Study on dry matter accumulation and leaf response to light and CO2 of maize under irrigation quota

Effective irrigation can maintain the vigorous photosynthetic metabolism of leaves and lay a physiological foundation for their material production. Dry matter accumulation and leaf response to light and carbon dioxide of maize under irrigation quotas of 50 mm (Q0), 90 mm (Q1), 170 mm (Q2) and 250 mm (Q3) were studied. The results showed that the dry matter accumulation were significantly increased in Q2 and Q3 treatment compared with CK at R3, R4 and R6 stages. With the increase of light intensity, the photosynthesis-light response curves of Q2 and Q3 treatments were increased the most. The apparent quantum efficiency, maximum net photosynthetic rate, light saturation point and dark respiration rate of Q2 and Q3 treatments were significantly higher than those of Q0 and Q1 treatments at V12, R1 and R3 stages. The light compensation point was apparently lower than that of Q0 and Q1 treatments. The maize photosynthesis-CO2 response curves of Q2 and Q3 treatments demonstrated the largest increase with the increase of CO2 concentration. The CO2 saturation point, maximum net photosynthetic rate and carboxylation efficiency of Q2 and Q3 treatments were significantly higher than those of Q0 and Q1 treatments. The CO2 compensation point was obviously lower than that of Q0 and Q1 treatments. The study provides an effective irrigation and management method for maize in semi-arid area of west Jilin Province, China. When the irrigation quota reached 170 mm, the dry matter accumulation of maize and the response of maize leaves to light and CO2 were both better. 170 mm could be used as the reference value of maize irrigation quota in western Jilin Province.