Cereal Research Communications
Volume/Issue:
Volume 40: Issue 4
How does a stone mulch increase transpiration and grain yield in wheat under soil water deficit stress?
Author:
M. Inagaki International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) P. O. Box 5466 Aleppo Syria

Search for other papers by M. Inagaki in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
486–493
Online Publication Date:
20 Nov 2014
Publication Date:
01 Dec 2012
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/crc.40.2012.0005
Keywords:
stone mulch; evaporation; transpiration; grain yield; water-saving; drought; wheat
Restricted access

Stone mulch offers potential benefits for water conservation in many rain-fed agricultural systems of the arid regions. The effects of stone mulch on transpiration and grain yield were examined for a durum wheat crop grown under soil water deficit stress. In a greenhouse trial, stone mulches with two levels of ground coverage significantly decreased soil-surface evaporation and increased crop transpiration. The transpiration increase contributed to increases both in biomass and grain yield. Field experiments over two cropping seasons confirmed yield increases of 12% in soil half-covered and 24% in soil fully-covered by stones. These significant yield increases indicate the potential usefulness of stone mulch technology in rain-fed cereal cropping. It is suggested that stones should not be removed from cereal fields unless their presence obstructs management severely. It remains to develop technologies for effectively managing soils containing large numbers of sizable stones in order to obtain the benefits of the potential yield increase associated with their presence on the soil surface.

  • Deng, X.P., Shan, L., Inanaga, S., Inoue, M. 2005. Water-saving approaches for improving wheat production. J. Sci. Food Agr. 85:13791–388.

    Inoue M. , 'Water-saving approaches for improving wheat production ' (2005 ) 85 J. Sci. Food Agr. : 13791 -388 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Fairbourn, M.L. 1973. Effect of gravel mulch on crop yields. Agron. J. 65:925–928.

    Fairbourn M.L. , 'Effect of gravel mulch on crop yields ' (1973 ) 65 Agron. J. : 925 -928 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hobbs, P.R. 2007. Conservation agriculture: what is it and why is it important for future sustainable food production? J. Agr. Sci. (Camb.) 145:127–137.

    Hobbs P.R. , 'Conservation agriculture: what is it and why is it important for future sustainable food production? ' (2007 ) 145 J. Agr. Sci. (Camb.) : 127 -137 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Li, X.Y. 2000. Soil and water conservation in arid and semiarid areas: The Chinese experience. Ann. Arid Zone 39:1–18.

    Li X.Y. , 'Soil and water conservation in arid and semiarid areas: The Chinese experience ' (2000 ) 39 Ann. Arid Zone : 1 -18 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Li, X.Y., Gong, J.D., Wei, X.H. 2000. In-situ rainwater harvesting and gravel mulch combination for corn production in the dry semi-arid region of China. J. Arid Environ. 46:371–382.

    Wei X.H. , 'In-situ rainwater harvesting and gravel mulch combination for corn production in the dry semi-arid region of China ' (2000 ) 46 J. Arid Environ. : 371 -382 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Li, X.Y. 2003. Gravel-sand mulch for soil and water conservation in the semiarid loess region of northwest China. Catena 52:1051–1027.

    Li X.Y. , 'Gravel-sand mulch for soil and water conservation in the semiarid loess region of northwest China ' (2003 ) 52 Catena : 1051 -1027 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Lightfoot, D.R. 1994. Morphology and ecology of lithic-mulch agriculture. Geogr. Rev. 84:1721–1785.

    Lightfoot D.R. , 'Morphology and ecology of lithic-mulch agriculture ' (1994 ) 84 Geogr. Rev. : 1721 -1785 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Mori, M., Inagaki, M.N. 2012. Root development and water-uptake under water deficit stress in drought-adaptive wheat genotypes. Cereal Res. Commun. 40:44–52.

    Inagaki M.N. , 'Root development and water-uptake under water deficit stress in drought-adaptive wheat genotypes ' (2012 ) 40 Cereal Res. Commun. : 44 -52 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Mori, M., Inagaki, M.N., Inoue, T., Nachit, M.M. 2011. Association of root water-uptake ability with drought adaptation in wheat. Cereal Res. Commun. 39:551–559.

    Nachit M.M. , 'Association of root water-uptake ability with drought adaptation in wheat ' (2011 ) 39 Cereal Res. Commun. : 551 -559 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Richards, R.A., Rebetzke, G.J., Condon, A.G., van Herwaadenet, A.F. 2002. Breeding opportunities for increasing the efficiency of water use and crop yield in temperate cereals. Crop Sci. 42:111–121.

    Herwaadenet A.F. , 'Breeding opportunities for increasing the efficiency of water use and crop yield in temperate cereals ' (2002 ) 42 Crop Sci. : 111 -121 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Ryan, J., Masri, S., Garabet, S., Diekmann, J., Habib, H. 1997. Soils of ICARDA’s agricultural experimental stations and sites: Climate, classification, physiological and chemical properties, and land use. ICARDA, Aleppo, 107 pp.

  • Sadras, V.O., Angus, J.F. 2006. Benchmarking water-use efficiency of rainfed wheat in dry environments. Aust. J. Agr. Res. 57:847–856.

    Angus J.F. , 'Benchmarking water-use efficiency of rainfed wheat in dry environments ' (2006 ) 57 Aust. J. Agr. Res. : 847 -856 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tubeileh, A., Bruggeman, A., Turkelboom, F. 2008. Water-saving techniques practiced by olive growers in dry areas. Acta Hort. 791:4194–4223.

    Turkelboom F. , 'Water-saving techniques practiced by olive growers in dry areas ' (2008 ) 791 Acta Hort. : 4194 -4223 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wang, Y.J., Xie, Z.K., Malhi, S.S., Vera, C.L., Zhang, Y.B., Wang, J.N. 2009. Effects of rainfall harvesting and mulching technologies on water use efficiency and crop yield in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China. Agr. Water Manage. 96:374–382.

    Wang J.N. , 'Effects of rainfall harvesting and mulching technologies on water use efficiency and crop yield in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China ' (2009 ) 96 Agr. Water Manage. : 374 -382 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Yang, Y.M., Liu, X.J., Li, W.Q., Li, C.Z. 2006.Effect of different mulch materials on winter wheat production in desalinized soil in Heilonggang region of North China. J. Zhejiang Univ. SCI. B 7:858–867.

    Li C.Z. , 'of different mulch materials on winter wheat production in desalinized soil in Heilonggang region of North China ' (2006 ) 7 J. Zhejiang Univ. SCI. B : 858 -867 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Zhang, H., Oweis, T., Garabet, S., Pala, M. 1998. Water-use efficiency and transpiration efficiency of wheat under rain-fed conditions and supplemental irrigation in a Mediterranean-type environment. Plant Soil 201:295–305.

    Pala M. , 'Water-use efficiency and transpiration efficiency of wheat under rain-fed conditions and supplemental irrigation in a Mediterranean-type environment ' (1998 ) 201 Plant Soil : 295 -305 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Cereal Research Communications
Cereal Research Communications A Quarterly of the Cereal Research Non-Profit Ltd. Company
Print ISSN:
0133-3720
Online ISSN:
1788-9170

 

 

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

 

 

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Cereal Research Communications
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 1973
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 4
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0133-3720 (Print)
ISSN 1788-9170 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Jun 2024 11 0 0
Jul 2024 19 0 0
Aug 2024 31 0 0
Sep 2024 17 0 0
Oct 2024 46 0 0
Nov 2024 83 0 0
Dec 2024 9 0 0