Plant hydraulic transport controls transpiration sensitivity to soil water stress

Transpiration as a function of soil temperature and soil water stress.

An apparatus was developed for the measurement of transpiration rates of Trifolium repens. The transpiration rates were measured under controlled conditions of soil water stress and soil temperature. Other environmental parameters such as air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity and air speed were held constant. Diffusive resistances were calculated and stomatal aperture changes were...

Sensitivity Analysis of Hydraulic Parameters in the Simulation of Unsaturated Soil Water Dynamics

Soil water content is one of the most important parameters for estimating irrigation frequency and providing the plant’s water requirement. Since measurement of soil water content is both expensive and time consuming, water movement models are used to estimate these values. In this study, LEACHW model was used to estimate soil water content for two “dry” (20-29 Aug) and “wet” (1-6 Jul) periods ...

Reconciling seasonal hydraulic risk and plant water use through probabilistic soil-plant dynamics.

Current models used for predicting vegetation responses to climate change are often guided by the dichotomous needs to resolve either (i) internal plant water status as a proxy for physiological vulnerability or (ii) external water and carbon fluxes and atmospheric feedbacks. Yet, accurate representation of fluxes does not always equate to accurate predictions of vulnerability. We resolve this ...

Plant and Soil as Hydraulic Systems

Plant responses to water stress.

This Special Issue comprises a series of papers that develops the theme of plant responses to water stress, encompassing recent developments at the molecular level, through responses of photosynthesis and metabolism, to their application in crop selection and yield. The consideration of water deficits is particularly timely, given the huge developments in this area in the past decade. This issu...