HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Thompson, T. E. Articles by Fick, G. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Thompson, T. E. Articles by Fick, G. W. Agricola Articles by Thompson, T. E. Articles by Fick, G. W.

Growth Response of Alfalfa to Duration of Soil Flooding and to Temperature

Alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) is very sensitive to excessive soil water, yet few studies have been done under controlled conditions to quantify the extent of this sensitivity. The objective of these studies was to investigate the effect of wet soil conditions on alfalfa production. The growth of roots and tops was determined in a factorial greenhouse and growth chamber experiment with treatments for duration of flooding and temperature. Five-week-old alfalfa plants, potted in pasteurized soil, were flooded to the soil surface for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 days at temperatures of 16, 21, and 27 C, and for 3, 6, 9, and 12 days at 32 C. Root and top dry weights (DW) of flooded and control plants were measured upon draining. Three weeks after draining, the plants were cut to a 2.5 cm stubble and top DW was measured. After 2 subsequent weeks of regrowth, top and root DWs were again measured.

Results demonstrated that root growth stopped during flooding. As measured over the 3 weeks following drainage, the rate of top growth of plants was reduced by 50% with 8 days of flooding at 16 C, 4 days at 21 C, 3 days at 27 C, and 2 days at 32 C. No net top growth occurred during the 3 weeks following drainage in plants flooded for over 14 days at 16 C, 10 days at 21 C, 8 days at 27 C, and 6 days at 32 C. In most cases, the negative response to flooding occurred before the disease Phytophthora megasperma Drechs. is thought to have been able to have an influence. This argues for a physiological as opposed to a pathological basis for the injury.

Key Words: Anaerobiosis • Medicago sativa L. • Phytophthora megasperma Drechs • Root growth • Wet soil

² Research technician (formerly graduate research assistant) and associate professor of agronomy, respectively, Dep. of Agronomy, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853.

Received for publication May 27, 1980.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. D. Teutsch, R.M. Sulc, and A. L. Barta Banded Phosphorus Effects on Alfalfa Seedling Growth and Productivity After Temporary Waterlogging Agron. J., January 1, 2000; 92(1): 48 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text]