Leaf Response to Water Deficits in Soybeans

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Abstract
Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill cv. Wayne] plants were subjected to an extended drying cycle in the field to investigate the leaf sensitivity to water deficits. Soybeans in irrigated plots were superior to those in non‐irrigated plots in the average size and number of leaflets per plant. Apparent differences in the leaf area distributions in the canopy seemed to be mediated by moisture stress effects associated with leaf senescence and light penetration in the lower depths of the canopy. A major decrease in leaf enlargement occurred near a leaf‐water potential of ‐8 bars, and at ‐ 12 bars, the growth was completely halted. Similar decreases were observed at a stomatal conductance of 0.4 cm/s and at 0.2 cm/s no enlargement was observed.