Comparative
study on growth, yield and carbon content in Pongamia
pinnata under water stress and urea supplementation Author Details |
|
S. Gnaana Saraswathi (Corresponding author) |
Department of Botany, Holy Cross College, Tiruchirappalli
– 620002, India. e-mail : sgsaraswathi@yahoo.co.in |
S. Ezhilarasi |
Department
of Botany, Holy Cross College, Tiruchirappalli –
620002, India. |
Publication Data Paper received: 25
September 2010 Revised
received: 09 September 2011 Accepted: 20
September 2011 |
Abstract The growth, yield, and carbon content of eight-month old
seedlings of Pongamia pinnata
were compared under water and urea supplementation. One set of plants were
subjected to water stress condition (WS), whereas the other supplied with 2 g
of urea (WS+U) under WS. Both the experimental set ups were exposed to
varying treatment levels which include full irrigation (100%, control)
followed by 75 % (T1), 50 % (T2), 25 % (T3) and 12.5 % (T4). The growth, leaf
area and relative water content were maximum under WS when compared to WS+U
(p<0.001). The maximum biomass was produced in the seedlings under WS in
control (1.68 g) followed by T1 (1.38 g), T2 (1.53 g), T3 (0.93 g) and T4
(0.73 g). A significant (p<0.001) reduction in biomass production
was observed in WS+U in control (1.28 g), T1 (0.66 g), T2 (1.13 g) and T3
(0.44 g). T4 of WS+U showed similar biomass (0.73 g) as that of T4 of WS.
Under WS, the highest biomass allocation was recorded in shoots followed by
leaves and roots. Similar trend was observed in WS+U. However, the percentage
of allocation was more in the roots of WS+U (27.2 %) when compared to WS
(22.24 %). The highest amount of carbon content was observed in control
plants treated under WS (9.59 g) followed by control plants of WS+U (7.31 g)
(p<0.001). The results of the preliminary study clearly
indicated that P. pinnata seedlings were
able to cope-up with water stress conditions without urea application and can
perform well in 50 % water availability and is best suited for the
plantation programs in the semi-arid ecosystems. Key words Water
stress, Growth parameters, Pongamia pinnata, Semi-arid ecosystem |
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