Simulation study in mechanical injury caused by hail grains was carried out at Keszthely Agrometeorological
Research Station, in 2001 growing season. Maize was grown in lysimeter’s growing chambers at „Ad libitum”
watering level. The mechanical injury of grains was simulated by tearing the leaves during three different
phenological phases, where the plant is the most sensitive to hail damage. The water consumption of maize
was recorded day by day and the evapotranspiration was calculated by following the water balance of plant
stands.
The mechanical injury has changed the water loss of plants. Just after the simulation the evapotranspiration
increased independently on the time of intervention. Later on, the deviation in water loss of maize depended
on the actual weather. When the weather is dry and bright, the damaged plants increased their
evapotranspiration. During humid or wet weather the water loss of injured maize decreased compared to water
loss of their undamaged control. The highest difference in evapotranspiration between treated and untouched
plants occurred when the simulation happened in the time of tasseling. We think that the most sensitive period
regarding the hail injury to water balance of maize might have been the tasseling, where the caused damage
could also be the highest.
