Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and water requirements of some range plants under controlled conditions

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The growth and water requirements of ten of the native and introduced range species were compared at different levels of moisture stress between the permanent wilting percentage and the moisture equivalent.

The most vigorous vegetative growth and highest dry matter production were shown byChloris gayana.

The transpiration intensity of all the studied species was low and comparable with that of xerophytes living under extremely dry conditions. At the highest moisture stress which is a xeric condition, the transpiration intensity varied between 90 mg/g.h inOnonis vaginalis and 160 mg/g.h inPanicum antidotale.

The osmotic pressure varied widely between 16.5 atm inPennisetum dichotomum and 30.0 atm inOryzopsis miliacea at the highest moisture stress.

The present investigation revealed that all the studied species are drought resistant as shown by their transpiration intensity and osmotic pressure which are comparable with those of xerophytes. SinceChloris gayana exhibits the highest dry matter production in addition to its drought resistance therefore it can be considered as the most suitable species for cultivation in desert regions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abd El-Rahman, A. A., and Batanouny, K. H., Transpiration of desert plants in Wadi Hof. J. Botany U.A.R.7, 37–59 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Abd El-Rahman, A. A., and Batanouny, K. H., Osmotic pressure of desert plants under different environmental conditions. J. Botany U.A.R.7, 95–107 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bourdeau, P. F., Oak seedling ecology determining segregation of species in Piedmont oak-hikory forests. Ecol. Monographs24; 297–320 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Daubenmire, R. F., and Charter, D. G., Behaviour of woody desert legumes at the wilting percentage of the soil. Botan. Gaz.103, 762–770 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Davis, C. H., Response ofCyperus rotandus to five moisture levels. Plant Physiol.17, 311–316 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fritts, H. C., Radial growth of beech and moisture in a central Ohio-forest during the growing season of 1952. Ohio J. Sci.,56, 17–28 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kozlowski, T. T., Light and water in relation to growth and composition of Piedmont forest tree species. Ecol. Monographs19, 207–231 (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kozlowski, T. T., Water relations and growth of trees. J. Forestry56, 498–502 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kramer, P. J., and Kozlowski, T. T., Physiology of Trees. McGraw Hill Book Co. Inc., New York (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lemée, G., Recherches ecophysiologiques sur le cacaoyer. Rev. Gen. Botany63, 41–93 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Migahid, A. M., and Abd El-Rahman, A. A., Observations on the drought resistance of desert plants. Bull. Inst. Desert d'Egypte3, 58–83 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Migahid, A. M., and El-Shafei, M., Osmotic pressure of plant sap as related to salinity and water content of the soil. Bull. Inst. Desert d'Egypte5, 57–81 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Pearson, G. A., Studies in transpiration of coniferous tree seedlings. Ecology5, 340–347 (1924).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Richards, L. A., and Wadleigh, C. H., Soil water and plant growth (In B. T. Shawed), Soil Physical Conditions and Plant Growth. Academic Press, Inc. New York (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Slatyer, R. O., The significance of the permanent wilting percentage in studies of plant and soil water relations. Botan. Rev.23, 585–636 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Slatyer, R. O., The influence of progressive increase in total soil moisture stress on transpiration, growth, and internal water relationships of plants. Aust. Jour. Biol. Sci.10, 320–336 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Stanhill, G., The effect of differences in soil moisture status on plant growth. Soil Sci.84, 205–214 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Veihmeyer, F. J., and Hendrickson, A. H., Does transpiration decrease as soil moisture decreases? Trans. Am. Geophys. Union (1954).

  19. Veihmeyer, F. J., Soil moisture. (In W. Ruhland Ed.), Encyclopedia of Plant Physiol.3, 64–123 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Walter, H., The water economy and hydrature of plants, Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol.6, 239–252 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bot. Dept., Faculty of Science, Cairo University, UAR

    A. A. Abd El-Rahman (Professor)

  2. Bot. Dept., Desert Institute, Mataria, Cairo, UAR

    M. O. El-Monayeri (Ecologist)

Authors
  1. A. A. Abd El-Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. O. El-Monayeri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abd El-Rahman, A.A., El-Monayeri, M.O. Growth and water requirements of some range plants under controlled conditions. Plant Soil 29, 119–131 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01393916

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01393916

Keywords

Search

Navigation