or irrigation water requirement for better irrigation scheduling is a crucial recommended activity.

Keywords: Relative water content, Leaf moisture content, water stress, cell turgidity, maize, sensitivity, tolerance.