Better Adaptation of Plants 
to Arid Conditions 
R. MERTON LOVE 
University of California, Davis, California 
Stated briefly, the task is to explore the fundamental and ap- 
plied aspects of research in order to suggest ways and means of 
transforming low-production-per-acre areas into more profitable 
agricultural use. 
At the outset, it must be realized that we are confronted with 
a soil-climate-plant-harvest complex. It is an agricultural prob- 
lem. It has been with us ever since Man began his attempts to 
supplement that which Nature provided by domesticating ani- 
mals and plants. If it differs at all from problems facing other 
phases of agriculture, it differs in degree only. 
Since, in general, production is low in arid areas, it is likely that 
animals will be used for a long time to harvest the forage crop 
grown on non-irrigable land. Thus, we substitute ‘‘animal”’ for 
“harvest,” and so we have a soil-climate-plant-animal complex. 
Drought Resistance 
Ting capacity of plants to survive periods of drought with little 
or no injury 1S usually termed ‘drought resistance.” The term 
“drought” is not in itself subject to any rigid definition. Certainly 
it includes soil drought and atmospheric drought, the latter in- 
volving high temperature, low humidity, and high wind velocity, 
singly or in combination. 
It has not been sufficiently emphasized that the term drought 
resistance is a very inclusive term comparable in its scope to the 
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