Optimizing irrigation scheduling for winter wheat in the North China Plain

In the North China Plain (NCP), more than 70% of irrigation water resources are used for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A crucial target of groundwater conservation and sustainable crop production is to develop water-saving agriculture, particularly for winter wheat. The purpose of this study was to optimize irrigation scheduling for high wheat yield and water use efficiency (WUE). Field experiments were conducted for three growing seasons at the Wuqiao Experiment Station of China Agriculture University. Eleven, four and six irrigation treatments, consisting of frequency of irrigation (zero to four times) and timing (at raising, jointing, booting, flowering and milking stage), were employed for 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons, respectively. Available water content (AWC), rain events, soil water use (SWU), evapotranspiration (ET) and grain yield were recorded, and water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were calculated.The results showed that after a 75-mm pre-sowing irrigation, soil water content and AWC in the root zone of a 2-m soil profile during sowing were 31.1% (or 90.7% of field capacity) and 16.1%, respectively. Rainfall events were variable and showed a limited impact on AWC. The AWC decreased significantly with the growth of wheat. At the jointing stage no water deficits occurred for all treatments, at the flowering stage water deficits were found only in the rain-fed treatment, and at harvest all treatments had moderate to severe soil water deficits. The SWU in the 2-m soil profile was negatively related to the irrigation water volume, i.e. applying 75 mm irrigation reduced SWU by 28.2 mm. Regression analyses showed that relationships between ET and grain yield or WUE could be described by quadratic functions. Grain yield and WUE reached their maximum values of 7423 kg/ha and 1.645 kg/m³ at the ET rate of 509 and 382 mm, respectively. IWUE was negatively correlated with irrigated water volume. From the above results, three irrigation schedules: (1) pre-sowing irrigation only, (2) pre-sowing irrigation + irrigation at jointing or booting stage, and (3) pre-sowing irrigation + irrigations at jointing and flowering stages were identified and recommended for practical winter wheat production in the NCP.     

Response of green bean (P. vulgaris L.) to subsurface drip irrigation and partial rootzone-drying irrigation

Effects on water use, green bean yield, irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE), water-use efficiency (WUE), plant dry weight and crop water relationship were investigated for two-drip irrigation techniques and four irrigation water levels in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The treatments were conventional (SDI) and alternating subsurface drip irrigation (SPRD). At each irrigation event, half of the volume of water applied to the SDI was applied to one side of the crop, representing the partial rootzone-drying treatment. All treatments received 295 mm of irrigation during crop establishment, prior to beginning the different irrigation regimes. Differing irrigation amounts corresponded to four crop-pan coefficients (Kcp₁ = 0.6, Kcp₂ = 0.8, Kcp₃ = 1.0 and Kcp₄ = 1.2), appropriate to pan data. Total water applied to the SDI and SPRD treatments ranged from 366 to 437 mm and from 331 to 366 mm, respectively, depending on Kcp values, with water uptake varying from 396 to 470 mm and 364 to 409 mm, respectively. While differences of green bean yield and dry plant weights were not significantly affected by the SDI and SPRD irrigation techniques, the overall irrigation water saving was found to be 16% for the SPRD irrigation treatment compared with the SDI treatment. SPRD irrigation techniques increased IWUE, WUE, and slopes of yield water relationships. Increase in slopes of the yield–irrigation water and yield–water-use function of SPRD according to the equivalent slopes of the SDI were 215.8 and 151.4%, respectively. SPRD increased the green bean yield response factor (ky) with value of 128.4% according to the equivalent slopes of the SDI. In conclusion, irrigation scheduling based on a 0.8 crop-pan coefficient is recommended for conventional SDI, with 1.0 being more appropriate for partial rootzone-drying practice.     

Estimation of evapotranspiration,transpiration ratio and water-use efficiency from a sparse canopy using a compartment model

Using the Shuttleworth and Wallace (S–W) model, evapotranspiration (ET); transpiration ratio (T/ET), which is the ratio of transpiration (T) to ET; and water-use efficiency (WUE) were estimated for a sparsely planted sorghum canopy that was well irrigated. That model is designed to estimate separately the evaporation from soil and transpiration from crops.The evapotranspiration estimates for both short- and long-term measurement periods coincided closely with the Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) measurements. The transpiration ratios were affected by the canopy resistances and the soil surface resistances during the day. The regression curve between leaf area index (LAI) and transpiration ratio suggests that LAI, less than 1.6, determined the transpiration ratio in the absence of water stresses by soil water drought and extreme weather condition. The WUEs for transpiration (WUEt) and evapotranspiration (WUEet), which are the total dry matter (TDM) production for 1 kg T and ET, reached the peaks of 9.0 and 4.5 g kg⁻¹ H₂O, respectively, in the end of July when the total dry matter increasing rate was greatest. These two WUEs degraded to less than zero in the end of August when the plant biomass decreased due to drying and death. The WUEs are largely affected by the TDM seasonal increment rate.Thus, in a sparse crop, the crop growth properties (i.e. LAI and TDM increment) mainly determine the crop water uses (i.e. the transpiration ratio and water-use efficiency) in the absence of water stresses.     

Water–yield relations and optimal irrigation scheduling of wheat in the Mediterranean region

Crop yield is primarily water-limited in areas of West Asia and North Africa with a Mediterranean climate. Ten years of supplemental irrigation (SI) experiments in northern Syria were conducted to evaluate water–yield relations for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.), and optimal irrigation scheduling was proposed for various rainfall conditions. The sensitive growth stages of wheat to water stress were from stem elongation to booting, followed by anthesis, and grain-filling. Water stress to which crop subjected depends on rainfall and its distribution during the growing season; the stress started from early March (stem-elongation stage) or even in seedling stage in a dry year, and from mid-April (anthesis) in an average or wet year. Crop yield linearly increased with increase in evapotranspiration (ET), with an increase of 160 kg for bread wheat and of 116 kg for durum wheat per 10 mm increase of ET above the threshold of 200 mm. Water-use efficiency (WUE) with a yield ≥3 t ha⁻¹ was ca. 60% higher than that with yield <3 t ha⁻¹; this emphasises the importance of that to achieve effective use of water, optimal water supply and relatively high yields need to be ensured. Quadratic crop production functions with the total applied water were developed and used to estimate the levels of irrigation water for maximizing yield, net profit and levels to which the crops could be under-irrigated without reducing income below that which would be earned for full SI under limited water resources. The analysis suggested that irrigation scenarios for maximizing crop yield and/or the net profit under limited land resource conditions should not be recommended. The SI scenarios for maximizing the profit under limited water resource conditions or for a targeted yield of 4–5 t ha⁻¹ were recommended for sustainable utilization of water resources and higher WUE. The time of irrigation was also suggested on the basis of crop sensitivity index to water stress taking rainfall probability and available soil water into account.     

Water use and lint yield response of drip irrigated cotton to the length of irrigation season

A 2-year experiment was conducted at Tal Amara Research Station in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon to determine water use and lint yield response to the length of irrigation season of drip irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Crop evapotranspiration (ET_crop) and reference evapotranspiration (ET_rye-grass) were directly measured at weekly basis during the 2001 growing period using crop and rye-grass drainage lysimeters. Crop coefficients (K_c) in the different growth stages were calculated as ET_crop/ET_rye-grass. Then, the calculated K_c values were used in the 2002 growing period to estimate evapotranspiration of cotton using the FAO method by multiplying the calculated K_c values by ET_rye-grass measured in 2002. The length of irrigation season was determined by terminating irrigation permanently at first open boll (S1), at early boll loading (S2), and at mid boll loading (S3). The three treatments were compared to a well-watered control (C) throughout the growing period. Lint yield was defined as a function of components including plant height at harvest, number of bolls per plant, and percentage of opened bolls per plant.Lysimeter-measured crop evapotranspiration (ET_crop) totaled 642 mm in 2001 for a total growing period of 134 days, while when estimated with the FAO method in 2002 it averaged 669 mm for a total growing period of 141 days from sowing to mature bolls. Average K_c values varied from 0.58 at initial growth stages (sowing to squaring), to 1.10 at mid growth stages (first bloom to first open boll), and 0.83 at late growth stages (early boll loading to mature bolls).Results showed that cotton lint yields were reduced as irrigation amounts increased. Average across years, the S1 treatment produced the highest yield of 639 kg ha⁻¹ from total irrigations of 549 mm, compared to the S2 and S3 treatments, which yielded 577 and 547 kg ha⁻¹ from total irrigations of 633 and 692 mm, respectively, while the control resulted in 457 kg ha⁻¹ of lint yield from 738 mm of irrigation water. Water use efficiency (WUE) was found to be higher in S1 treatment and averaged 1.3 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹, followed by S2 (1.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), and S3 (1.0 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), while in the control WUE was 0.80 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. Lint yield was negatively correlated with plant height and the number of bolls per plant and positively correlated with the percentage of opened bolls. This study suggests that terminating irrigation at first open boll stage has been found to provide the highest cotton yield with maximum WUE under the semi-arid conditions of the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon.     

Effect of drip irrigation on squash (Cucurbita pepo) yield and water-use efficiency in sandy calcareous soils amended with clay deposits

Water research studies in Saudi Arabia clearly showed sever depletion of groundwater. Therefore, the scientifically applied research program related to water saving and conservation in agriculture is essential, where agricultural activities account for more than 85% of the total water consumed. This study aims to investigate the effect of four irrigation levels, two irrigation methods and three clay deposits on water-use efficiency (WUE) of squash and the distributions of salts and roots in sandy calcareous soils. A field experiment was conducted at the college experimental station in 2002 and 2003. It consists of three clay deposits, three rates (CO = 0, C2 = 1.0 and C3 = 2.0%), four irrigation levels (T₁ = 60, T₂ = 80, T₃ = 100 and T₄ = 120% of Eto) using surface (IM1) and subsurface (IM2) drip irrigation.Results indicated that squash fruit yield was significantly increased with the increase in irrigation water level for each season. Generally, WUE values were increased as linearly with applied irrigation water and decreased at the highest irrigation level. Types of clay deposits significantly affected fruit yields compared with the control. The yield increase was 12.8, 8.35 and 6.4% for Khulays, Dhruma and Rawdat clay deposits, respectively. The differences between surface and subsurface drip on fruit yields and WUE were also significant. Results indicated that moisture content of subsurface-treated layer increased dramatically, while salts were accumulated at the surface and away from the emitters in subsurface drip irrigation. Intensive root proliferation is observed in the clay-amended subsurface layer compared with non-amended soil. The advantages of subsurface drip irrigation were related to the relative decrease in salt accumulation in the root zone area where the plant roots were active and water content was relatively higher.     

Different irrigation methods and water stress effects on potato yield and yield components

This research was conducted during the spring seasons of 2000 and 2002 in Hatay province located in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey. The research investigated the effects of two drip irrigation methods and four different water stress levels on potato yield and yield components. The surface drip (SD) and subsurface drip (SSD) irrigation methods were used. The levels were full irrigation (I₁₀₀), 66% of full irrigation (I₆₆), 33% of full irrigation (I₃₃) and un-irrigated (I₀) treatments. Five and three irrigation were applied in 2000 and 2002 early potato growing seasons, respectively. Total irrigation amount changed from 102 to 302 mm and from 88 to 268 mm in 2000 and 2002, respectively. Seasonal evapotranspiration changed between 226 and 473 mm and 166 and 391 mm in 2000 and 2002, respectively. SD and SSD irrigation methods did not result in a significant difference on yield. However, SD method has more advantages than SSD method, which has difficulties in replacement and higher system cost. Irrigation levels resulted in significant difference in both years on yield and its components. Water stress significantly affected the yield and yield parameters of early potato production. Water deficiency more than 33% of the irrigation requirement could not be suggested.Water use efficiency (WUE) of SD irrigation methods had generally higher values than SSD irrigation methods. Treatment I₃₃ gave maximum irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) for both years. SSD irrigation method did not provide significant advantage on yield and WUE, compared to SD irrigation in early potato production under experimental conditions. Therefore, the SD irrigation method would be recommended in early potato production under Mediterranean conditions.     

Effects of drip irrigation frequency on soil wetting pattern and potato growth in North China Plain

The effect of irrigation frequency on soil water distribution, potato root distribution, potato tuber yield and water use efficiency was studied in 2001 and 2002 field experiments. Treatments consisted of six different drip irrigation frequencies: N1 (once every day), N2 (once every 2 days), N3 (once every 3 days), N4 (once every 4 days), N6 (once every 6 days) and N8 (once every 8 days), with total drip irrigation water equal for the different frequencies. The results indicated that drip irrigation frequency did affect soil water distribution, depending on potato growing stage, soil depth and distance from the emitter. Under treatment N1, soil matric potential (ψ_m) Variations at depths of 70 and 90 cm showed a larger wetted soil range than was initially expected. Potato root growth was also affected by drip irrigation frequency to some extent: the higher the frequency, the higher was the root length density (RLD) in 0–60 cm soil layer and the lower was the root length density (RWD) in 0–10 cm soil layer. On the other hand, potato roots were not limited in wetted soil volume even when the crop was irrigated at the highest frequency. High frequency irrigation enhanced potato tuber growth and water use efficiency (WUE). Reducing irrigation frequency from N1 to N8 resulted in significant yield reductions by 33.4 and 29.1% in 2001 and 2002, respectively. For total ET, little difference was found among the different irrigation frequency treatments.     

The effects of different irrigation regimes on cucumber (Cucumbis sativus L.) yield and yield characteristics under open field conditions

A study was conducted to determine the effects of different drip irrigation regimes on yield and yield components of cucumber (Cucumbis sativus L.) and to determine a threshold value for crop water stress index (CWSI) based on irrigation programming. Four different irrigation treatments as 50 (T-50), 75 (T-75), 100 (T-100) and 125% (T-125) of irrigation water applied/cumulative pan evaporation (IW/CPE) ratio with 3-day-period were studied.Seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) values were 633, 740, 815 and 903 mm in the 1st year and were 679, 777, 875 and 990 mm in the 2nd year for T-50, T-75, T-100 and T-125, respectively. Seasonal irrigation water amounts were 542, 677, 813 and 949 mm in 2002 and 576, 725, 875 and 1025 mm in 2003, respectively. Maximum marketable fruit yield was from T-100 treatment with 76.65 t ha⁻¹ in 2002 and 68.13 t ha⁻¹ in 2003. Fruit yield was reduced significantly, as irrigation rate was decreased. The water use efficiency (WUE) ranged from 7.37 to 9.40 kg m⁻³ and 6.32 to 7.79 kg m⁻³ in 2002 and 2003, respectively, while irrigation water use efficiencies (IWUE) were between 7.02 and 9.93 kg m⁻³ in 2002 and between 6.11 and 8.82 kg m⁻³ in 2003.When the irrigation rate was decreased, crop transpiration rate decreased as well resulting in increased crop canopy temperatures and CWSI values and resulted in reduced yield. The results indicated that a seasonal mean CWSI value of 0.20 would result in decreased yield. Therefore, a CWSI = 0.20 could be taken as a threshold value to start irrigation for cucumber grown in open field under semi-arid conditions.Results of this study demonstrate that 1.00 IW/CPE water applications by a drip system in a 3-day irrigation frequency would be optimal for growth in semiarid regions.     

Regional cotton lint yield,ETc and water value in Arizona and California

Water value as agriculture production may be overlooked, though it is an important factor to rational water allocations within a region. An analysis of cotton (Upland and Pima) lint yield, lint yield-consumptive use ratio (LY:ET_c), water-use efficiency (WUE) and lint price for Arizona (AZ) and California (CA) during 1988–1999 is considered as part of an attempt to determine lint water value, or benefit. It included determination of means and variability of cotton lint production, LY:ET_c ratios and associated irrigation water values (IWVs) and compared these numbers with published estimates of WUE, forage hay water values and municipal water costs. Available rainfall, reference evapotranspiration (ET_o), lint yields and price data for counties in both states were used. Consumptive use was estimated using a four-stage crop coefficient function verified by literature values or County Advisor experience. As with dry matter production, cotton lint yields in interior valley regions of CA were weakly correlated with ET_c and averaged 1.33 Mg/ha (Upland) and 1.08 Mg/ha (Pima). Cotton lint yields in desert regions of AZ and CA were not correlated with ET_c. The greatest LY:ET_c ratios (1.9–2.1 kg/ha-mm) were in the San Joaquin valley of CA, were similar to that from WUE type studies and resulted in gross IWVs (∼3400–3800 US$/ha-m), with relatively moderate variability at a net irrigation water requirement (IWR) of approximately 720 mm. While this IWV is 2.5 times greater than water delivery prices below the California Delta, it is less than average municipal water costs of ∼4200 US$/ha-m for Los Angeles, San Francisco and Pheonix while the overall AZ/CA average cotton lint IWV is considerably less. However, cotton lint IWV is two to three times greater than that obtained for alfalfa and sudangrass hay crops in all regions.     

Grain yield and water use in a long-term fertilization trial in Northwest China

The wheat- (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn- (Zea mays L.) rotation system is important for food security in Northwest China. Grain yield and water-use efficiency [WUE: grain yield/estimated evapotranspiration (ET)] were recorded during a 24-year fertilization trial in Pingliang (Gansu, China). Mean yields of wheat for the 16 years, starting in 1981, ranged from 1.29 Mg ha⁻¹ for unfertilized plots (CK) to 4.71 Mg ha⁻¹ for plots that received manure (M) annually with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers (MNP). Corn yields for the 6 years, starting in 1979, averaged 2.29 and 5.61 Mg ha⁻¹ for the same respective treatments. Whether the years were dry, normal or wet, average grain yields and WUEs for both crops were consistently highest in the MNP and lowest in the CK treatment, and were always lower in the N than in the M treatment and in all others treatments that received N along with P fertilizers. More importantly, WUEs for MNP and for straw along with N annually and P every second year (SNP) were always higher than the other fertilized treatments in dry years. Compared to yield data, coefficients of variance (CV) for WUEs were consistently low for all treatments, suggesting that WUEs were relatively stable from year to year. Yields and WUEs declined over time, except in the CK and MNP treatments for wheat. Declined yields of wheat for the N and M treatments were comparable, and the decline for the NP treatment was similar to that for the SNP treatment. Likewise, corn yields and WUEs declined for all treatments. Grain yields were significantly correlated with ET, with slopes ranging from 0.5 to 1.27 kg m⁻³ for wheat and from 1.15 to 2.03 kg m⁻³ for corn. Balanced fertilization and long-term addition of organic material to soil should be encouraged in this region to maximize the use of stored soil water, arrest grain yields decline, and ensure sustainable productivity using this intensive cereal cropping system.     

Phenology based irrigation scheduling and determination of crop coefficient of winter maize in rice fallow of eastern India

Vast rainfed rice area (12 million ha) of eastern India remains fallow after rainy season rice due to lack of appropriate water and crop management strategies inspite of having favourable natural resources, human labourers and good market prospects. In this study, a short duration crop, maize, was tried as test crop with different levels of irrigation during winter season after rainy season rice to increase productivity and cropping intensity of rainfed rice area of the region. Maize hybrid of 120 days duration was grown with phenology based irrigation scheduling viz., one irrigation at early vegetative stage, one irrigation at tassel initiation, two irrigation at tassel initiation + grain filling, three irrigation at early vegetative + tassel initiation + grain filling and four irrigation at early vegetative + tassel initiation + silking + grain-filling stages. Study revealed that one irrigation at tassel initiation stage was more beneficial than that of at early vegetative stage. Upto three irrigation, water use efficiency (WUE) was increased linearly with increased number of irrigation. With four irrigations, the yield was higher, but WUE was lower than that of three irrigations, which might be due to increased water application resulted in increase crop water use without a corresponding increase of yield for the crop with four irrigations. The crop coefficients (K_c) at different stages of the crop were derived after computing actual water use using field water balance approach. The crop coefficients of 0.42–0.47, 0.90–0.97, 1.25–1.33, and 0.58–0.61 were derived at initial, development, mid and late season, respectively with three to four irrigation. Study showed that leaf area index (LAI) was significantly correlated with K_c values with the R² values of 0.93. When LAI exceeded 3.0, the K_c value was 1. Study revealed that the K_c values for the development and mid season stage were slightly higher to that obtained by the procedure proposed by FAO, which might be due to local advection.     

Cotton yield and water use efficiency at various levels of water and N through drip irrigation under two methods of planting

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of various levels of water and N application through drip irrigation on seed cotton yield and water use efficiency (WUE). In this experiment three levels of water (Epan 0.4, 0.3, and 0.2) and three levels of N (100, 75, and 50% of recommended N, 75 kg/ha) through drip were compared with check-basin method of irrigation under two methods of planting (normal sowing, NS; paired sowing, PS). The results revealed that when the same quantity of irrigation water and N was applied through drip irrigation system, it increased the seed cotton yield to 2144 from 1624 kg/ha (an increase of 32%) under check-basin method of irrigation. When the quantity of water through drip was reduced to 75%, the increase in seed cotton yield was 12%; however, when water was reduced to 50%, it resulted 2% lower yield than check-basin. The decrease in N through fertigation resulted in reduction in seed cotton yield at all the levels of water supply, but the magnitude of reduction was the highest at highest level of water supply. In paired sowing (PS), 20% higher seed cotton yield was obtained as compared with check-basin method under NS along with 50% saving of water. In paired sowing the sacrifice of 9% seed cotton yield as compared with NS resulted in saving of 50% water as well as the cost of laterals because there was one lateral for two paired rows. The WUE increased by 26% (22.1 from 17.6 kg/ha cm) in drip irrigation system when same quantity of water and N fertilizer was applied as compared with check-basin. WUE was not affected with quantity of water but decrease in rate of N caused a decrease in WUE at all the quantities of water applied. In general, WUE was higher in PS as compared with NS. The agronomic efficiency of nitrogen increased from 21.65 to 28.59 kg of seed cotton per kg of N applied when same quantity of water and N was applied through drip irrigation as compared with check-basin. However, decrease in quantity of water applied resulted in a decrease in agronomic efficiency of N but reverse was true for rates of N applied. When the same quantity of water and N was applied under both the methods of planting, PS produced 22% higher seed cotton yield and along with reduced cost owing to half the number of laterals required.     

Irrigation frequency and amount affect yield components of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

The aim of this study carried out in Van, Turkey was to determine the most suitable irrigation frequencies and quantities in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Sakız) grown under field conditions. Irrigation quantities were based on pan evaporation (E_pan) from a screened class-A pan. Irrigation treatments consisted of two irrigation intervals (I1: 5 days; I2: 10 days), and three pan coefficients (K_cp1: 0.45; K_cp2: 0.65 and K_cp3: 0.85). Plants were adequately watered from seed sowing to first fruit emergence, then, scheduled irrigations were initiated at 5- and 10-day intervals.Irrigation quantities applied to the treatments varied from 279 to 475 mm; seasonal plant water consumption or evapotranspiration (E_t) of irrigation treatments varied from 336 to 539 mm; and the summer squash yield varied from 22.4 to 44.7 t ha⁻¹. The highest total yield was obtained from I1K_cp3 treatment. However, K_cp2 treatments had the earliest yield. Treatments irrigated with higher amount of water generally gave lower irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) values than others. E_t/E_pan ratios of treatments ranged from 0.12 to 1.16. Moreover, irrigation treatments had significant effects (P<0.01) on yield and there were significant positive linear relations among irrigation water, plant water consumption, fruit traits and yield.In conclusion, K_cp3 treatment with 5-day irrigation interval is recommended for summer squash grown under field conditions in order to get higher summer squash yield. However, if the irrigation water is scarce, it will be suitable to irrigate summer squash frequently using K_cp1 values.     

Potato evapotranspiration and yield under different drip irrigation regimes

A field experiment comparing different irrigation frequencies and soil matric potential thresholds on potato evapotranspiration (ET), yield (Y) and water-use efficiency (WUE) was carried out in a loam soil. The experiment included five treatments for soil matric potential: F1 (-15 kPa), F2 (-25 kPa), F3 (-35 kPa), F4 (-45 kPa) and F5 (-55 kPa) and six treatments for irrigation frequency: N1 (once every day), N2 (once every 2 days), N3 (once every 3 days), N4 (once every 4 days), N6 (once every 6 days) and N8 (once every 8 days). Results indicate that both soil matric potential and drip irrigation frequency influenced potato ET, Y and WUE. Potato ET increased as irrigation frequency and soil matric potential increased. Comparing soil water potential, the highest ET was 63.4 mm (32.1%) more than the lowest value. Based on irrigation frequency treatments, the highest ET was 36.7 mm (19.2%) more than the lowest value. Potato Y and WUE were also found to increase as irrigation frequency increased. Potato Y increased with an increase in soil water potential then started to decrease. The highest Y and WUE values were achieved with a soil matric potential threshold of -25 kPa and an irrigation frequency of once a day.Communicated by J. Ayars     

Water savings, nutrient leaching, and fruit yield in a young avocado orchard as affected by irrigation and nutrient management

This project was designed to determine the effect of fertilizer rate and irrigation scheduling on water use, nutrient leaching, and fruit yield of young avocado trees (Persea americana Mill. cv. Simmonds). Seven nutrient and irrigation management practices were evaluated: (1) irrigation based on crop evapotranspiration (ET) with 50% fertilizer at a standard rate (FSR); (2) ET irrigation with FSR (typical for avocado production in the area); (3) ET irrigation with 200% FSR; (4) irrigation based on exceedance of 15-kPa (SW) soil water suction with 50% FSR; (5) SW with FSR; (6) SW with 200% FSR; and (7) irrigation at a set schedule (based on timing and frequency typically used in local avocado production) with FSR. The SW with FSR treatment saved 87% of the water volume applied and reduced total phosphorus leached by 74% compared to the set schedule irrigation with FSR. The SW with FSR treatment had higher avocado fruit production, tree water-use efficiency, and fertilizer-use efficiency than the other six treatments. Thus, the use of soil water monitoring for irrigation management can substantially increase sustainability of young avocado orchards in southern Florida.     

Comparison of sprinkler,trickle and furrow irrigation efficiencies for onion production

In the Mesilla Valley of southern New Mexico, furrow irrigation is the primary source of water for growing onions. As the demand for water increases, there will be increasing competition for this limited resource. Water management will become an essential practice used by farmers. Irrigation efficiency (IE) is an important factor into improving water management but so is economic return. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the irrigation efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and water use efficiency (WUE), under sprinkler, furrow, and drip irrigated onions for different yield potential levels and to determine the IE associated with the amount of water application for a sprinkler and drip irrigation systems that had the highest economic return.Maximum IE (100%) and economic return were obtained with a sprinkler system at New Mexico State University’s Agriculture Science Center at Farmington, NM. This IE compared with the 54–80% obtained with the sprinkler irrigation used by the farmers. The IEs obtained for onion fields irrigated with subsurface drip irrigation methods ranged from 45 to 77%. The 45% represents the nonstressed treatments, in which an extra amount of irrigation above the evapotranspiration (Et) requirement was applied to keep the base of the onion plates wet. The irrigation water that was not used for Et went to deep drainage water. The return on the investment cost to install a drip system operated at a IE of 45 was 29%. Operating the drip system at a IE of 79% resulted in a yield similar to surface irrigated onions and consequently, it was not economical to install a drip system. The IEs at the furrow-irrigated onion fields ranged from 79 to 82%. However, the IEs at the furrow-irrigated onion fields were high because farmers have limited water resources. Consequently, they used the concept of deficit irrigation to irrigate their onion crops, resulting in lower yields. The maximum IWUE (0.084 t ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ of water applied) was obtained using the sprinkler system, in which water applied to the field was limited to the amount needed to replace the onions’ Et requirements. The maximum IWUE values for onions using the subsurface drip was 0.059 and 0.046 t ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ of water applied for furrow-irrigated onions. The lower IWUE values obtained under subsurface drip and furrow irrigation systems compared with sprinkler irrigation was due to excessive irrigation under subsurface drip and higher evaporation rates from fields using furrow irrigation. The maximum WUE for onions was 0.009 t ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ of Et. In addition, WUE values are reduced by allowing the onions to suffer from water stress.     

Trickle and sprinkler irrigation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the Middle Anatolian Region in Turkey

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is widely planted in the Middle Anatolian Region, especially in the Nigde-Nevsehir district where 25% of the total potato growing area is located and produces 44% of the total yield. In recent years, the farmers in the Nigde-Nevsehir district have been applying high amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizers (sometimes more than 900 kg N ha⁻¹) and frequent irrigation at high rates in order to get a much higher yield. This situation results in increased irrigation and fertilization costs as well as polluted ground water resources and soil. Thus, it is critical to know the water and nitrogen requirements of the crop, as well as how to improve irrigation efficiency. Field experiments were conducted in the Nigde-Nevsehir (arid) region on a Fluvents (Entisols) soil to determine water and nitrogen requirements of potato crops under sprinkler and trickle irrigation methods. Irrigation treatments were based on Class A pan evaporation and nitrogen levels were formed with different nitrogen concentrations.The highest yield, averaging 47,505 kg ha⁻¹, was measured in sprinkler-irrigated plots at the 60 g m⁻³ nitrogen concentration level in the irrigation treatment with limited irrigation (480 mm). Statistically higher tuber yields were obtained at the 45 and 60 g m⁻³ nitrogen concentration levels in irrigation treatments with full and limited irrigation. Maximum yields were obtained with about 17% less water in the sprinkler method as compared to the trickle method (not statistically significant). On the loam and sandy loam soils, tuber yields were reduced by deficit irrigation corresponding to 70% and 74% of evapotranspiration in sprinkler and trickle irrigations, respectively. Water use of the potato crop ranged from 490 to 760 mm for sprinkler-irrigated plots and 565–830 mm for trickle-irrigated treatments. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) levels of 7.37 and 4.79 kg m⁻³ were obtained in sprinkle and trickle irrigated plots, respectively. There were inverse effects of irrigation and nitrogen levels on the WUE of the potato crops. Significant linear relationships were found between tuber yield and water use for both irrigation methods. Yield response factors were calculated at 1.05 for sprinkler methods and 0.68 for trickle methods. There were statistically significant linear and polynomial relationships between tuber yield and nitrogen amounts used in trickle and sprinkler-irrigated treatments, respectively. In sprinkler-irrigated treatments, the maximum tuber yield was obtained with 199 kg N ha⁻¹. The tuber cumulative nitrogen use efficiency (NUE_cu) and incremental nitrogen use efficiency (NUE_in) were affected quite differently by water, nitrogen levels and years. NUE_cu varied from 16 to 472 g kg⁻¹ and NUE_in varied from 75 to 1035 g kg⁻¹ depending on the irrigation method. In both years, the NH₄-N concentrations were lower than NO₃-N, and thus the removed nitrogen and nitrogen losses were found to be 19–87 kg ha⁻¹ for sprinkler methods and 25–89 kg ha⁻¹ for trickle methods. Nitrogen losses in sprinkler methods reached 76%, which were higher than losses in trickle methods.     

Yield response of greenhouse grown tomato to partial root drying and conventional deficit irrigation

Greenhouse grown tomato was used to test partial root drying (PRD), a newly developing irrigation technique to save irrigation water, in Spring- and Fall-planted fresh-market tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L., cv. Fantastic) cultivar. The PRD practice simply requires wetting of one half of the rooting zone and leaving the other half dry, thereby utilizing reduced amount of irrigation water applied. The wetted and dry sides are interchanged in the subsequent irrigations. Six irrigation treatments were tested during the two-year work in 2000 and 2001: (1) FULL, control treatment where the full amount of irrigation water, which was measured using Class-A pan evaporation data, was applied to the roots on all sides of the plant; (2) 1PRD30, 30% deficit irrigation with PRD in which wetted and dry sides of the root zone were interchanged with every irrigation; (3) 1PRD50; (4) 2PRD50, 50% deficit irrigation with PRD in which wetted and dry sides of the root zone were interchanged every and every other irrigation, respectively; (5) DI30 and (6) DI50, 30 and 50% deficit irrigations, respectively. The defined deficit levels were all in comparison to FULL irrigation. During the first year study in 2000, only three treatments (FULL, 1PRD30 and 2PRD50) were tested. Five treatments with exception of 2PRD50 were included in 2001. The FULL irrigation treatment, in Spring-planted tomato having a 153 day growth period, yielded 110.9 t ha⁻¹. The resulting irrigation-water-use efficiency (IWUE) was 321.8 kg (ha mm)⁻¹. The 1PRD50 treatment gave 86.6 t ha⁻¹, which was not statistically different (P ≤ 0.05) from the FULL irrigation (the control) and had 56% higher IWUE. Although yield differences were not statistically significant in Fall-planted tomato, the highest fruit yield was again obtained under FULL irrigation treatment (205.2 t ha⁻¹) over a growth period of 259 days after transplanting. The PRD treatments had 7–10% additional yield over the deficit irrigation receiving the same amount of water. The PRD treatments gave 10–27% higher marketable tomato yield (>60 g per fruit), compared with the DI treatments. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations measured in fresh leaf tissue was the highest under PRD practice relative to FULL and DI treatments. The high ABA content of fresh-leaf tissue observed in the work supports the root signalling mechanism reported earlier in plants having undergone partial root drying cycles.     

Energy budget and actual evapotranspiration of an arid oasis ecosystem: Palmyra (Syria)

Continuous measurements of evapotranspiration (LE) using eddy covariance method and energy budget were performed over more than 1 year above the heterogeneous canopy of an arid oasis ecosystem in the central Syrian desert. Irrigation practice was traditional flooding with a 28-day turn of water delivery. The work focused on seasonal variations of energy budget over a 2-year period with emphasis on effects of rainfall, wind speed and radiative budget and irrigation practice on evapotranspiration. A time lag of 3 days was observed between irrigation and transpiration response from the vegetation and maximum evapotranspiration was only 5 mm/day. Even with water input from irrigation, winter rainfall seems to have an important impact on LE: comparisons of two situations in June 2002 and June 2003 showed an increase of 13% in values of LE/Rn − G. In many situations averaged hourly values of evapotranspiration increased with wind speed up to 3 m/s, then decreased suggesting strong evaporative control from the vegetation. Results from the energy balance closure showed significant differences in the slope of H + LE against Rn − G relationships between cold and hot month which was explained by specific radiative budget of desert areas.