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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Water Management and Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #327669
Title: Evapotranspiration partitioning and variation of sap flow in female and male parents of maize for hybrid seed production in arid region

Author
item JIANG, XUELIAN - China Agricultural University
item KANG, SHAOZHONG - China Agricultural University
item LI, FUSHENG - Guangxi University
item DU, TAISHENG - China Agricultural University
item TONG, LING - China Agricultural University
item Comas, Louise

Submitted to: Agricultural Water Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2016
Publication Date: 5/22/2016
Citation: Jiang, X., Kang, S., Li, F., Du, T., Tong, L., Comas, L.H. 2016. Evapotranspiration partitioning and variation of sap flow in female and male parents of maize for hybrid seed production in arid region. Agricultural Water Management. 176:132-141. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.022.

Interpretive Summary: Understanding plant water use in maize hybrid seed production is needed to accurately determining water use in seed production regions. Sap flow rate, evapotranspiration (ET), soil evaporation (E), meteorological variable, soil water content (SWC) and plant morphological parameters in female and male parents were measured from April to September in 2013 and 2014 in an arid region of northwest China. Sap flow in female and male parents was monitored using heat-balance type sap flow gages, and E with micro-lysimeters. We found that sap flow rates in female and male parents were similar during the vegetative growth stage but, after detasseling, female parents had higher sap flow rates than male parents with a maximum difference between them of 0.28-0.33 L d-1 in daily sap flow rates. Hourly sap flow rates in the female and male parents were correlated with net radiation, while daily sap flow rates in the female and male parents were correlated with SWC and leaf area index in addition to net radiation. Daily sap flow in male parents was also correlated with stem diameter but sap flow was not with crop height in either parent. Daily E increased exponentially with SWC. Total ET for the growing season was 363-384 mm for seed maize production. Soil evaporation was 48-62 mm over the whole growth stage, accounting for about 15% of the total ET. Female parents represented 80% of the stand and used approximately 84% of the remaining 319 mm ET in transpiration (T). Male parents represented 20% of the stand and used approximately 11% in T. Our results provide scientific basis for accurate determination of water use by female and male plants and developing precise irrigation scheduling of maize for hybrid seed production in an arid region.

Technical Abstract: Understanding the variation of sap flow in female and male parents of maize for hybrid seed production and evapotranspiration (ET) partitioning is useful in accurately determining water use of the female and male parents and improving irrigation management of maize for hybrid seed production. Sap flow rate, ET, soil evaporation (E), meteorological variable, soil water content (SWC) and morphological parameters in the female and male parents were measured during April to September in both 2013 and 2014 in the arid region of northwest China. Sap flow rates in the female and male parents and E were respectively monitored using heat-balance technique and micro-lysimeter. We found that the variations of sap flow rates in the female and male parents were similar during the vegetative growth stage, but the female parent had higher sap flow rate than the male parent after the detasseling, with the maximum difference of daily sap flow rates in the female and male parents of 0.28-0.33 L d-1. Hourly sap flow rates in the female and male parents were highly correlated with net radiation, while daily sap flow rates in the female and male parents were highly correlated with net radiation, SWC, leaf area index, but not correlated with crop height. Daily E increased exponentially with SWC. Moreover, daily sap flow rates in the male parents were positively correlated with stem diameter. The total ET was 363.31-384.15 mm over the whole growth stage of maize, and the T of female parents accounted for 63-80% of the total ET, while the T of male parents accounted for 4-14% of the total ET. And the soil evaporation was 47.77-62.21 mm over the whole growth stage, accounting for 13-16% of the total ET. Our results can provide scientific basis for accurate determination of water use of female and male plants and developing precise irrigation scheduling of maize for hybrid seed production in the arid region.