Drought effects on trait space of winter wheat are independent of land management

Abstract

Summary Investigating plant responses to climate change is key to develop suitable adaptation strategies. However, whether changes in land management can alleviate increasing drought threats to crops in the future is still unclear. We conducted a management × drought experiment with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to study plant water and vegetative traits in response to drought and management (conventional vs organic farming, with intensive vs conservation tillage). Water traits (root water uptake pattern, stem metaxylem area, leaf water potential, stomatal conductance) and vegetative traits (plant height, leaf area, leaf Chl content) were considered simultaneously to characterise the variability of multiple traits in a trait space, using principal component analysis. Management could not alleviate the drought impacts on plant water traits as it mainly affected vegetative traits, with yields ultimately being affected by both management and drought. Trait spaces were clearly separated between organic and conventional management as well as between drought and control conditions. Moreover, changes in trait space triggered by management and drought were independent from each other. Neither organic management nor conservation tillage eased drought impacts on winter wheat. Thus, our study raised concerns about the effectiveness of these management options as adaptation strategies to climate change.