Influence of moisture stress on sugar cane leaf and stem extension

Code (CO)	MSI99P1549
Author (AU)	Batchelor, C. H. Soopramanien, G. C. Davis, R. M.
Title - English (ET)	Influence of moisture stress on sugar cane leaf and stem extension
Document Type(DT)	Periodical article
Date of publication (DP)	1992
Series (SE)	Revue agric. sucr. Ile Maurice
Source (SO)	71 (2/3), 312-323
Notes (NO)	Published 1993
Language of text (LT)	En
Language of summaries (LS)	En Fr
Abstract (AB)	Measurements of daily leaf and stem extension were made throughout the plant crop season of a drip-irrigated sugarcane trial planted in the north of Mauritius. Soil water potential and content and cane water use were monitored by arrays of tensiometers and neutron probe access tubes. Daily leaf and stem extension measurements were found to be sensitive indicators of moisture stress with stem extension rates declining more rapidly at the onset of stress and then recovering more slowly following the removal of stress. It was found also that day-time extension rates were more sensitive to moisture stress than night-time rates. The critical values at which cane growth was inhibited by moisture stress were examined by correlating growth and soil moisture measurements. This showed that stem extension was always below normal at an available water content of 60 mm. Growth resurgence following rewatering after relavitely short periods of moisture stress was observed in both leaf and stem extension growth. However, higher stem growth rates observed on the rainfed treatment as compared to irrigated treatments during the second half of the crop season were attributed to differences in physiological age and not growth resurgence mechanisms. When moisture stress was not a limiting factor, the relationship between monthly mean stem growth and solar radiation was found to be linear. The relationship between mean monthly stem growth and water use was shown to be linear and independent of environmental and phenological factors. This and other results are discussed in terms of the design and management of commercial irrigation schemes.
Descriptors - English (DE)	SUGARCANE SOIL MOISTURE WATER UPTAKE STEM ELONGATION PLANT WATER RELATIONS PHYSIOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Descriptors - Geographic (DG)	MAURITIUS
Sort Key 1(K1)	Sugarcane: Physiology
Sort Key 2 (K2)	Environmental stress
Date record entered (DA)	1994-01-06
Language of analysis (LA)	En
Location (LO)	LIB
Processing status (PS)	CAT
MSIRI Staff (MS)	BOT