N. Katerji et al., EFFECT OF SALINITY ON WATER-STRESS, GROWTH, AND YIELD OF MAIZE AND SUNFLOWER, Agricultural water management, 30(3), 1996, pp. 237-249
Maize and sunflower were grown in tanks filled with loam and clay, and
were irrigated with water of three different levels of salinity. Pred
awn leaf-water potential and stomatal conductance were used as paramet
ers for water stress. The predawn leaf-water potential of maize was hi
gher than that of sunflower, but the effect of salinity and soil textu
re on the predawn leaf-water potential was the same for both crops. Th
e stomatal conductance of sunflower was much higher and more severely
affected by salinity and soil texture than the stomatal conductance of
maize. Although salinity had a more serious effect on the development
of leaf area and canopy dry matter of sunflower, its effect on evapot
ranspiration and grain yield was the same for both crops. Soil texture
had a stronger effect on the development of leaf area and canopy dry
matter of sunflower, which also appeared in the evapotranspiration and
grain yield, indicating that sunflower is more sensitive to drought t
han maize.