AGC 311 WATER RELATIONS ASSIGNMENT 2

Due date: Wednesday 24 April 2024

DR PETER

Instructions: Show every step in your calculations

1. Water absorption in plants is classified into what two categories?

2. Factors influencing water absorption by plants are divided into what?

3. What is physiological dryness in soil water absorption by plants?

4. The process by which plants distribute photosynthates from the leaves to the
branches is called what?

5. The channels used for translocation in plants are called what?

6. What is the optimum soil temperature for water absorption by maize plants in
smallholder farm in Middle Drift?

7. If one hectare of land occupies an area of 10000 m 2, what will be the rate of
evapotranspiration of 5 mm of water per hectare per day given that 1 mm is
0.001m?

Table 1. Conversion factors for evapotranspiration

depth volume per unit energy per unit
area area

mm day- m3 ha-1 da l s-1 ha-1 MJ m-2 day-1

1
y-1

1 mm day-1 1 10 0.116 2.45

1 m3 ha-1 day-1 0.1 1 0.012 0.245

1 l s-1 ha-1 8.640 86.40 1 21.17

1 MJ m-2 day-1 0.408 4.082 0.047 1

8. Given that the net solar energy received on a smallholder farm pond in
Dimbaza is 55MJ m-2 day-1 and 70% of the energy was used to vaporize water.
Using the conversion factors in table above calculate the depth of evaporation?

1
9. Using the table above determine the amount of energy required for
evapotranspiration of 2 m3 ha-1 day-1 to take place on a smallholder farm in
Qunu

10. If the latent heat of vaporization (λ) is 2.45MJkg -1 at 20°C, what amount of
energy will be required to vaporize 3mm or water at the same temperature?