Preface -- Abbreviations -- 1 The Role of Water in Plant Life -- 2 The Role of Water in Soil -- 3 The Interdependency of Soil Water and Vegetation -- 4 Properties and Energy State of Water -- 5 Water Storage and Movement in Soil -- 6 The Root - the Plant's Organ for Water Uptake -- 7 The Water Balance of the Plant -- 8 The Plant as a Link between Soil and Atmosphere: an Overview -- 9 Water Use by Crops -- 10 Radiation and Dry Matter Production -- 11 Water Use and Dry Matter Production -- 12 Influence of Nutrient Supply on Water Use and Establishment of Yield -- 13 Yield Formation under Inadequate Water Supply -- 14 Water Stress in Plants -- 15 Climatic Factors Influencing Yield -- 16 Breeding for Yield and Water Use -- 17 Controlling the Soil's Water Balance by Soil Management -- 18 Controlling Water Use by Crop Management -- 19 Irrigation -- 20 Epilogue -- References -- Index.