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

PLOSCHUK, ROCIO A.; MIRALLES, DANIEL J.; COLMER, TIMOTHY D.; STRIKER, GUSTAVO G.

JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

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 sativumL.). 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, followedby 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/podand 1,000 grain weight) were assessed at maturity, along with morphological (number of tillers/branches) and shoot and root dry weight responses after waterloggingand 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) ascompared to late waterlogging (32% and 26% of controls), mainly due to fewer spikesper plant (barley) or reductions in seeds per silique (rapeseed). Field pea was greatlyaffected by waterlogging at both timings, attaining a yield of only 6% of controls onaverage 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 latestages); barley and rapeseed are recommended only with if water excess occurs inearly stages and field pea is intolerant to waterloggin