Submitted by Celso Magalhaes (celsomagalhaes@ufrrj.br) on 2018-08-02T15:53:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Ana Carolina Mendes Bezerra.pdf: 1946898 bytes, checksum: 5eac08b2a62141f12ea8b97452156ae3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-02T15:53:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Ana Carolina Mendes Bezerra.pdf: 1946898 bytes, checksum: 5eac08b2a62141f12ea8b97452156ae3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-16 / Irrigation acts as an important factor to reduce risks and increase productivity in agricultural crops. However, due to increasing water scarcity and the waste of water practiced by many farmers, there is great concern about the negative impacts of this technique on the productive sector, generating the need to establish a balance between agricultural productivity and the preservation of natural resources. In this scenario, studies related to water economics are inserted through more sustainable types of irrigation management. The objective of this study was use the Simplified Irrigation Controller sensor positioned in the atmosphere, to control the irrigation of lettuce seedlings based on the variation of water vapor pressure. The performance of the adaptation was evaluated by monitoring plant parameters, as well as, water use efficiency (WUE). The device was evaluated with the ceramic sensor positioned outside the substrate, in the atmosphere adjacent to the production trays, seeking to correlate the applied water with the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) observed at the experiment site. The seeds of the Regina cultivar were sown in polystyrene trays (200 cells) with substrate used in organic cultivation. A randomized block design was used in a factorial scheme where factor A were four adjustments of the SIC (3.5; 5, 6.5 and 8kPa) and factor B were the two evaluation periods (from July 8 to August 8 and September 16 to October 16, both in 2016) with four replications, totaling 32 plots (experimental units). Parameters related to the growth and physiology of the crop was evaluated, such as: fresh mass, dry mass, water use efficiency, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and stomatal conductance. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and in the presence of significant interaction a Sliced- analysis was carried out for each factor. Scott-Knott test was used to determine significance with the cut off at 5%.Biometric and physiological variables tested showed a decrease as the tested tensions were increased. The 3.5 kPa tension showed a higher potential for producing more vigorous seedlings, presenting WUE with an average value of 1.37 g L-1 and producing a seedling with approximately 32.4 mL of water in the second experimental period. The cultivation of lettuce seedlings is possible in both experimental periods. The results show the availability of the use of the SIC with atmospheric sensor and compatibility of the applied water volume applied with the observed VPD / A irriga??o atua como importante fator de redu??o de risco e incremento na produ??o de culturas agr?colas. Por?m, devido ? crescente escassez h?drica e ao desperd?cio de ?gua praticado por grande parte dos agricultores, h? uma grande preocupa??o em rela??o aos impactos negativos dessa t?cnica, gerando a necessidade de se estabelecer um equil?brio entre a produtividade agr?cola e a preserva??o dos recursos naturais. Nesse cen?rio se inserem estudos relacionados com efici?ncia h?drica por meio de tipos de manejo da irriga??o mais sustent?veis. O objetivo desse estudo foi utilizar o sensor do Acionador Simplificado de Irriga??o (ASI) na atmosfera para controlar a irriga??o de mudas de alface baseando-se na varia??o de press?o de vapor da ?gua. O desempenho da adapta??o foi avaliado por meio do monitoramento de par?metros na planta, bem como, da efici?ncia de uso da ?gua (EUA). O acionador foi avaliado com o sensor cer?mico posicionado fora do substrato, na atmosfera adjacente superior as bandejas de produ??o, buscando correlacionar a ?gua aplicada com o d?ficit de press?o de vapor observado nesse local. As sementes da cultivar Regina foram semeadas em bandejas de isopor (200 c?lulas) com substrato utilizado em cultivo org?nico. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial, onde o fator A foi quatro regulagens do acionador (3,5; 5; 6,5 e 8 kPa) e o fator B as duas ?pocas de avalia??o (de 8 de julho a 8 de agosto e 16 de setembro ? 16 de outubro, ambas no ano de 2016), com quatro repeti??es, totalizando 32 parcelas. Foram avaliados par?metros referentes ao crescimento e fisiologia da cultura, quais sejam: massa fresca, massa seca, par?metros de cin?tica da fluoresc?ncia da clorofila a e condut?ncia estom?tica, al?m da EUA. Os resultados foram submetidos ? an?lise de vari?ncia e na presen?a de intera??o significativa foi realizada nova an?lise de vari?ncia com desdobramento dos graus de liberdade. Teste de Scott-Knott foi usado para determina??o de signific?ncia a 5% de probabilidade. As vari?veis biom?tricas e fisiol?gicas avaliadas apresentaram decr?scimo conforme foram aumentadas as tens?es de acionamento. A tens?o 3,5 kPa mostrou maior potencial para produ??o de mudas mais vigorosas, apresentando EUA com valor m?dio de 1,37 g L-1 e produzindo uma muda com aproximadamente 32,4 mL de ?gua na segunda ?poca experimental. O cultivo de mudas de alface mostra-se poss?vel nas duas ?pocas experimentais. Os resultados mostram a viabilidade do uso do acionador com sensor atmosf?rico e compatibilidade do volume de ?gua aplicado com o d?ficit de press?o de vapor da atmosfera observado.

The urban water demand in Southwest Texas has grown rapidly in recent years due to the population increases in urban areas, which caused conflict between municipal and agricultural water use. Deficit irrigation is one important measure for solving this problem. A field experiment with seven different irrigation treatments and four cotton varieties was conducted at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde in the summers of 2008 and 2009 to examine the water saving potential and related phenological/physiological responses in Southwest Texas. The results showed that: 1) The threshold deficit ratio for a traditional deficit irrigation scheme falls between 0.7 and 0.8 for cotton production in Southwest Texas under a low energy precision application (LEPA) sprinkler irrigation system. The 70 percent evapotranspiration (ET)-initialled regulated deficit irrigation scheme (70R) performed well in maintaining lint yield in most cotton varieties tested. The significant changes detected in lint quality failed to introduce premiums or discounts in cotton price. 2) The phenological parameters (plant height, node number and flower/fruit number) showed clear trends that illustrate the relationship between increased stress level and decreased plant growth and development. The observed inconsistency of the physiological responses in the two growing seasons may imply that physiological parameters are not good direct predictors of lint yield if measurements are conducted only on a point basis. The partitioning coefficients of boll dry weight in both years failed to show a significant difference between deficit irrigation treatments and the control, indicating that reallocation of carbohydrates may not be the major factor of maintaining lint yield for the deficit irrigation treatments. 3) Economic analysis showed that due to the low water price, it is not currently profitable to adopt deficit irrigation. In case that water price is increased, it may become more profitable to adopt deficit irrigation. This work provides reference information to water authorities and policy makers to set quotas for municipal and agricultural water use and to value water properly through setting different water prices.

As a result of predicted climate change, environmental conditions may make woody plant species such as poplars (Populus spp.) vulnerable unless they are sufficiently adaptable to the new environment. This greenhouse study examined the responses of Hill, Northwest, Okanese and Walker hybrid poplar clones to drought, a potential outcome of a changing climate. Plants were grown from cuttings and subjected to two soil moisture treatments; a well-watered treatment and a drought conditioning treatment in which plants were subjected to cycles of soil moisture deficit. The first study examined growth and gas exchange following treatments, while the second study examined concurrent changes in leaf water potential and gas exchange during a period of increasing soil moisture deficit, following treatments.<p> Hill and Okanese plants had reduced shoot:root ratios, possibly leading to more positive plant moisture balances compared to Northwest and Walker plants. Stomatal characteristics related to steady state gas exchange with Okanese plants having stomata predominantly on lower leaf surfaces, and lower stomatal conductance and Northwest plants having relatively large stomata and increased stomatal conductance. Hill and Okanese plants had the most responsive stomata, which began to close at much higher levels of leaf water potential (-0.45 and -0.54 MPa) than Northwest or Walker plants (-1.03 and -0.88 MPa); however, closure was more gradual in Okanese plants. Drought preconditioning resulted in stomatal closure occurring at higher leaf water potentials in droughted Northwest and Walker plants compared to well-watered plants. Regardless of soil moisture treatment, WUE was highest in Okanese and Walker plants. The drought treatment did however lead to increased WUE in Hill and Northwest plants.<p> Overall, Okanese plants appear to be the best adapted to conditions of reduced soil moisture based on growth and physiological traits, while Northwest and Hill seem better suited to areas where moisture deficits are likely to be less frequent or less severe. Results indicate that variability exists in adaptability of hybrid poplar clones to drought, suggesting that there may also be other hybrid clones that are adaptable to reduced soil moisture conditions, which may merit further investigation.

As a result of predicted climate change, environmental conditions may make woody plant species such as poplars (Populus spp.) vulnerable unless they are sufficiently adaptable to the new environment. This greenhouse study examined the responses of Hill, Northwest, Okanese and Walker hybrid poplar clones to drought, a potential outcome of a changing climate. Plants were grown from cuttings and subjected to two soil moisture treatments; a well-watered treatment and a drought conditioning treatment in which plants were subjected to cycles of soil moisture deficit. The first study examined growth and gas exchange following treatments, while the second study examined concurrent changes in leaf water potential and gas exchange during a period of increasing soil moisture deficit, following treatments.<p> Hill and Okanese plants had reduced shoot:root ratios, possibly leading to more positive plant moisture balances compared to Northwest and Walker plants. Stomatal characteristics related to steady state gas exchange with Okanese plants having stomata predominantly on lower leaf surfaces, and lower stomatal conductance and Northwest plants having relatively large stomata and increased stomatal conductance. Hill and Okanese plants had the most responsive stomata, which began to close at much higher levels of leaf water potential (-0.45 and -0.54 MPa) than Northwest or Walker plants (-1.03 and -0.88 MPa); however, closure was more gradual in Okanese plants. Drought preconditioning resulted in stomatal closure occurring at higher leaf water potentials in droughted Northwest and Walker plants compared to well-watered plants. Regardless of soil moisture treatment, WUE was highest in Okanese and Walker plants. The drought treatment did however lead to increased WUE in Hill and Northwest plants.<p> Overall, Okanese plants appear to be the best adapted to conditions of reduced soil moisture based on growth and physiological traits, while Northwest and Hill seem better suited to areas where moisture deficits are likely to be less frequent or less severe. Results indicate that variability exists in adaptability of hybrid poplar clones to drought, suggesting that there may also be other hybrid clones that are adaptable to reduced soil moisture conditions, which may merit further investigation.

In arid lands, wetland loss is the result not only of the scarcity of water itself, but of the management of water to maximize off-stream uses. Declaring a wetland as a protected natural area is not enough when its water supply is not protected as well. In a fully-diverted, over-allocated, drought-prone Colorado River ecosystem, its delta has no instream flows allocated. Water use efficiency (WUE) is touted as the panacea for water shortages and lack of instream flows. I evaluated the relationships between water use in the Mexicali Irrigation District and the water supply for the Colorado River delta wetlands. The survey applied to 521 farmers complemented the GIS analysis to create a spatial distribution of agronomic and socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ options to improve WUE in irrigation. Mexicali farmers apply 10,496 m³/ha/yr; 4% higher than the legal allotment. Still, 28% of the district’s soils are salt-affected (ECe > 8dS/m), 19% are sodic (ESP > 50%), and 39% of the salt load in irrigation water accumulates in the soils. Thus, Mexicali farmers apply more water than plants need in order to maintain the sustainability of their soils. From an agronomic perspective, increasing WUE is feasible in 80% of the valley. However, high costs and lack of technical knowledge limit farmers’ options to either continue using as much water as they do now or rent/sell their water rights to larger farming operations or urban developments. Mexicali’s agriculture provides 87 Mm³ of water to the delta marshes, and seepage from unlined canals and subsurface flows generated by irrigation contribute to sustain riparian areas. Agricultural “inefficiencies” become the main source of water for wetlands when flows are fully diverted. The Irrigation District 014 is an integral part of the delta ecosystem; this is a required change in the agriculture-wetland paradigm. The restoration of arid and over-allocated rivers requires the integration of irrigation practices and WUE with the allocation of water for instream flows. The restoration of wetlands of international watersheds like the Colorado River requires the bi-national collaboration beyond memorandums of understanding between the countries; treaties where environmental flows are actually allocated will better serve shared ecosystems.

Stomatal conductance and mesophyll conductance for CO2 transport are two key components of diffusive limitations of photosynthesis, since they restrict CO2 flux from the leaf surface to the sub-stomatal cavity and from there to the sites of carboxylation. This thesis summarizes our findings in the field of nature of mesophyll conductance to CO2 transport and its regulation per se and in respect to stomatal conductance.

As mudanças climáticas globais e a expansão da cultura da cana-de-açúcar para regiões com menor suprimento hídrico elevaram a importância de estimativas consistentes das necessidades de água da cultura. Na tentativa de contribuir nesse campo, o presente trabalho buscou analisar o consumo hídrico da cana-de-açúcar em três diferentes escalas espaciais: folha, planta e dossel, além de uma ferramenta de simulação (DSSAT/CANEGRO) quanto ao seu desempenho na estimativa do consumo hídrico da cana-de-açúcar. Foram realizadas medidas de evapotranspiração do dossel pelo método do balanço de energia-razão de Bowen (MRB) e de transpiração das plantas por meio do balanço de calor nos colmos (BC) e das folhas com um analisador de gás à infravermelho (IRGA). Duas áreas experimentais foram utilizadas, sendo a primeira com a variedade CTC 12, na safra 2011/2012, irrigada por gotejamento subsuperficial; a segunda área com a variedade RB867515, irrigada por aspersão por meio de um pivô central, na safra 2012/2013. O acoplamento planta-atmosfera também foi avaliado. As análises do MRB indicaram um fluxo de calor latente médio de 70% da energia disponível no ambiente, com 25% de fluxo de calor sensível e 5% no fluxo de calor no solo. Com a mesma metodologia a evapotranspiração da cultura média (ETc) foi estimada em 3,92 e 3,25 mm dia-1 para as variedades CTC 12 e RB867515, respectivamente, resultando em um coeficiente de cultura (Kc) médio de 1,37, na fase de pleno desenvolvimento vegetativo. No período experimental, o canavial permaneceu mais acoplado à atmosfera (&Omega; médio=0,37) e a transpiração avaliada pelo BC chegou a 4,7 e 3,62 mm dia-1, respectivamente para CTC 12 e RB867515. A metodologia do IRGA resultou em perda de água ao nível foliar da faixa de até 1 mm h-1. Conforme a demanda atmosférica, o Kc da cultura apresentou-se variável em função da evapotranspiração de referência (ETo). O modelo DSSAT/CANEGRO mostrou-se eficiente na simulação da ETc e transpiração do canavial, com resultados mais satisfatórios (R2=0,59) quando utiliza-se a metodologia FAO 56 nas simulações. / Global climate change and the sugarcane crop expansion to regions with lower water supply became more important the real estimate of crop water requirements. This study aimed to contribute on this regard by analyzing the sugarcane water consumption at three different spatial scales: leaf, plant and canopy. The DSSAT/CANEGRO crop model was also evaluated with respect to sugarcane transpiration and evapotranspiration. Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) method was performed to measure crop canopy evapotranspiration and the transpiration were measured with sap flow by stem heat balance for plant scale and infra-red gas analyzer (IRGA) for leaf scale. Two experimental sites were used: the first with CTC 12 cultivar and drip irrigation, on 2011/2012 season; in the second experiment the RB867515 variety was grown under sprinkler irrigation by a central pivot, on the 2012/2013 growing season. The plant-atmosphere decoupling factor was also evaluated. BREB method showed latent heat flux representing 70% of the available energy, 25% for sensible heat flux, and 5% for soil heat flux. BREB crop evapotranspiration (ETc) ranged from 3.92 to 3.25 mm day-1 for CTC 12 and RB867515, respectively, resulting in a mean crop coefficient (Kc) of 1.37 at the full vegetative growth stage. In the experimental period, sugarcane crop was coupled to the atmosphere (&Omega;=0.37) and transpiration assessed by HB reached 4.7 and 3.62 mm day-1 for CTC 12 and RB867515, respectively. IRGA method showed a leaf water loss up to 1 mm h-1. Kc varied with reference evapotranspiration (ETo) The DSSAT/CANEGRO crop model was efficient in the ETc and transpiration simulation, with better results (R2=0.59) when using FAO 56 ETo method in the simulations.

O tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) é um dos vegetais mais populares e amplamente consumidos e que faz parte importante na dieta diária. A maioria das áreas cultivadas com a cultura é usando irrigação por sulcos e com menor proporção irrigada por gotejamento. Além de baixa eficiência no uso da água, o sistema de irrigação por sulcos possui impacto ambiental negativo, tornando assim o gotejamento um sistema alternativo viável. O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito de quatro lâminas de irrigação por gotejamento, três doses de potássio e a presença de cobertura plástica sobre as características agronômicas do tomateiro L. esculentum, cultivar Débora Plus. Foi utilizado um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em um esquema fatorial 4x3x2, com três repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de lâminas de irrigação equivalentes a 125, 100, 75 e 50 % da necessidade hídrica da cultura, com doses de potássio de 208, 416 e 624 kg ha-1, com e sem cobertura do solo ("mulching"). A lâmina de irrigação foi aplicada mediante sistema de gotejamento quando a tensão da água no solo estava entre 10 e 15 kPa. As lâminas de irrigação afetaram significativamente os parâmetros de crescimento vegetativo e produtividade. O potássio, o mulching, as interações de irrigação e potássio, de irrigação e mulching, de irrigação, potássio e mulching influenciaram a altura das plantas aos 90 dias após o transplante (DAT), a massa de matéria fresca das plantas e a produção. A eficiência do uso da água (EUA) diminuiu com o aumento das lâminas de irrigação, sendo que a produtividade máxima foi obtida com a aplicação de 0,57 L.dia-1.planta-1. As maiores produtividades total e comercial foram de 86,20 e 79,73 Mg.ha-1, obtidas da combinação de 54,36 L.planta-1. ciclo-1 e dose de potássio de 416 kg.ha-1, sob condições de solo coberto com mulching. / Tomato is one of the most popular and widely consumed vegetable which forms a major part of daily diet. Most of the crop is irrigated by furrow irrigation system with fewer experiences with drip irrigation. Apart from low water use efficiency, the main irrigation system posses negative environmental impact thus making drip irrigation viable alternative. The objectives of the study was to evaluate the effect of four drip irrigation levels, three potassium doses and the presence of plastic mulching on water use efficiency and the agronomic characteristics of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill, variety, Débora Plus. The experimental design was a randomized complete design in a 4 x 3 x 2 factorial scheme with three replications. The treatments consisted of irrigation water levels equivalent to 125, 100, 75 and 50% of crop water requirement with potassium doses of 208, 416 and 624 kg ha-1. Irrigation was applied through drip irrigation system when soil water tension was between 10-15 kPa. Irrigation water levels significantly affected crop development parameters and production. Potassium, mulching, interactions of irrigation and potassium, irrigation and mulching, irrigation, potassium and mulching influenced plant height at 90 days after transplant , fresh plant mass and production. Water use efficiency decreased with increase in irrigation levels with daily recommended irrigation water of 0,57 L plant-1 cycle-1. The highest total and commercial yield were 86,20 and 79,73 t ha-1 both obtained with 54,36 L plant-1 cycle-1 and potassium dose 416 kg ha-1 with mulching.

Exploring how drought influences growth, performance, and survival in different species is crucial to understanding the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. Here, we investigate the responses of two co-occurring pines (Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris) to interannual drought in east-central Spain by dendrochronological and wood anatomical features integrated with isotopic ratios of carbon (delta C-13) and oxygen (delta O-18) in tree rings. Our results showed that drought induces both species to allocate less carbon to build tracheid cell-walls but increases tracheid lumen diameters, particularly in the transition wood between early and latewood, potentially maximizing hydraulic conductivity but reducing resistance to embolism at a critical phase during the growing season. The thicker cell-wall-to-lumen ratio in P. nigra could imply that its xylem may be more resistant to bending stress and drought-induced cavitation than P. sylvestris. In contrast, the higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) in P. sylvestris suggests that it relies more on a water-saving strategy. Our results suggest that narrower cell-walls and reduced growth under drought are not necessarily linked to increased iWUE. At our site P. nigra showed a higher growth plasticity, grew faster and was more competitive than P. sylvestris. In the long term, these sustained differences in iWUE and anatomical characters could affect forest species performance and composition, particularly under increased drought stress.

Understanding the effects of water stress on wheat growth, yield and quality is essential for good irrigation management. In South Africa most of the wheat production areas are vulnerable to drought stress during crop development. That causes substantial reduction in grain yield, depending on the developmental stage at which water stress occurred. Supplemental irrigation is the main strategy for adaptation and stabilisation of yield under water stress. However, agriculture is the leading single water-use sector locally, consuming about 60% of total available water. Therefore, the need to improve water use efficiency (WUE) in crop production is clear, since South Africa is classified as a water-scarce country. Experiments were conducted under a rain shelter at Hatfield Experimental Farm, University of Pretoria, in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of water stress at different stages on growth, yield, and quality of three wheat cultivars, namely Duzi, Steenbras and SST 843. Water stress was imposed by withholding water at either of three growing stages. The first treatment was stressed during tillering stages to flag leaf (stem elongation (SNN)), followed by water stress from flag leaf to the end of flowering (flowering stage (NSN)), and lastly water stress from grain filling to physiological maturing (grain-filling stage (NNS)), whereas optimal supply of water was maintained throughout the season by weekly irrigating to field capacity for the control treatment (NNN). Irrigation treatments and cultivars influenced growth, yield and quality, depending on the developmental stage at which irrigation was withheld. The control treatment (NNN) and the treatment stressed in the flowering stage (NSN) had highest and lowest grain yield respectively in both seasons. Water stressed treatment NSN reduced grain yield by 33% and 35% in the 2010 and 2011 seasons respectively, when compared with the control treatment (NNN). Reduction of grain yield due to stress in the flowering stage (NSN) was ascribed to reduction in the number of seeds per ear, number of ears per unit area, ear length, and flag-leaf photosynthesis rate (Pn). In the flowering stage (NSN) water stress reduced Pn by 59% which was due to increased leaf temperature because of lower transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs). The water stress treatment NSN reduced transpiration by 72% and stomatal conductance by 84% in the flowering stage. Plant height was reduced by 23% because of water stress imposed in the flowering stage (NSN), which consequently decreased biomass yield by 29% in the 2011 season. Growth and yield parameters showed dramatic recovery when stress was terminated during the flag-leaf stage (SNN). The cultivar Steenbras had lower yield reduction under stress, whereas Duzi and SST 843 had higher yield potential under the well-watered conditions (NNN). In the 2011 season SST 843 had higher WUE of 14.2 kg ha-1 mm, which corresponded to higher grain yield of 7210 kg ha-1 and higher ET of 509 mm. Water-stress treatment SNN gave the highest WUE of 14.9 kg ha-1 mm, which corresponded to a total water use (ET) of 451 mm and grain yield of 6738 kg ha-1. Water stress treatments SNN and NNS reduced ET by 27% and 17%, respectively, which translated to 173 mm and 105 mm water saved by each treatment correspondingly. Grain protein content (GPC) was reduced most by the treatment exposed to stress in the stem elongation stage (SNN). However, the GPC was acceptable (>12%) in all treatments in both seasons. Hectolitre mass was reduced most by water stress imposed during grain filling (NNS). Water stress treatment NNS lowered the hectolitre mass by 3% and 4% in the 2010 and 2011 seasons respectively. Generally all quality parameters in the present study were acceptable for all irrigation treatment and cultivars. The hypothesis that water stress in the stem elongation and grain-filling stages will have little effect on yield and improve WUE was accepted. Therefore it can be recommended that supplemental irrigation should be applied from flag leaf to end of flowering (NSN) stages of wheat in order to minimise grain yield losses in the absence of rainfall. Further research should focus on extrapolation of these results to other production regions using crop models. / Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted