Leaf stomatal resistance of maize affected by different furrow irrigation methods

Abstract: Stomatal regulation plays a pivotal role in the adaption of plants to different water conditions. In order to understand characteristics of stomatal resistance of crops with different irrigation methods, differences in leaf stomatal resistance and contribution of stomatal aperture to water vapor transfer were investigated with a field experiment conducted under alternative deficit water supply and under conventional furrow irrigation. Results indicated that for individual maize leaf, regardless of irrigation methods, the stomatal resistance decreased gradually from the base to the tip of the maize leaf. At the population level, the stomatal resistance of maize leaf increased gradually from canopy top to bottom. For the change of the leaf stomatal resistance in time, diurnal variation of leaf stomatal resistance was in a W shape. Diurnal and daily changes in the leaf stomatal resistance in the upper canopy were relatively small. The upper surface of maize leaf contributed more to CO2 and water vapor transfer than the ones underside. Except at the seedling stage, the leaves in the upper and middle part of maize canopy contributed more than 80% of the total CO2 and water vapor. Stomatal resistances of maize leaves decreased with the increase in leaf age during the vegetative growth stage. Differences in stomatal resistance among maize leaves of different ages were increased by the alternative deficit water supply. During the reproductive growth phase, leaf age had no significant influence on the stomatal resistance in matured leaves. Compared with the conventional furrow irrigation with sufficient water supply, the alternative deficit water supply increased the ratio of the stomatal resistances between the upper side and underside of maize leaves. The vertical gradient of stomatal resistance from canopy top to bottom increased significantly (P<0.05), decreasing leaf stomatal conductivity rapidly, and improving the contribution of the stomatal aperture in the upper canopy to water vapor transfer. Therefore, the leaf stomatal resistance of maize was regulated by furrow irrigation methods and soil water condition, and it was affected by the leaf age, leaf area index and natural feature of stomatal aperture. The study is useful for controllable irrigation technology and water vapor cycle in soil plant atmosphere continuum (SPAC).