Articles
Benefits of applying deficit irrigation strategies in ornamental plants
Article number
1345_46
Pages
343 – 350
Language
English
Abstract
The application of deficit irrigation with different objectives has been widely studied in tree crops, less has been investigated in ornamental plants that grow in pots.
Under these conditions, it is more difficult to manage the desirable water deficit to achieve a good quality plant.
This is due to the fact that the speed in the development of certain stress is faster because the amount of water available in the root zone is limited and the substrates retain water at low tension, which can lead to sudden changes in humidity.
Another aspect to consider is that not all the phenological phases of a plant are equally sensitive to the water deficit and have the same water use efficiency, which can have consequences on the quality and appearance of the plant.
In this sense, the importance of factors such as the degree of water stress imposed, and the time and duration of the stress according to the species has been assessed.
Thus, an acceptable level of deficit irrigation can produce beneficial effects such as more compact plants, earlier and greater intensity of flowering, and an increase in the resistance of plants to environmental stresses.
However, if the water restriction is too severe, the effects can be negative, such as a significant decrease in ornamental value, affecting the number of flowers, and even the death of the plant.
Controlling the variables of water consumption, transpiration, stomatal regulation and level of hydration of the tissues in each phase is essential to change the irrigation amount and to understand the relationships between the absorption of water by the roots and other physiological processes.
In addition, successive stress cycles can also induce acclimatization or hardening in plants before transplanting.
This implies functional and structural adaptations, which include regulation of plant growth, osmotic adjustment, decreases in stomatal conductance, and changes in the properties of the cell wall among others, which help to withstand the shock of plant transplantation.
Under these conditions, it is more difficult to manage the desirable water deficit to achieve a good quality plant.
This is due to the fact that the speed in the development of certain stress is faster because the amount of water available in the root zone is limited and the substrates retain water at low tension, which can lead to sudden changes in humidity.
Another aspect to consider is that not all the phenological phases of a plant are equally sensitive to the water deficit and have the same water use efficiency, which can have consequences on the quality and appearance of the plant.
In this sense, the importance of factors such as the degree of water stress imposed, and the time and duration of the stress according to the species has been assessed.
Thus, an acceptable level of deficit irrigation can produce beneficial effects such as more compact plants, earlier and greater intensity of flowering, and an increase in the resistance of plants to environmental stresses.
However, if the water restriction is too severe, the effects can be negative, such as a significant decrease in ornamental value, affecting the number of flowers, and even the death of the plant.
Controlling the variables of water consumption, transpiration, stomatal regulation and level of hydration of the tissues in each phase is essential to change the irrigation amount and to understand the relationships between the absorption of water by the roots and other physiological processes.
In addition, successive stress cycles can also induce acclimatization or hardening in plants before transplanting.
This implies functional and structural adaptations, which include regulation of plant growth, osmotic adjustment, decreases in stomatal conductance, and changes in the properties of the cell wall among others, which help to withstand the shock of plant transplantation.
Authors
S. Álvarez, M.J. Sánchez-Blanco
Keywords
acclimatization, evapotranspiration, plant quality, root to shoot ratio, salinity, water stress
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