Waterlogging differentially affects yield and its components in wheat, barley, rapeseed and field pea depending on the timing of occurrence

PLOSCHUK RA; MIRALLES DJ; COLMER TD; STRIKER GG

JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020 vol. 206 p. 363 - 375

0931-2250

Waterlogging on croplands is increasing in various areas of the world. This study evaluated the yield penalty by early- and late-waterlogging on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and field pea (Pisum sativum L.). Plants cultivated outdoors were exposed to a 14-day-waterlogging during vegetative (at 65 days after sowing (DAS) or reproductive (at 85/87 DAS) stages, followed by drained conditions until maturity. Yield (seed weight per plant) and its components (number of spikes/siliques/pods per plant, number of grains per spike/silique/pod and 1,000-grain-weight) were assessed at maturity, along with morphological (number of tillers/branches) and shoot and root dry weight responses after waterlogging and during recovery. Wheat was the most tolerant species achieving 86% and 71% of controls in yield with early- and late-waterlogging, related to fewer grains per spike. Barley and rapeseed tolerated early-waterlogging (yields 85% and 79% of controls) as compared to late-waterlogging (32% and 26% of controls); mainly due to fewer spikes per plant (barley) or reductions in seeds per silique (rapeseed). Field pea was greatly affected by waterlogging at both timings, attaining a yield of only 6% of controls on average due to much fewer pods and fewer seeds per pod. So, wheat could be an option for areas facing either winter or spring transient waterlogging (i.e. early- or late-stages); barley and rapeseed are recommended only with if water excess occurs in early stages and field pea is intolerant to waterlogging.