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Abstract
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Aloe vera is one of the most economically important medicinal plants in many
countries which used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Despite the
proven economic importance of Aloe vera, studies of water and light stress and their
effects on the water use efficiency of this plant are scarce. The objective of this study was
to grow Aloe vera under different light intensities (100, 75 and 50% of sunlight) and
different levels of water deficit stress (irrigation after depleting 20, 40, 60 and 80% of soil
water content) were arranged in a split-plot in time based on a randomized complete block
design with four replications. Generally, low light intensity and water deficit stress
increased water use efficiency. The highest water use efficiency leaf and gel were
obtained from plants which were subjected to 50% of full sunlight and irrigated after
depleting 60% of the field capacity (38.93 and 26.40 g L-1), Conversely, the lowest value
was recorded from plants which were irrigated after depleting 20% of the filed capacity
under high light intensity. In general, the present study indicates that application of shade
can reduce the harmful effects of water deficit and improve plant growth, yield water use
efficiency.
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