Role of Soil Texture and Plant Age in Leaf Water Potential Measured at Different Crop Stages of Wheat in Mollisols of Tarai

Measurement of the leafwater potential (LWP) of wheat grown on six soil seties of Pantnagar tarai was done at different crop stages, soil water condition and day time, in order to examine its variation and its relationship with these factors. Soils comprising three textural groups recorded different crop yields as well as LWP. There was a considerable seasonal variation in the LWP (−0.25 to -2.13 MPa), decreasing with plant age. The morning LWP before irrigation was well correlated with that measured after respective irrigation. Morning and mid-day time LWP were positively correlated with each other before irrigation. Grain yield had highly significant relationship with the morning time LWP, particularly at later crop stages.