Results
3.1. Soil water content and plant water status
Soil volumetric water content (u) for CI remained 0.07–0.12 m3 m3 higher than DI for
most of the growth period (Fig. 1A). Values of u for PRD depended on wetting and drying
cycle (Fig. 1B). For example, at 100 DAFB, the u value on wetted side of rootzone was 0.26
while 0.16 m3 m3 was recorded for the dry side. Mean u of two sides of PRD treatment
remained above 0.19 m3 m3 for the entire season (Fig. 1B).
Both predawn and midday values of LWP in CI were higher than the DI and PRD plants
for the entire season (Fig. 2). Midday LWP started to decrease in all the treatments from 92
DAS reaching the lowest values (MPa) of 1.1 in DI, 0.9 in PRD and 0.71 in CI at 130
DAS (Fig. 2B). A lower LWP was maintained in DI and PRD until harvest. A similar trend
was observed for the predawn LWP (Fig. 2A).