Emergent Properties of Plant Hydraulic Architecture

Emergent Properties of Plant Hydraulic Architecture
Author: Valentin Couvreur
Publisher: Presses universitaires de Louvain
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2013-11-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 2875582429

In a context of increasing needs for food production and limited availability of freshwater for irrigation, understanding the process of root water uptake (RWU) at the plant scale has become a key issue. The complexity of root system hydraulics as well as the difficulty to measure RWU has made of modelling a valuable tool to investigate this process. However major limitations exist regarding (i) the cost of characterising root segments hydraulic properties, and (ii) the computing time of RWU from that scale. This study demonstrates that simple laws, governing RWU at the plant scale, emerge from water flow equations at the root segment scale. In conditions of uniform soil water potential (SWP), RWU is shown to be distributed proportionally to standard fractions (SUF) along the root system. Under spatially heterogeneous SWP, a compensatory RWU term proportional to a root system conductance parameter (Kcomp) is added, which increases water uptake at locations where SWP is higher. Eventually, another root system conductance parameter (Krs) defines leaf water potential from both plant transpiration rate and sensed SWP, which, itself, is the SUF-weighted-mean SWP. The emergent hydraulic parameters (SUF, Kcomp, and Krs) have a physical meaning and may be estimated or measured directly at the plant scale. They are also shown to be intimately related to the water flow available to plant leaves for transpiration, and may be useful complementary indices to characterise crop strategies against water stress. In addition, the identified emergent properties allow an extreme reduction of RWU computing time, and may even be used accurately in one-dimensional spatial discretisation for densely seeded crops such as wheat.

Valuing Chaparral

Valuing Chaparral
Author: Emma C. Underwood
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 483
Release: 2018-04-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319683039

Chaparral shrubland ecosystems are an iconic feature of the California landscape, and a highly biodiverse yet highly flammable backdrop to some of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States. Chaparral-type ecosystems are a common element of all of the world’s Mediterranean-type climate regions – of which California is one – yet there is little public appreciation of the intrinsic value and the ecosystem services that these landscapes provide. Valuing Chaparral is a compendium of contributions from experts in chaparral ecology and management, with a focus on the human relationship with chaparral ecosystems. Chapters cover a wide variety of subjects, ranging from biodiversity to ecosystem services like water provision, erosion control, carbon sequestration and recreation; from the history of human interactions with chaparral to current education and conservation efforts; and from chaparral restoration and management to scenarios of the future under changing climate, land use, and human population. Valuing Chaparral will be of interest to resource managers, the research community, policy makers, and the public who live and work in the chaparral dominated landscapes of California and other Mediterranean-type climate regions.

Environmental Plant Physiology

Environmental Plant Physiology
Author: Neil Willey
Publisher: Garland Science
Total Pages: 400
Release: 2018-10-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1315616866

Environmental Plant Physiology focuses on the physiology of plant-environment interactions, revealing plants as the key terrestrial intersection of the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. It provides a contemporary understanding of the topic by focusing on some of humankind's fundamental biological, agricultural and environmental challenges. Its chapters identify thirteen key environmental variables, grouping them into resources, stressors and pollutants, and leading the reader through how they challenge plants and how plants respond at molecular, physiological, whole plant and ecological levels. The importance of taking account of spatial and temporal dimensions of environmental change in order to understand plant function is emphasised. The book uses a mixture of ecological, environmental and agricultural examples throughout in order to provide a holistic view of the topic suitable for a contemporary student audience. Each chapter uses a novel stress response hierarchy to integrate plant responses across spatial and temporal scales in an easily digestible framework.

Frontiers in Plant–Soil Interaction

Frontiers in Plant–Soil Interaction
Author: Tariq Aftab
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 662
Release: 2021-05-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0323909442

Plants face a wide range of environmental challenges, which are expected to become more intense as a result of global climate change. Plant–soil interactions play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems. Soil properties represent a strong selection pressure for plant diversity and influence the structure of plant communities and biodiversity. The complexity of plant–soil interactions has recently been studied by developing a trait-based approach in which responses and effects of plants on soil environment are quantified and modelled. This fundamental research on plant–soil interaction in ecosystems is essential to transpose knowledge of functional ecology to environmental management.Frontiers in Plant-Soil Interaction: Molecular Insights into Plant Adaptation will address topics that provide advances in understanding plant responses to soil conditions through the integration of genetic, molecular, and plant-level studies of diverse biotic and abiotic stresses under field and laboratory conditions. This book will be beneficial to students and researchers working on stress physiology and stress proteins, genomics, proteomics, genetic engineering and other fields of plant-soil interactions. Frontiers in Plant-Soil Interaction will also help scientists explore new horizons in their area of research. - Brings together global leaders working in the area of plant–environment interactions and shares their research findings - Presents current and future scenarios for the management of stressors - Illustrates the central role for plant-soil interactions in applying basic research to address current and future challenges to humans

Channels and Channel Control Structures

Channels and Channel Control Structures
Author: K. V. H. Smith
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 770
Release: 2013-11-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662113007

The development of water resources has proceeded at an amazing speed around the world in the last few decades. The hydraulic engineer has played his part: in constructing much larger artificial channels than ever before, larger and more sophisticated control structures, and systems of irrigation, drainage and water supply channels in which the flow by its nature is complex and unsteady requiring computer-based techniques at both the design and operation stage. It seemed appropriate to look briefly at some of the developments in hydraulic design resulting from this situation. Hence the idea of the Conference was formed. The Proceedings of the Conference show that hydraulic engineers have been able to acquire a very substantial base of design capability from the experience of the period referred to. The most outstanding development to have occurred is in the combination of physical and mathematical modelling, which in hydraulic engineering has followed a parallel path to that in other branches of engineering science. The Proceedings of this Conference will give to the reader an awareness of the current state of hydraulic design in open channel flow and open channel control structures. K.V.H. Smith Editor 1. CONTROL AND DIVERSION STRUCTURES 1-3 FACTORS AFFECTING BRINK DEPTH IN RECTANGULAR OVERFALLS G.C. Christodoulou, G.C. Noutsopoulos and S.A. Andreou Dept. of Civil Engineering, National Technical Univ. of Athens, Greece.

Plant Roots

Plant Roots
Author: Tom Beeckman
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 546
Release: 2024-08-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1040088066

Following its predecessors, Plant Roots: The Hidden Half, Fifth Edition is thoroughly updated and reports the major changes that have taken place in root research since the last edition published over 10 years ago. Considered a widely acclaimed book in the field of plant sciences, this edition includes a broad array of topics reflecting progress being made in the subdomains of root biology, featuring chapters on modern topics, while retained chapters are fully updated to demonstrate significant developments made in our understanding of root biology and in fast-evolving research methodologies and techniques. It reviews all root-related processes, from the evolution of roots in past eras to single-cell genomics, allowing readers to grasp an overall view of the state-of-the-art research in this field. Among the 104 contributors to this book are seasoned experts in the field, as well as uprising specialists who have already made a distinguished mark in scientific literature. All of the chapters are extensively referenced featuring specific information on any topic related to the biology of the hidden half of plants. Featuring full color illustrations throughout, this handbook is an essential source of information for both expert and novice root scientists.

Response of Crops to Limited Water

Response of Crops to Limited Water
Author: Lajpat Ahuja
Publisher: ASA-CSSA-SSSA
Total Pages: 456
Release: 2008
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780891181675

Water stress and heat stress are considered to be two primary factors that limit crop production in many parts of the world. Global warming appears to be increasing the water requirements of plants. Understanding the impact of water deficit on plant physiological processes and efficient water management are of great concern in maintaining food production to meet ever increasing world food demand. The book addresses various climatic soil and plant factors that contribute to the water use efficiency in plants subjected to water stress. It covers all issues related to soil, plant and climatic factors that contribute to the crop responses to water stress. The books advances the knowledge in improving and sustaining crop yields in ever increasing unpredictable climatic fluctuations This book uses crop simulation models for response of crops to limited water under various management and climatic conditions.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture: Inoculum Production and Application

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture: Inoculum Production and Application
Author: Manoj Parihar
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 425
Release: 2024
Genre: Sustainable agriculture
ISBN: 9819702968

Zusammenfassung: This 2-volume book is an up-to-date overview of current progress in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) technique development, inoculum production and its quality regulations, application in agriculture, horticulture, agroforestry, and other ecosystems, along with nutrient management for sustainable food production. It contains the current advancement in basic and molecular techniques, challenges, opportunities, and determinates of various AMF production methods and major tools and techniques for their field application. Production and development of AMF is rapidly evolving and requires a multidisciplinary approach with up-to-date knowledge to broaden and strengthen the perspective of researchers involved in this domain. The volumes offer new insight and cutting-edge information for novices and experts such as students, academicians, researchers, environmentalists, industrialists, and others interested in mycorrhiza. The first volume covers some basic isolation techniques, enumeration, and molecular studies with recent advances in various in-vitro and in-vivo production technologies, regulatory issues, and application methodologies for field inoculation. It also discusses AMF application in various agroecosystems for sustainable agricultural production and a healthier planet