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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410903
Research Project: Enhancing Cropping System and Grassland Sustainability in the Texas Gulf Coast Region by Managing Systems for Productivity and Resilience

Location: Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory

Title: Monitoring cotton water status with microtensiometers

Author
item CHRISTENSEN, CLAY - University Of Arizona
item GOHARDOUST, MOHAMMAD - University Of Arizona
item CALLEJA, SEBASTIAN - University Of Arizona
item Thorp, Kelly
item TULLER, MARKUS - University Of Arizona
item PAULI, DUKE - University Of Arizona

Submitted to: Irrigation Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2024
Publication Date: 4/10/2024
Citation: Christensen, C.G., Gohardoust, M.R., Calleja, S., Thorp, K.R., Tuller, M., Pauli, D. 2024. Monitoring cotton water status with microtensiometers. Irrigation Science. 42:995-1011. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-024-00930-w.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-024-00930-w

Interpretive Summary: A new technology for measuring plant water status involves placement of miniature sensors inside the plant stem. These sensors are able to continuously monitor the water status of the plant and identify onset of plant water stress. This study provided the first test of the new sensor technology for a woody small-stemmed row crop like cotton. Results demonstrated that sensor measurements of stem water were able to distinguish irrigation amounts better than measurements of leaf water. The new sensor technology showed promise for use as a tool for researchers to monitor the water status of crops, and further development may allow its use for irrigation management in commercial crop production.

Technical Abstract: Stem water potential plays a pivotal role in evaluating plant water status, yet existing measurement methods, characterized by destructiveness and intermittency, limit its applicability. Recent advancements in microtensiometry, with miniature sensors embedded in plant stems for continuous water potential measurements, promise to unveil the complex dynamics of plant water relations. In this study, conducted during the summer of 2022 in Maricopa, Arizona, three irrigation treatments including a fully irrigated control and two deficit treatments were implemented in a cotton field. Concurrently, weekly midday leaf water potential measurements were collected while also collecting a comprehensive set of continuous agronomical data on soil and atmospheric conditions. A robust linear relationship (r2 = 0.78) was found between stem water potential and leaf water potential, with this relationship strengthening as water availability decreased. Notably, mean gradients of -1.5 and -0.4 MPa were found between soil vs stem and stem vs. leaf water potentials, respectively. Stem water potential also better distinguished between treatments earlier in the growing season compared to leaf water potential. These findings underscore microtensiometers as a valuable tool for monitoring water status in smaller-stemmed row crops like cotton.