Abstract
Two cultivars of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.)Millsp.) UPAS-120 and Parbhat were grown in the field under two irrigation treatments: no irrigation and irrigation when cumulative pan evaporation was equal to 50 per cent depletion of available water content in one metre root zone depth. Diurnal changes in leaf water potential and stomatal conductance were recorded on two daysi.e. October 1, 1979 and October 28, 1979 which corresponded to reproductive growth stage of the crop. Plant water potential decreased rapidly during the day up to about 15.00 and increased during evening hours. Higher leaf water potential was recorded in irrigated treatment on both dates. Adaxial and abaxial stomata differed in their response to water stress. Adaxial stomatal conductance started declining during early morning hours, however, abaxial conductance firstly increased up to 09.00 then decreased and increased again in the afternoon except in irrigated crop of cv. UPAS-120 on 28th October, where conductance never increased after 09.00. The reduced rate of stomatal conductance during day hours may be identified as one of the characteristics responsible for drought tolerance in pigeon pea.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agarwal, S. K., Behl, N. K., Moolani, M. K.: Response of summer mung to levels of phosphorus and irrigation under different dates of planting. - Indian J. Agron.21: 290–291, 1976.
Bhatia, K. K.: Comparison of three varieties of Arhar with varying levels of phosphorus and irrigation. - M. Sc. Thesis, Haryana agr. Univ., Hissar 1973.
Denmead, O. T., Miller, B. D.: Field studies on the conductance of wheat leaves and transpiration. - Agron. J.68: 307–311, 1977.
Joshi, S. N., Patel, D. P.: Note on irrigation and seed quality in summer mung. - Indian J. Agron.15: 82–83, 1970.
Negomireanu, V., Picu, I.: Experiments with grain soy-bean under conditions of irrigation on the leached chernozem of fundulea. - Anal. Inst. Cent. Cer. Agr.32: 219–237, 1964.
Scholander, P. F., Hamel, H. T., Bradstreat, E. D., Hemmingsen, E. A.: Sap pressure in vascular plants. - Science148 339–346, 1965.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, K.P., Malik, R.S. & Malik, D.S. Diurnal variations in leaf water potential and stomatal conductance of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) cultivars as affected by irrigation levels. Biol Plant 25, 1–4 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02878259
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02878259