The transpiration ratios of Agave americana L. and Zea mays L. as affected by soil water potential
1983
Ehrler, W.L.
Selection of crops with a high water use efficiency (a low transpiration ratio, TR) is one approach to water conservation in semi-arid regions. The TR is the ratio of the amount of transpiration to dry weight gain. In a greenhouse experiment, unstressed agave (Agave americana L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) had TRs of 114 and 133, respectively. Under stress, the TR of corn increased to 166, but remained at 114 for agave. The ability of agave to survive for many weeks without water and then to resume its usual functions after irrigation, with no change in TR, suggests that further research with succulents as possible crops in semi-arid lands may be useful.
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