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Abstract <p>Water availability critically modulates plant physiological processes governing growth and productivity in maize. This study investigated the physiological mechanisms underlying differential performance of three spring maize cultivars (JH-17011, PFM-12, P-1844) subjected to drip (60, 80 and 100% crop evapotranspiration ETc) and flood (0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 IW/ETc) irrigation regimes in a split-plot design over two growing seasons. Drip irrigation at 100% ETc significantly enhanced key physiological parameters including stomatal conductance (g<sub>s</sub>; 0.395 mol m<sup>–2</sup> s<sup>–1</sup>), net photosynthetic rate (<i>P</i><sub>n</sub>; 47.7 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>–2</sup> s<sup>–1</sup>), transpiration rate (<i>T</i><sub>r</sub>; 5.33 mmol H<sub>2</sub>O m<sup>–2</sup> s<sup>–1</sup>), chlorophyll content (201.3 SPAD units) and maximum quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (<i>F</i><sub>v</sub>/<i>F</i><sub>m</sub>; 0.931) at silking stage, representing 7–15% improvement over the optimal flood regime (1.2 IW/ETc). These physiological enhancements translated into superior leaf area index (LAI; 5.69), dry matter accumulation (216.1 g plant<sup>–1</sup>), grain yield (100.9 q ha<sup>–1</sup>) and green fodder yield (653.5 q ha<sup>–1</sup>). Among cultivars, P-1844 exhibited superior physiological efficiency, maintaining higher photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll content under both optimal and deficit conditions. Multivariate analysis (PCA and CART) identified irrigation method as the primary determinant of physiological performance (explaining 54.1% of total variance), followed by genotypic variation. Notably, drip irrigation at 80% ETc achieved statistically equivalent physiological status, growth and yield to 100% ETc while reducing irrigation water input by 20%. Deficit irrigation (60% ETc) induced moderate stress responses characterized by reduced stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate, yet enhanced crude protein content (9.36%) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (48.2%) in green fodder compared to full irrigation (8.81 and 44.5%, respectively). We conclude that drip irrigation at 80% ETc optimizes plant physiological performance, resource-use efficiency and productivity, offering a physiologically-sound strategy for sustainable maize production in water-limited environments.</p>

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Physiological Regulation of Photosynthesis and Productivity in Spring Maize under Drip and Flood Irrigation: Insights from Multivariate and CART Analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月29日

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  • A. S. Brar,
  • S. Kaur,
  • S. Pathania,
  • P. Sahoo,
  • N. Johal,
  • S. Singh

摘要

Abstract

Water availability critically modulates plant physiological processes governing growth and productivity in maize. This study investigated the physiological mechanisms underlying differential performance of three spring maize cultivars (JH-17011, PFM-12, P-1844) subjected to drip (60, 80 and 100% crop evapotranspiration ETc) and flood (0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 IW/ETc) irrigation regimes in a split-plot design over two growing seasons. Drip irrigation at 100% ETc significantly enhanced key physiological parameters including stomatal conductance (gs; 0.395 mol m–2 s–1), net photosynthetic rate (Pn; 47.7 µmol CO2 m–2 s–1), transpiration rate (Tr; 5.33 mmol H2O m–2 s–1), chlorophyll content (201.3 SPAD units) and maximum quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm; 0.931) at silking stage, representing 7–15% improvement over the optimal flood regime (1.2 IW/ETc). These physiological enhancements translated into superior leaf area index (LAI; 5.69), dry matter accumulation (216.1 g plant–1), grain yield (100.9 q ha–1) and green fodder yield (653.5 q ha–1). Among cultivars, P-1844 exhibited superior physiological efficiency, maintaining higher photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll content under both optimal and deficit conditions. Multivariate analysis (PCA and CART) identified irrigation method as the primary determinant of physiological performance (explaining 54.1% of total variance), followed by genotypic variation. Notably, drip irrigation at 80% ETc achieved statistically equivalent physiological status, growth and yield to 100% ETc while reducing irrigation water input by 20%. Deficit irrigation (60% ETc) induced moderate stress responses characterized by reduced stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate, yet enhanced crude protein content (9.36%) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (48.2%) in green fodder compared to full irrigation (8.81 and 44.5%, respectively). We conclude that drip irrigation at 80% ETc optimizes plant physiological performance, resource-use efficiency and productivity, offering a physiologically-sound strategy for sustainable maize production in water-limited environments.