RELATIONS BETWEEN CROP WATER STRESS INDEX AND STOMATAL CONDUCTANCE OF SOYBEAN DEPENDING ON CULTIVARS

In order to use current water resources efficiently, plant based irrigation scheduling method among soil, climate and plant based methods is used widely. Infrared thermometers are well developed equipment to measure canopy temperatures for plant based irrigation scheduling. Soybean, which contains 40-45% protein, 18-24% fat and 26% carbohydrate, is important for both animal and human nutrition. The aim of this study is to investigate the relations between stomatal conductance (mmol/m2/s) and crop water stress index in ATAEM-7 and SA-88 soybean cultivars registered officially by Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute and private sector, respectively. The study is conducted in the year of 2015 according to randomized complete block design to include two cultivars and six different irrigation treatments in three replications. Plots were irrigated using drip irrigation system based on the pan coefficient (Kpc) of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 when the cumulative evaporation in Class A pan is 25±5 mm. According to the results, as crop water stress index is increased stomatal conductance decreased. Duncan test revealed that the differences in mean crop water stress index and stomatal conductance in terms of irrigation treatments were found to be statistically highly significant (p