Controlling runoff under low pressure center pivot irrigation systems

A research study was conducted in commercial potato production fields irrigated by low pressure center pivot irrigation systems for three growing seasons in southern Idaho, USA. Plots were established to give several replications of both conventional and reservoir tillage under the outermost spans, where the highest application rates occur. The soil was silt loam, and the topography varied from nearly level to 5% slopes. The sprinkler devices included spray nozzles on drops (spraydrops), spray nozzles on booms (spraybooms) and rotator spray nozzles on drops (rotator spraydrops) with an operating pressure of 138 kPa.The purpose of this study was to investigate and assess the role of reservoir tillage on controlling runoff, uniformity of soil water content throughout the field, and crop yield, as compared with conventional tillage. Reservoir tillage effectively reduced runoff losses to less than 1% of the applied water, when the dike were intact and remained stable. Over the three years of this study reservoir tillage increased the average soil water content by 18%. In addition, a statistical analysis showed that reservoir tillage significantly increased the percent available water in the top 65 cm of the root zone (P=0.01). The use of reservoir tillage elevated average yield by 21%, and average percent number one tubers was increased from 64% for conventional plots to 68% for reservoirtilled plots. While reservoir tillage increased the yield significantly (P=0.01), the sprinkler type did not have a significant influence on yield.     

The effect of polyacrylamide on runoff,erosion, and cotton yield from fields irrigated with moving sprinkler systems

Summary Irrigation with self-propelled moving sprinkler irrigation system (MSIS) enhances seal formation at the soil surface and results in large amounts of runoff and erosion which are aggravated by the MSIS high water application rate and reflected in lower yields. The effect of polyacrylamide (PAM) application (at the equivalent rate of 20 kg ha^-1), prior to the irrigation season, on runoff and erosion from bare soil and soil covered with a crop, as well as on cotton yield was studied in a clay loam vertisol (Typic Chromoxert) and a silt loam loess (Calcic Haploxeralf). A center pivot and a lateral MSIS were used in the vertisol and loess, respectively. Vegetative growth of cotton plants in the vertisol was inversely related to water application intensity, which in turn affects runoff. PAM significantly reduced runoff in both the bare and crop-covered soils. The runoff level from the PAM treatments was 50–70% of that of the control. PAM also reduced erosion especially in the vertisol soil. However, the amount of eroded material carried by a unit runoff was similar in both treatments for both soils, indicating that PAM influences erosion by reducing runoff levels. A trend whereby PAM increased yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Pima S5) compared with the control was observed. Our results suggest that, under irrigation with a MSIS, reducing runoff is essential for obtaining higher yields. PAM is suggested as an effective tool to attain this target.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 2866-E, 1989 series     

Effect of runoff concentration on growth and yield of jujube

Different combinations of slope (0.5, 5 and 10%), slope length (5.12, 7.0, 8.5, 10.75 and 14.5 m) and catchment size (0, 31.5, 54, 72, 99 and 144 m²) aimed at generating runoff supplement of 200–400 mm per tree were studied with respect to yield of runoff, soil moisture storage and fruit yield of jujube (Zizyphus mauritiana Lam.) under hot arid conditions. The runoff and soil moisture storage increased with the slope and decreased with the slope length. Similar trends were observed with regard to the fruit yield. Catchment/planted area ratios of 2:1, 1.5:1 and 0.87:1, respectively, are recommended for higher yields of jujube on slopes of 0.5, 5 and 10% with slope lengths of 8.5, 7.0 and 5.12 m.     

Effect of vertical mulch on moisture conservation and yield of sorghum in Vertisols

The intake rate of the local Vertisol is very low (0.08 cm/h). Vertical mulch was used from 1971 to 1976 in order to improve infiltration. Higher moisture contents were recorded near the mulch. The favourable effects of mulch extended to 1.5 m on either side of the mulch row. Vertical mulching exerted a greater influence on crop yields under dry conditions than in normal and above normal seasons. Compared with low yields in control plots (grain: 0.2 q/ha (20 kg/ha); straw: 9.5 q/ha (950 kg/ha)) mulches spaced at 2, 4 and 8 m produced 3.9 q/ha of grain and 19.0 q/ha of straw under the extremely dry conditions of 1972–1973. However, the increase in grain and straw yields under wet conditions in 1973–1974 was only 47.2 and 15.0%, respectively. Averaged over dry and wet years, vertical mulching resulted in 45.1 and 37.9% higher grain and straw yields. The favourable effects of vertical mulching were found to last for 4 years. Considering dry and wet years, a spacing of 4 m was found to be ideal. Placing sorghum stubble as a vertical mulch to the top of the salt zone (30 cm) was found to be as good as placing it to a depth of 90 cm.     

喷头仰角调节机构的研制及其对喷头性能的影响

为使旋转式喷头更广泛地适应生产发展的需要,改变喷头结构形式,在喷头的空心轴与喷体间采用变截面平面铰接,对旋转式喷头主喷管仰角在0°~30°间连续调节,达到对旋转式喷头仰角调节的目的.室内试验表明:该仰角调节方式对单喷头水力性能影响明显,喷头的射程发生了明显的变化,减幅达15.6%;同时喷头的水量分布也由三角形变为长方形,且喷头末端的水量明显增加.室外有风条件下喷头组合测试显示,经适当的组合,能够减少风对喷灌系统的影响,提高喷灌系统的适用性.     

Effect of amount and timing of subsurface drip irrigation on corn yield

A field study was conducted at North Platte, Nebraska in 2007–2009, imposing eight irrigation treatments, ranging from dryland to fully irrigated. Four of the eight treatments allowed for various degrees of water stress only after tasseling and silking. In 2007, corn yield ranged from 8.9 Mg ha^?1 with a season total of 41 mm of irrigation water to 11.5 Mg ha^?1 for the fully irrigated treatment (264 mm of irrigation water). The treatment with the greatest reduction in irrigation water after tasseling and silking (158 mm) had a mean yield of 10.9 Mg ha^?1, only 0.6 Mg ha^?1 less than the fully irrigated treatment. In 2009, yields ranged from 12.6 to 13.5 Mg ha^?1. There were no significant yield differences between the irrigation treatments for several possible reasons: more in-season precipitation and cooler weather required less irrigation water; much of the irrigation water was applied after the most water-stress sensitive stages of tasseling and silking; and lower atmospheric demand allowed for soil water contents well below 50 % management allowed depletion (MAD) not to cause any yield losses.     

Evaporation and drift losses from sprinkler irrigation systems under various operating conditions

Quantitative determinations of evaporation and drift losses from sprinkler systems were carried out under different operating conditions.Evaporation losses determined by an electrical-conductivity method ranged from 1.5 to 16.8% of the total sprinkled volume. Wind velocity and vapor pressure deficit were the most significant factors affecting the evaporation losses. Exponential relationships between the evaporation losses and both wind velocity and vapor pressure deficit have been found. For the operating pressures used in this study the least effect on evaporation was found.Drift losses measured by the magnesium-oxide method varied from 1.5 to 15.1%. Drift losses increased with the second power of the wind velocity, and decreased with increasing distance in the downwind direction.Combined losses from a sprinkler system for a given set of operating conditions have been estimated by using the results obtained from the experiments. Combined losses ranged from 1.7 to 30.7% of the applied water.     

Comparison of drip and sprinkler irrigation strategies on sunflower seed and oil yield and quality under Mediterranean climatic conditions

This study compares the effects of different irrigation regimes on seed yield and oil yield quality and water productivity of sprinkler and drip irrigated sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) on silty-clay-loam soils in 2006 and 2007 in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. In sprinkler irrigation a line-source system was used in order to create gradually varying irrigation levels. Irrigation regimes consisted of full irrigation (I₁) and three deficit irrigation treatments (I₂, I₃ and I₄), and rain-fed treatment (I₅). In the drip system, irrigation regimes included full irrigation (FI-100), three deficit irrigation treatments (DI-25, DI-50, DI-75), partial root zone drying (PRD-50) and rain-fed treatment (RF). Irrigations were scheduled at weekly intervals both in sprinkler and drip irrigation, based on soil water depletion within a 0.90 m root zone in FI-100 and I₁ plots. Irrigation treatments influenced significantly (P < 0.01) sunflower seed and oil yields, and oil quality both with sprinkler and drip systems. Seed yields decreased with increasing water stress levels under drip and sprinkler irrigation in both experimental years. Seed yield response to irrigation varied considerably due to differences in soil water contents and spring rainfall distribution in the experimental years. Although PRD-50 received about 36% less irrigation water as compared to FI-100, sunflower yield was reduced by an average of 15%. PRD-50 produced greater seed and oil yields than DI-50 in the drip irrigation system. Yield reduction was mainly due to less number of seeds per head and lower seed mass. Soil water deficits significantly reduced crop evapotranspiration (ET), which mainly depends on irrigation amounts. Significant linear relationships (R² = 0.96) between ET and oil yield (Y) were obtained in each season. The seed yield response factors (ky_seed) were 1.24 and 0.86 for the sprinkler and 1.19 and 1.06 for the drip system in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The oil yield response factor (ky_oil) for sunflower was found to be 1.08 and 1.49 for both growing seasons for the sprinkler and 1.36 and 1.25 for the drip systems, respectively. Oil content decreased with decreasing irrigation amount. Consistently greater values of oil content were obtained from the full irrigation treatment plots. The saturated (palmitic and stearic acid) and unsaturated (oleic and linoleic acid) fatty acid contents were significantly affected by water stress. Water stress caused an increase in oleic acid with a decrease in linoleic acid contents. The palmitic and stearic acid concentrations decreased under drought conditions. Water productivity (WP) values were significantly affected by irrigation amounts and ranged from 0.40 to 0.71 kg m⁻³ in 2006, and from 0.69 to 0.91 kg m⁻³ in 2007. The PRD-50 treatment resulted in the greatest WP (1.0 kg m⁻³) and irrigation water productivity (IWP) (1.4 kg m⁻³) in both growing seasons. The results revealed that under water scarcity situation, PRD-50 in drip and I₂ in sprinkler system provide acceptable irrigation strategies to increase sunflower yield and quality.     

Effect of polyacrylamide and gypsum on surface runoff, sediment yield and nutrient losses from steep slopes

Hilly terrains with steep slopes and poor vegetative cover are prone to soil erosion. Crop productivity from such lands can be increased by adding correct amounts of soil conditioners such as polyacrylamide (PAM) and gypsum (G) to reduce soil erosion and to improve settling of suspended sediment. The field experiments were conducted in hilly areas with 97% land slope to evaluate the effectiveness of PAM and G when applied as single and concurrent doses of 20 and 2500 kg ha⁻¹, respectively to check surface runoff, sediment yield and major nutrient (N, P, and K) losses under natural rainfall conditions. The results indicate that concurrent application of PAM and G was most effective closely followed by G alone. However, considering the costs of PAM and gypsum and labor involved in their concurrent application on large scale, the application of gypsum alone is recommended in controlling the surface runoff, sediment yield and major nutrient losses from steeply sloped lands in Indian Himalayas.     

Canopy temperature based system effectively schedules and controls center pivot irrigation of cotton

Cotton is a perennial plant with an indeterminate growth pattern that is typically produced like an annual, but requires proper management to effectively produce high yields and good fiber quality in a thermally limited environment like the northern Texas High Plains. In 2007 and 2008, we investigated the effect of irrigation scheduling/control method and amount on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and water use efficiency. Methods were automatic irrigation scheduling and control of a center pivot system, and manually scheduled irrigation to replenish soil-water to field capacity. Cotton was irrigated with LEPA (low energy, precision application) drag socks in furrow dikes; three blocks were irrigated manually and three were irrigated automatically. Six replicates of the manual and automatic irrigation treatments were included in the randomized block design. Manual irrigations were based on the weekly replenishment of soil-water to field capacity in the top 1.5 m of the soil profile and included a fully irrigated treatment (I₁₀₀), and treatments receiving 67% (I₆₇) and 33% (I₃₃) of the I₁₀₀ amount, plus a non-irrigated treatment (I₀). Automatic irrigations were triggered using a time temperature threshold (TTT) algorithm, which was designated as the I₁₀₀ treatment, and treatments receiving 67%, 33%, and 0% of that amount (I₆₇, I₃₃ and I₀, respectively). In 2007, overall mean lint yields (102.3 and 101.6 g m⁻², manual and automatic, respectively) were not significantly different. Similarly, yields were not significantly different across automatic and manual treatments in the same treatment level, with the exception of the I₆₇ treatment where the manual treatment yields were 11% greater. In 2008, the mean yields were 70% less than those in 2007 for both methods of irrigation (30.3 and 30.9 g m⁻², manual and automatic, respectively) due to harsh climatic conditions at emergence and heavy rainfall and cooler temperatures in the month of August. Yields from the automatically irrigated plots in the I₁₀₀ and I₆₇ treatments, however, were significantly greater than yields from the corresponding manually irrigated plots; though there was no significant difference between yields in the drier treatments (I₃₃ and I₀) plots. These results indicate that the TTT algorithm is a promising method for auto-irrigation scheduling of short season cotton in an arid region. However, further studies are essential to demonstrate consistent positive outcomes.     

Double line-source sprinkler system for determining the separate and interactive effects of water and salinity on forage corn

Summary The line-source sprinkler system provides a water application pattern which is uniform along the length of the plot and continuously variable across the plot. A double line-source system is described which makes it possible to determine simultaneously the response functions for two factors — salinity and water — and their interaction, on a relatively small area. It is based on two parallel sprinkler lines with overlapping wetting, supplied with water of different quality. The lines are fitted with groups of sprinklers with a range of nozzle sizes to produce different rates of water application. This modified line-source technique has the following advantages: (i) it produces a wide range of water application amounts in combination with a large gradient in water salinity; (ii) different rates of water application are obtained between the two lines within each salinity level; and (iii) on the side of the lines where no overlapping occurs, the use of different rates results in the application of the same amount of water at different distances from the line-source. This is in contrast to the common line-source arrangement, in which the amount of water falling at a given distance from the line is always the same. A study using the double line-source system was carried out to determine the interactive effects of water and salinity on forage corn.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, No. 2831-E, 1989 series     

Effect of surface and subsurface drip fertigation on sweet corn rooting,uptake, dry matter production and yield

Summary Subsurface (SS) drip fertigation may increase sweet corn ear yield relative to surface (S) fertigation, because immobile nutrients are delivered at the center of the soil-root volume rather than on top of the soil. A container (1 × 1 × 1 m) experiment was conducted on a loessial soil (Haploxeralf) to test this hypothesis. Marketable and total ear yields were higher for tricklers placed 30 cm below the soil surface (3.22 and 4.90 kg m^–2, respectively) than on the surface (2.86 and 4.30 kg m^–2, respectively). Total fresh weight, dry matter production and plant height during the growing season were also greater for subsurface emitters. Deep trickler position significantly increased P and K content at the center of the root zone. The enhanced concentration apparently stimulated plant rooting which, together with the higher nutrient activity in the soil solution, increased P and K uptake rates, which in turn facilitated the higher dry matter production and commercial yield relative to surface trickler placement. The higher root activity in SS than in S fertigation was reconfirmed by soil air CO₂ concentration measurements which showed significant differences between the two treatments during the growth season.On studies in the ARO from The College of Postgraduates of Mexico, Montecillos, Mexico.     

Effect of timing of a deficit-irrigation allocation on corn evapotranspiration, yield, water use efficiency and dry mass

Water regulations have decreased irrigation water supplies in Nebraska and some other areas of the USA Great Plains. When available water is not enough to meet crop water requirements during the entire growing cycle, it becomes critical to know the proper irrigation timing that would maximize yields and profits. This study evaluated the effect of timing of a deficit-irrigation allocation (150 mm) on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), yield, water use efficiency (WUE = yield/ETc), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE = yield/irrigation), and dry mass (DM) of corn (Zea mays L.) irrigated with subsurface drip irrigation in the semiarid climate of North Platte, NE. During 2005 and 2006, a total of sixteen irrigation treatments (eight each year) were evaluated, which received different percentages of the water allocation during July, August, and September. During both years, all treatments resulted in no crop stress during the vegetative period and stress during the reproductive stages, which affected ETc, DM, yield, WUE and IWUE. Among treatments, ETc varied by 7.2 and 18.8%; yield by 17 and 33%; WUE by 12 and 22%, and IWUE by 18 and 33% in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Yield and WUE both increased linearly with ETc and with ETc/ETp (ETp = seasonal ETc with no water stress), and WUE increased linearly with yield. The yield response factor (ky) averaged 1.50 over the two seasons. Irrigation timing affected the DM of the plant, grain, and cob, but not that of the stover. It also affected the percent of DM partitioned to the grain (harvest index), which increased linearly with ETc and averaged 56.2% over the two seasons, but did not affect the percent allocated to the cob or stover. Irrigation applied in July had the highest positive coefficient of determination (R²) with yield. This high positive correlation decreased considerably for irrigation applied in August, and became negative for irrigation applied in September. The best positive correlation between the soil water deficit factor (Ks) and yield occurred during weeks 12-14 from crop emergence, during the “milk” and “dough” growth stages. Yield was poorly correlated to stress during weeks 15 and 16, and the correlation became negative after week 17. Dividing the 150 mm allocation about evenly among July, August and September was a good strategy resulting in the highest yields in 2005, but not in 2006. Applying a larger proportion of the allocation in July was a good strategy during both years, and the opposite resulted when applying a large proportion of the allocation in September. The different results obtained between years indicate that flexible irrigation scheduling techniques should be adopted, rather than relying on fixed timing strategies.     

The effect of salinity on corn yield using the CERES-maize model

In most cases, when calculating soil water availability, only thewater content is considered. The effect of salinity on the wiltingpoint is neglected. The objective of this work is to use asimulation model (CERES-maize) in order to predict cornyields as a function of water salinity under severalenvironmental, agrotechnical, and plant characteristics. A modelis presented in which the wilting point is a function of the soilsalt content. At high salinity, the water content at wilting pointis higher than at low salinity, resulting in an insufficient amountof available water and, therefore, a reduced yield. The modelwas used to simulate several theoretical and experimentalsituations for forage corn and grain corn. Simulation resultsshowed that nitrogen fertilization increases the salinity thresholdvalue and the yield sensitivity (rate of yield reduction per unitof salinity). The also showed that forage corn is more sensitiveto salinity than grain corn. If the soil is not leached, a heaviersoil texture has a higher salinity threshold value. On the otherhand, if the soil is leached, the soil texture has no influence onthe salinity threshold value and the yield is less sensitive tosalinity in sandy soils. The determination coefficient (r²= 0.75) indicated that the results of the simulations were in goodagreement with the field data.     

喷嘴位置对新型环形射流泵性能的影响

运用数值模拟的方法,研究在不同被吸流体速度比下,不同喷嘴位置对采用环形射流喷嘴的新型环形射流泵性能的影响,设计了与传统贴壁环形射流喷嘴不同的夹心式环形射流喷嘴,使得工作流体在离开喷嘴后处于被吸流体的包夹之中.对该新型环形射流泵进行性能预测,并与传统环形射流泵进行对比.数值模拟结果表明：新型环形射流泵效率普遍高于传统环形射流泵效率;对于新型环形射流泵,工作喷嘴位置距离壁面8 mm为最优;对于工作喷嘴距离壁面分别为4,6 mm的新型环形射流泵,在流量比为0.4~0.8的范围内,最佳速度比为1/1,而对于工作喷嘴距离壁面8 mm的新型环形射流泵,在流量比为0.4~0.8的范围内,最佳速度比为3/1.     

Comparison of soil water content and corn yield in furrow and conventional ridge sown systems in a semiarid region of China

Water deficits and unusually warm soil temperatures can adversely affect conventional ridge sown systems. Increasingly serious water and temperature issues associated with global climate change may be problematic in the future, particularly in semiarid regions. This study explored the soil water and crop yield benefits of switching the sowing location of corn from ridges to furrows. Experiments were conducted over three years. Corn was grown in shallow furrow (SF) and deep furrow (DF) sown treatments until the V8 stage (eight visible leaf collars). New ridges were then built over the existing furrows. Grain yield was found to be higher in the SF and DF sown treatments than in a conventional ridge sown treatment (CR), especially in drought years. Switching sowing position from ridge to furrow could increase corn yield, directly, by improving soil moisture early in the growing season and, indirectly, by stimulating the growth of resource-capturing organs (e.g., leaves and roots). This simple and efficient approach to crop production in semiarid climates may be practical for the management of numerous agricultural systems, particularly those that are resource-limited, with greater vulnerability to the effects of global climate change.     

Predicting the effects of drainage systems on corn yields

Stress day index (SDI) models were incorporated in the water management simulation model, DRAINMOD, to quantify the effect of soil water stresses on corn yields. The effects of a combination of excessive and deficient soil water conditions were approximated by a simple first-order crop response model, YR = YRw × YRd, where YR is the overall relative yield, and YRw and YRd are the relative yields due to excessive and deficient soil water conditions, respectively.The accuracy of the modified water management model was evaluated by comparing predicted and measured corn yields for 16 plot years of experimental data on the Tidewater Research Station near Plymouth, NC. The predicted and measured results were in good agreement with the model describing 63% of the variation in yields for the 12-year period.Use of the modified water management model was demonstrated by simulating the performance of several drainage system designs for a Portsmouth sandy loam soil. The results of the simulation show that a maximum long-term relative yield of 80% of the potential corn yield can be obtained with a drain spacing of 40 m or less with good surface drainage. Higher yields could not be obtained without irrigation to reduce deficit soil water conditions. The response of long-term average corn yields to surface drainage varies inversely with the intensity of subsurface drainage. The 25-year average yield for 100 m spacing was only 47% of the potential yield when the surface drainage was poor as compared to 61% of potential yield for good surface drainage.     

Effect of soil matric potential on tomato yield and water use under drip irrigation condition

Field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of soil matric potential (SMP) on tomato yield, evapotranspiration (ET), water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) under drip irrigation condition in North China Plain. The experiment included five treatments, which controlled SMP at 0.2 m depth immediately under drip emitter higher than −10 (S1), −20 (S2), −30 (S3), −40 (S4) and −50 kPa (S5), respectively, after tomato plant establishment. The results showed that different SMP affected irrigation amount and tomato ET. Irrigation amount decreased from 185 mm (S1) to 83.6 mm (S5) in 2004, and from 165 mm (S1) to 109 mm (S5) in 2005, respectively. The ET decreased from 270 mm (S1) to 202 mm (S5) in both years. However, it was found that SMP did not affect the tomato yield significantly, for the range of SMP investigated. Both WUE and IWUE increased as SMP decreased. The maximum WUE (253 and 217 kg/ha mm) and IWUE (620 and 406 kg/ha mm) were for S5 in 2 years, whereas the minimum WUE (178 and 155 kg/ha mm) and IWUE 261 and 259 kg/ha mm) were for S1 in 2004 and 2005. Based on the above results, therefore, it is recommended that if the tomatoes are well irrigated (SMP is higher than −20 kPa) during establishment, controlling SMP higher than −50 kPa at 0.2 m depth immediately under drip emitter can be used as an indicator for drip irrigation scheduling during following period of tomato growth in North China Plain.     

Irrigation rate and plant density effects on yield and water use efficiency of drip-irrigated corn

The efficient use of water by modern irrigation systems is becoming increasingly important in arid and semi-arid regions with limited water resources. This study was conducted for 2 years (2005 and 2006) to establish optimal irrigation rates and plant population densities for corn (Zea mays L.) in sandy soils using drip irrigation system. The study aimed at achieving high yield and efficient irrigation water use (IWUE) simultaneously. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block split plot design with three drip irrigation rates (I₁: 1.00, I₂: 0.80, and I₃: 0.60 of the estimated evapotranspiration), and three plant population densities (D₁: 48,000, D₂: 71,000 and D₃: 95,000 plants ha⁻¹) as the main plot and split plot, respectively. Irrigation water applied at I₁, I₂ and I₃ were 5955, 4762 and 3572 m³ ha⁻¹, respectively. A 3-day irrigation interval and three-way cross 310 hybrid corn were used. Results indicated that corn yield, yield components, and IWUE increased with increasing irrigation rates and decreasing plant population densities. Significant interaction effects between irrigation rate and plant population density were detected in both seasons for yield, selected yield components, and IWUE. The highest grain yield, yield components, and IWUE were found for I₁D₁, I₁D₂, or I₂D_1, while the lowest were found for I₃D₂ or I₃D₃. Thus, a high irrigation rate with low or medium plant population densities or a medium irrigation rate with a low plant population density are recommended for drip-irrigated corn in sandy soil. Crop production functions with respect to irrigation rates, determined for grain yield and different yield components, enable the results from this study to be extrapolated to similar agro-climatic conditions.     

干旱区秸秆覆盖对滴灌棉花生长及产量的影响

为探索秸秆覆盖对北疆滴灌棉花生长特征和产量的影响,2009—2012年期间,以小麦秸秆为材料,在非盐碱土和盐碱土2种土壤条件下,进行了无覆盖（LUM）、表层覆盖（LSM）、地表以下30 cm深处覆盖（LM30）的测坑对比试验.结果表明：秸秆覆盖对棉花生长及产量具有一定的促进效果,对盐碱土种植的棉花株高、叶面积指数和产量的促进作用显著,而对非盐碱土棉花株高、叶面积指数和产量的促进作用不明显.地表覆盖综合调控效应优于30 cm深层覆盖,尤其是在棉花花铃期,在盐分抑制方面地表覆盖要比30 cm覆盖效果好;30 cm覆盖在苗期和蕾期可以给棉花生长创造比较好的条件,而在花铃期以后这种覆盖效果不太明显;表层覆盖处理棉花产量最高,高出无覆盖处理3.2%-17.9%,高出30 cm深层覆盖3.1%-16.3%.