Effects of soil moisture content and light intensity on the plant growth and leaf physiological characteristics of squash

• Published in: Ying yong sheng tai xue bao Vol. 22; no. 4; p. 1101
• Main Authors: Du, She-ni, Bai, Gang-shuan, Liang, Yin-li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Cucurbita - growth & development; Cucurbita - physiology; Photosynthesis - physiology; Plant Leaves - physiology; Soil - analysis; Sunlight; Water - analysis
• ISSN: 1001-9332

A pot experiment with artificial shading was conducted to study the effects of soil moisture content and light intensity on the plant growth and leaf physiological characteristics of squash variety "Jingyingyihao". Under all test soil moisture conditions, 30% shading promoted the growth of "Jingyingyihao", with the highest yield at 70% - 80% soil relative moisture contents. 70% shading inhibited plant growth severely, only flowering and not bearing fruits, no economic yield produced. In all treatments, there was a similar water consumption trend, i. e., both the daily and the total water consumption decreased with increasing shading and decreasing soil moisture content. Among all treatments, 30% shading and 70% - 80% soil relative moisture contents had the highest water use efficiency (2.36 kg mm(-1) hm(-2)) and water output rate (1.57 kg mm(-1) hm(-2)). The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content of squash leaves decreased with increasing shading, whereas th