Comparison of corn yield response to plant water stress caused by salinity and by drought

The effect of water stress on corn yield was studied in a salinity experiment and in a drought experiment. The plant water status was determined by measuring the pre-dawn leaf water potential regularly during the whole growing season and expressed by the water stress day index (WSDI). The yield response of corn did not differ under salinity and drought conditions. The WSDI is a useful indicator for determining crop-response to salinity and drought. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.