Water Dynamics in Plant Production (2^nd Ed.)

Meagre water supply causes severe problems in the growth of plants, which rely on sufficient water transmitted by the soil to meet their needs. This new edition of Water Dynamics in Plant Production describes the basic scientific principles of water transport in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, explains the linkage between transpirational water use and dry matter production paying particular attention to the various agronomic strategies for adaptation to climate-driven limitations of water resources.

1. The role of water in plant life

1.1 Functions of water in the plant

1.2 Adaptation strategies of plants to overcome water shortage

1.3 Water and net primary production

1.4 Water and type of vegetation

2. The role of water in soil

2.1 Soil genesis and soil functions

2.2 Soil fauna and vegetation cover

3. The interdependency of soil and vegetation

3.1 The significance of the soil for water storage

3.2 Transpiration and seepage of water with different types of vegetation

4. Properties and energy state of water

4.1 Physical-chemical properties

4.2 The concept of water potential and the Darcy equation

5. Water storage and movement in soil

5.1 Fundamentals and principles

5.2 Evaporation

5.3 Infiltration and water transport

6. The root - The plant's organ for water uptake

6.1 The role of the root in the plant

6.2 Structure of the root tip

6.3 Root systems

7. The water balance of the plant

7.1 Water potentials in plant cells

7.2 Water uptake by roots

7.3 Transpiration by leaves

7.4 The action of stomatal guard cells

7.5 Water transport within the plant

7.6 Water potentials in plants

8. The plant as a link between soil and atmosphere: an overview

8.1 The soil - plant - atmosphere continuum (SPAC)

8.2 Potential evapotranspiration

8.3 Relations between potential evapotranspiration, soil water and transpiration

9. Water use by crops

9.1 Growth of roots and leaves

9.2 Leaf area index and transpiration

9.3 Root system development and water uptake

9.4 How much of the soil water is extractable by plant roots?

9.5 Stomatal control of water vapour loss

9.6 Water use throughout the growing season

9.7 How to determine the components of the field water balance

9.8 Numerical simulation

10. Radiation and dry matter production

10.1 Radiation and net photosynthesis of single leaves

10.2 Radiation interception and dry matter accumulation in crop stands

11. Water use and dry matter production

11.1 Relations and their optimization

11.2 The transpiration ratio and a related standard

11.3 Water use and an estimate of dry matter production

12. Influence of nutrient supply on water use and establishment of yield

12.1 Yield dependency on water and nutrient supply

12.2 Influence of nutrient supply on the relation between water use and yield

12.3 Transpiration efficiency and fertilizer application

13. Yield formation under inadequate water supply

13.1 Physiological reactions and assimilate partitioning

13.2 Economic yield

13.3 Water shortage at different phenological stages

14. Water stress in plants

14.1 Measuring water stress in plants

14.2 How plants perceive water stress

15. Climatic factors influencing yield

15.1 Growth limiting climatic factors

15.2 Climate change

15.3 Plants, soils and cropping pattern in a changing environment

16. Breeding for yield and water use

16.1 Comparing old and new cultivars

16.2 Future strategies in plant breeding

17. Controlling the soil's water balance by soil management

17.1 Which of the balance components can be changed?

17.2 Controlling infiltration

17.3 Controlling evaporation

17.4 Increasing the quantity of extractable soil water

17.5 Conservation tillage

18. Controlling water use by crop management

18.1 Crop rotation

18.2 Choice of species and cultivars

18.3 Seeding and stand density

18.4 Fertilizer application

19. Irrigation

19.1 Need, concerns, problems

19.2 Tapping water - The basis of early civilizations

19.3 Water requirement of crops

19.4 Timing and adjusting the application of water

19.5 Efficient water use

19.6 Irrigation methods

20. Epilogue