Colorado Master Gardenersm Program Colorado Gardener Certificate Training
Colorado State University Extension
CMG GardenNotes #144
Plant Growth Factors: Water
Outline: Role of water, page 1 Common symptoms of water stress, page 2 Relative humidity, page 3
Thought Question
1.
Review how water stress impacts plant growth processes, then list common symptoms of drought stress.
In Colorado, water availability and quality can be a limiting factor in plant growth. Quality issues generally deal with excessive sodium or other soluble salts. Available water limits potential for crops and gardens in many areas of the west. In cities, the cost of the infrastructure to supply water drives the need for water conservation. Water management is a topic of other Colorado Master Gardener training classes. For additional information on water management, refer to CMG GardenNotes on Irrigation Management and Water-Wise Landscape Design.
Role of Water
Plants are over 90% water. Roles of water are summarized in Table 1.
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Table 1.
Role of Water in Plant Growth
Role of water with plants Primary component of photosynthesis and transpiration Turgor pressure (pressure to inflate cells and hold plant erect) Solvent to move minerals from the soil up to the plant o NO3-, NH4+, H2PO4-, HPO4-2, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2, SO4-2, H2BO3-, Cl-, Co+2, Cu+2, Fe+2, Fe+3, Mn+2, MoO4-2, and Zn+2 Solvent to move products of photosynthesis throughout the plant, including down to the root system Impact of water shortage Reduced growth and vigor Wilting
Reduced growth and plant vigor Nutrient deficiencies
Reduced health of roots which leads (over time) to reduced health of plant Reduced plant growth and vigor Reduced cooling effect = warmer micro-climate temperatures Reduced root growth = reduced plant growth and vigor Reduced plant growth and vigor
Regulation of stomatal opening and closure, thus regulating transpiration and photosynthesis
Source of pressure to move roots through the soil Medium for biochemical reactions
Common Symptoms of Water Stress
Drought Decreased growth Small, off-colored leaves Decline from top down Early fall color Reduced xylem growth = long-term growth reduction Stress may show up five or more years later
Water Logged Soils Root activity slows or shuts down, and plants show symptoms of drought Decline in root growth slows plant growth processes Leaves may wilt from lack of water uptake Root rots are common in some species Lower interior leaves may yellow
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Leaf Scorch (short-term water deficiency in leaves) Marginal burning Often from the top down, on southwest side, or from the side with root injury or root restrictions
Contributing factors to leaf scorch Dry or overly wet soils Compacted soils Limited root spread Root injury Structural damage to xylem tissues Trunk and branch injury Excessive wind and heat Excessive canopy growth (from heavy fertilization)
Relative Humidity
Water moves from areas of high relative humidity to areas of lower relative humidity. Inside a leaf, the relative humidity between cells approaches 100%. When the stomata open, water vapors inside the leaf rush out forming a bubble of higher humidity around the stomata on the outside of the leaf. The difference in relative humidity around the stomata and adjacent air regulates transpiration rates and pulls water up through the xylem tissues. Transpiration peaks under hot dry and/or windy conditions. When the supply of water from the roots is inadequate, the stomata close, photosynthesis shuts down, and plants can wilt.
Leaf cross section
Water vapor moves out of the leaf through the stomata.
Carbon dioxide moves into the leaf through the stomata.
Outdoors In the arid climate of the west, low summer humidity helps manage some insect and disease problems and can aggravate others. The relative humidity returns to normal levels within a few minutes of watering/irrigation. Indoors With forced air heating, many homes have very low relative humidity in the winter. Some homes can have excessively high relative humidity due to a large number of houseplants, cooking and frequent long showers. Both extremely high and low indoor relative humidity are health concerns.
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Additional Information CMG GardenNotes on How Plants Grow (Botany):
#121 #122 #131 #132 #133 #134 #135 Horticulture Classification Terms Taxonomic Classification Plant Structures: Cells, Tissues, and Structures Plant Structures: Roots Plant Structures: Stems Plant Structures: Leaves Plant Structures: Flowers #136 #137 #141 #142 #143 #144 #145 Plant Structures: Fruit Plant Structures: Seeds Plant Growth Factors: Photosynthesis, Respiration and Transpiration Plant Growth Factors: Light Plant Growth Factors: Temperature Plant Growth Factors: Water Plant Growth Factors: Hormones
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Authors: David Whiting, Consumer Horticulture Specialist, Colorado State University Extension; with Michael Roll and Larry Vickerman (former CSU Extension employees). Line drawings by Scott Johnson. Colorado Master Gardener GardenNotes are available online at [Link]. Colorado Master Gardener training is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Colorado Garden Show, Inc. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. Copyright 2003-2011. Colorado State University Extension. All Rights Reserved. CMG GardenNotes may be reproduced, without change or additions, for nonprofit educational use.
Minor revisions, December 2011
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