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Effect of varying soil water stress regimes on nutrient uptake and biomass production in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings in Indian desert

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Abstract

One-year-old seedlings of Dalbergia sissoo from a single provenance were planted in non-weighing lysimeter tanks in July 1998 with a view to provide optimize irrigation parameters in desert areas. Varying water regimes were maintained by re-irrigating the seedlings at 36.2 mm (W1), 26.5 mm (W2), 20.2 mm (W3) and 18.1 mm (W4) treatments when the soil water content decreased to 7.56%, 5.79%, 4.44%, 3.23% in the respective treatments. Height, collar diameter, number of leaves and leaf area were highest (p < 0.01) for the seedlings irrigated at W1 level. Above-mentioned growth parameters did not differ between W1 and W2 treatments but the seedlings in W2 level had highest biomass per liter of water use (i.e., water use efficiency, WUE). Irrigation levels of W3 to W5 negatively affected seedling growth, biomass production and nutrient accumulation. Soil water availability below W2 level (i.e., 5.79%) caused an increase in percentage of root biomass to the total biomass of the seedling. However, there was a decrease in percentage of leaf dry biomass in W3 and W4 treatments and in percentage of stem dry biomass in the seedlings of W5 treatment. Seedlings in W5 treatment survived till at soil water potential of −1.96 MPa. Limitation of soil water availability in W3 and W4 treatments affected growth and biomass production of D. sissoo seedlings. W2 level was best for growth and biomass production in which water use efficiency was highest. Therefore, better growth and biomass production of D. sissoo seedlings could be obtained by irrigating the seedlings at soil water content of ≥5.79% in the loamy sand soil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Forest Ecology, Arid Forest Research Institute, New Pali Road, Jodhpur, 342005, India

    G. Singh & Bilas Singh

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  1. G. Singh
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  2. Bilas Singh
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Correspondence to G. Singh.

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Biography: G. Singh (1961–), *Corresponding author, male, Scientist E and Head in Division of Forest Ecology, Arid Forest Research Institute, New Pali Road, Jodhpur-342005, India.

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Singh, G., Singh, B. Effect of varying soil water stress regimes on nutrient uptake and biomass production in Dalbergia sissoo seedlings in Indian desert. Journal of Forestry Research 20, 307–313 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-009-0053-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-009-0053-8

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