Arid Zone Research ›› 2019, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 901-908.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2019.04.14

• Plant Physiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Threshold Responses of Leaf Photosynthetic Physiological Parameters of Spring Maize to Soil Moisture and Its Productivity Classification

REN Li-wen1,2, WANG Xing-tao2, ZHAO Hong1, WANG Run-yuan1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Disaster Reduction of China Meteorological Administration/Key Laboratory of Arid Climate Change and Disaster Reduction of Gansu Province/Institute of Arid Meteorology,China Meteorological Administration, Lanzhou 730020,Gansu,China;
    2. Wuwei Meteorological Bureau,Wuwei 733000,Gansu,China
  • Received:2018-07-04 Revised:2018-11-15 Published:2025-10-18

Abstract: Two modes including normal irrigation treatment and water stress treatment were designed in this experiment to discuss the threshold responses of leaf photosynthetic physiological parameters of spring maize to soil moisture and its productivity classification.The results showed that the change curves of photosynthetic rate (Pn),transpiration rate (Tr) and stomata conductance (Gs) were unimodal under normal irrigation treatment.The response of intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) to soil moisture was opposite to that of stomata limitation (Ls).The Pn and Tr values were significantly decreased under water stress treatment,and the reduction of Pn value was mainly caused by the stomata limitation before grain-filling.As the degree of water stress was aggravated and the photosynthetic structure was damaged,the reduction of Pn was mainly caused by non-stomata limitation.Short-term water stress reduced the water use efficiency (WUE) of maize plant appropriately,which,however,was not significant,and the WUE could be reached a medium level.After a long-term and serious water stress,the WUE was decreased significantly compared to the situation under normal irrigation.Based on the photosynthetic physiological parameters,the soil moisture availability and the productivity of maize were classified and evaluated.The relative water content (RWC) ranging from 36.8% to 42.7% was classified as the low-yield and low-efficiency water treatment,that from 42.7% to 60.4% as the medium-yield and medium-efficiency one,that from 60.4% to 77.5% as the medium-yield and high-efficiency one,and that from 77.5% to 80.6% as the high-yield and high-efficiency one.It was observed that the RWC about 77.5% was optimal.

Key words: spring maize, leaf, photosynthetic physiological parameter, soil moisture content, productivity classification, Wuwei