EFFECTS OF TRANSPIRATION RATE ON SOME SELECTED MONOCOT AND DICOT PLANTS
Abstract
Transpiration rate is a critical factor influencing crop productivity and water use efficiency. This study investigated the transpiration rates of four economically important crops – maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) – under controlled conditions. Using an improvised potometer, transpiration rates were measured over a 7-hour period. The results showed significant variations in transpiration rates among crops, with sorghum exhibiting the highest rate (3.62 ml/m²s, 201.272 mmol/m²s) and groundnut the lowest (1.35 ml/m²s, 75.06 mmol/m²s). Beans and maize had intermediate transpiration rates of 3.16 ml/m²s (175.70 mmol/m²s) and 2.34 ml/m²s (130.104 mmol/m²s), respectively. These findings have important implications for agricultural productivity, irrigation scheduling, and crop breeding programs, particularly in water-scarce regions. The study recommends prioritizing irrigation scheduling for high-transpiration crops, promoting drought-tolerant crops, and developing crops with improved water-use efficiency.
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