Summary
Effectiveness of antitranspirants in reducing transpiration was studied in the laboratory in an attempt to evaluate their potential for conservation and reallocation of soil moisture. Film-forming antitranspirants caused about a 50% reduction of transpiration and photosynthesis in all species. Effectiveness decayed slowly over 10–14 days. Effectiveness of the silicone antitranspirant was very short-lived. Water use efficiency was slightly improved following film-forming antitranspirant treatment of three species. Mixing antitranspirants altered their effects.
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Research supported by the Bureau of Land Management in Cooperation with the Office of Water Research and Technology, United States Department of the Interior (OWRT Grant B-099)
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Anderson, J.E., Kreith, F. Effects of film-forming and silicone antitranspirants on four herbaceous plant species. Plant Soil 49, 161–173 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02149917
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02149917