Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i>
Many plant producers tend to overwater crops to prevent water stress and salt-induced damage. These practices waste irrigation water and cause leaching that harms the environment and increases production costs. In order to optimize water consumption and minimize the environmental impact of plant pro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/1/206 |
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| author | Daniel Bañón Beatriz Lorente Sebastián Bañón María Fernanda Ortuño María Jesús Sánchez-Blanco Juan José Alarcón |
| author_facet | Daniel Bañón Beatriz Lorente Sebastián Bañón María Fernanda Ortuño María Jesús Sánchez-Blanco Juan José Alarcón |
| author_sort | Daniel Bañón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many plant producers tend to overwater crops to prevent water stress and salt-induced damage. These practices waste irrigation water and cause leaching that harms the environment and increases production costs. In order to optimize water consumption and minimize the environmental impact of plant production, this study aimed to determine the physiological and morphological responses of <i>Hebe andersonii</i> to three substrate volumetric water contents (49%, 39%, and 32%). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with an irrigation protocol that consisted of adding small volumes of water to avoid leaching while monitoring substrate moisture with dielectric soil sensors. The results showed that moderately low substrate moisture improved the water-use efficiency, while growth was significantly reduced under more severe water deficit conditions (but without leaf chlorosis or abscission). The photosynthetic activity of Hebe was primarily controlled by the stomatal aperture, which was co-determined by the substrate moisture and seasonal temperature. Hebe leaves promoted non-photochemical quenching when carbon assimilation was limited by a water deficit, and accumulated solutes through an osmotic adjustment process (especially Cl<sup>−</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup>) to maintain their water status. Overall, <i>Hebe andersoni</i> cv. Variegata could successfully grow and improve its water-use efficiency in low substrate moisture and under a non-draining irrigation regime. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:04:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0aef296986c5412783552f949b5cae54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:04:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-0aef296986c5412783552f949b5cae542023-11-23T12:40:01ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-01-0112120610.3390/agronomy12010206Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i>Daniel Bañón0Beatriz Lorente1Sebastián Bañón2María Fernanda Ortuño3María Jesús Sánchez-Blanco4Juan José Alarcón5Department of Irrigation, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Irrigation, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, UPCT—Technical University of Cartagena, 30203 Cartagena, SpainDepartment of Irrigation, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Irrigation, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Irrigation, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), 30100 Murcia, SpainMany plant producers tend to overwater crops to prevent water stress and salt-induced damage. These practices waste irrigation water and cause leaching that harms the environment and increases production costs. In order to optimize water consumption and minimize the environmental impact of plant production, this study aimed to determine the physiological and morphological responses of <i>Hebe andersonii</i> to three substrate volumetric water contents (49%, 39%, and 32%). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with an irrigation protocol that consisted of adding small volumes of water to avoid leaching while monitoring substrate moisture with dielectric soil sensors. The results showed that moderately low substrate moisture improved the water-use efficiency, while growth was significantly reduced under more severe water deficit conditions (but without leaf chlorosis or abscission). The photosynthetic activity of Hebe was primarily controlled by the stomatal aperture, which was co-determined by the substrate moisture and seasonal temperature. Hebe leaves promoted non-photochemical quenching when carbon assimilation was limited by a water deficit, and accumulated solutes through an osmotic adjustment process (especially Cl<sup>−</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup>) to maintain their water status. Overall, <i>Hebe andersoni</i> cv. Variegata could successfully grow and improve its water-use efficiency in low substrate moisture and under a non-draining irrigation regime.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/1/206deficit irrigationplant physiologyornamental plantswater relationswater-use efficiencyabiotic stress |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Bañón Beatriz Lorente Sebastián Bañón María Fernanda Ortuño María Jesús Sánchez-Blanco Juan José Alarcón Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i> Agronomy deficit irrigation plant physiology ornamental plants water relations water-use efficiency abiotic stress |
| title | Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i> |
| title_full | Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i> |
| title_fullStr | Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i> |
| title_short | Control of Substrate Water Availability Using Soil Sensors and Effects of Water Deficit on the Morphology and Physiology of Potted <i>Hebe andersonii</i> |
| title_sort | control of substrate water availability using soil sensors and effects of water deficit on the morphology and physiology of potted i hebe andersonii i |
| topic | deficit irrigation plant physiology ornamental plants water relations water-use efficiency abiotic stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/1/206 |
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