Effectsoforganicfertilizersandeffectivemicrobesonlefwaterretentionofsweetcorn(ZeamaysL.cv.Honey-Bantam)werestudied.Sweetcornsweregrownwithorganicorchemicalfertilzerswithorwithouteffectivemicrobes(EM).Awaterretentionurvewasobtainedbydryingtheexcisedleavesunderalightof500μmol(m^2.s)^-1,Thecureshowstwodistinctphases.Theinitialsteepslopeindicatesthewaterlossspeedbystomataltranspiration(Est)andthegentleslopeofthesecondphaseindicateswaterlossspeedbycuticulartranspiration(Ecu).BothEstandEcuwerelowerforleavesofplantsgrownwithorganicmaterialsthanfrothoewithchemicalfertilizers.AdditionofEMtobothorganicandchemicalfertilizersdecreasedEstbutshowednoeffectonEcu.Thewaterretentionabilityoftheexcisedleaveswasproportionaltopho-tosyntheticmaintenanceabilityundersoilwaterdeficitconditionsaswellasthesolteconcentrationinleaves,TheresultssuggestedthatorganicfertilizationandEMappicationincreasedwaterstressresistancebothunderinsituconditionsandinexcisedleavesofsweetcornplants.
