The effect of drip line placement on yield and quality of drip-irrigated processing tomatoes

Subsurface drip irrigation of processing tomatoes is increasing in California. The common design approach is to bury drip lines 0.2–0.36 m deep in the middle of the plant row, which places drip lines directly beneath plant rows. This design limits the use of the drip irrigation system to only those crops compatible with this drip line and bed spacing, and thus, other design approaches are being investigated to increase the flexibility of the drip systems. These approaches are installing drip lines in alternate furrows and installing drip lines in every furrow, both of which place drip lines midway between plant rows. The furrows are the result of the cultural practices used to form beds for planting.This study investigated the effect of the different drip line placements on crop yield and quality. Results showed that the highest yields occurred for the buried placement and the smallest yields for the alternate furrow placement. For the buried placement, soil water content and root density were concentrated around the drip lines, directly beneath the plant rows, while for the furrow placements, zones of high soil water content and root density did not coincide with the plant rows. However, some growers have found the furrow placement to reduce some of the disease problems normally experienced with the traditional furrow irrigation methods.     

Impact of water application conditions on nitrogen leaching under furrow irrigation: Experimental and modelling approaches

Local infiltration tests on 1.5 m long blocked furrows were carried out on a loam soil to assess N fertiliser leaching under furrow irrigation where ridging operations entails placing nitrogen on the upper part of the ridge. This article focuses on the impact of flow depths, or water application depth (WAD), on nitrogen movement in seven 1.5-m long blocked furrows. For a first irrigation event, a WAD greater than or equal to 240 mm, significantly reduced the heterogeneity of the N concentration profiles measured at the top of the ridge and beneath the furrow. The virtually homogeneous N soil distribution with depth permitted the determination of the nitrogen balance throughout the season using soil samples obtained at the beginning and end of the season as well as the determination of nitrogen present in the crop tissue. This is not possible when there is a heterogeneous N soil profile at the end of the irrigation season, as observed under moderate WAD conditions. In addition, a substantial WAD delivered during the first irrigation event, and at a period where the plant N requirements are high, does not affect crop yield potential.     

Effects of water infiltration and storage in cultivated soil on surface irrigation

Surface irrigation analysis and design require the knowledge of the variation of the cumulative infiltration water Z (L) (per unit area) into the soil as a function of the infiltration time t (T). The purpose of this study is to evaluate water infiltration and storage under surface irrigation in an alluvial clay soil cultivated with grape yield, and to determine if partially wetted furrow irrigation has more efficient water storage and infiltration than traditional border irrigation. The two irrigation components considered were wet (WT) and dry (DT) treatments, at which water applied when available soil water reached 65% and 50%, and the traditional border irrigation control. Empirical power form equations were obtained for measured advance and recession times along the furrow length during the irrigation stages of advance, storage, depletion and recession. The infiltration (cumulative depth, Z and rate, I) was functioned to opportunity time (t_o) in minute for WT and DT treatments as: Z_WT = 0.528 t_o^0.6, Z_DT = 1.2 t_o^0.501, I_WT = 19 t_o^−0.4, and I_DT = 36 t_o^−0.498. The irrigation efficiency and soil water distribution have been evaluated using linear distribution and relative schedule depth. Coefficient of variation (CV) was 5.2 and 9.5% for WT and DT under furrow irrigation system comparing with 7.8% in border, respectively. Water was deeply percolated as 11.88 and 19.2% for wet and dry furrow treatments, respectively, compared with 12.8% for control, with no deficit in the irrigated area. Partially wetted furrow irrigation had greater water-efficiency and grape yield than both dry furrow and traditional border irrigations, where application efficiency achieved as 88.1% for wet furrow irrigation that achieved high grape fruit yield (30.71 Mg/ha) and water use efficiency 11.9 kg/m³.     

Effects of irrigation strategies and soils on field grown potatoes: Root distribution

Root distribution of field grown potatoes (cv. Folva) was studied in 4.32 m² lysimeters and subjected to full (FI), deficit (DI), and partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation strategies. Drip irrigation was applied for all irrigations. Irrigations were run in three different soils: coarse sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam. Irrigation treatments started after tuber bulking and lasted until final harvest with PRD and DI receiving 65% of FI. Potatoes irrigated with water-saving irrigation techniques (PRD and DI) did not show statistically different dry root mass and root length density (RLD, cm root per cm³ soil) compared with root development in fully irrigated (FI) potatoes. Highest RLD existed in the top 30-40 cm of the ridge below which it decreased sharply. The RLD was distributed homogenously along the ridge and furrow but heterogeneously across the ridge and furrow with highest root density in the furrow. Most roots accumulated in the surface layers of coarse sand as compared to the other soil types. In the deep soil profile (30-70 cm) a higher root density was found in loamy sand compared with the sandy loam and coarse sand. Approximately twice the amounts of roots were found below the furrows compared with the corresponding layers below the ridges. The RLD values in the soil profile of the ridges and the furrows followed the Gerwitz and Page model: RLD = α × exp(−β × z). The highest value of surface root density (α) and rate of change in density (β) was found in coarse sand while the lowest values of α and β were found in the sandy loam and loamy sand. The model estimated the effective rooting depth in coarse sand and sandy loam quite well but did slightly overestimate it in the loamy sand. Statistical analysis showed that one α and β value can be used for each soil irrespective of the irrigation treatment. Thus, the effective rooting depths corresponding to root length densities of 0.1 and 0.25 cm cm⁻³ for sandy loam, loamy sand, and coarse sand soils were 99, 141, and 94 cm, and 80, 115, and 78 cm, respectively, calculated from top of the ridge. The findings of this study can be used in practice for efficient use of water and nutrients in the field.     

The effects of irrigation methods with effluent and irrigation scheduling on water use efficiency and corn yields in an arid region

A great challenge for the agricultural sector is to produce more food from less water, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions which suffer from water scarcity. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three irrigation methods, using effluent versus fresh water, on water savings, yields and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). The irrigation scheduling was based on soil moisture and rooting depth monitoring. The experimental design was a split plot with three main treatments, namely subsurface drip (SSD), surface drip (SD) and furrow irrigation (FI) and two sub-treatments effluent and fresh water, which were applied with three replications. The experiment was conducted at the Marvdasht city (Southern Iran) wastewater treatment plant during 2005 and 2006. The experimental results indicated that the average water applied in the irrigation treatments with monitoring was much less than that using the conventional irrigation method (using furrows but based on a constant irrigation interval, without moisture monitoring). The maximum water saving was obtained using SSD with 5907 m³ ha⁻¹ water applied, and the minimum water saving was obtained using FI with 6822 m³ ha⁻¹. The predicted irrigation water requirements using the Penman-Monteith equation (considering 85% irrigation efficiency for the FI method) was 10,743 m³ ha⁻¹. The pressure irrigation systems (SSD and SD) led to a greater yield compared to the surface method (FI). The highest yield (12.11 × 10³ kg ha⁻¹) was obtained with SSD and the lowest was obtained with the FI method (9.75 × 10³ kg ha⁻¹). The irrigation methods indicated a highly significant difference in irrigation water use efficiency. The maximum IWUE was obtained with the SSD (2.12 kg m⁻³) and the minimum was obtained with the FI method (1.43 kg m⁻³). Irrigation with effluent led to a greater IWUE compared to fresh water, but the difference was not statistically significant.     

Response of root morphology and distribution in maize to alternate furrow irrigation

After measuring root morphological indices, such as the length, diameter, volume density, surface area and tip number of both living and dead roots on the ridge and slope under alternate furrow irrigation (AFI) and conventional furrow irrigation (CFI, control treatment) using Minirhizotrons, the responses of root morphology and distribution in maize to AFI were analyzed. Results show that root morphological indices of living or dead roots were lower on the ridge than on the slope under AFI, whereas root morphological indices of living or dead roots were higher on the ridge than on the slope under CFI. Compared to CFI, AFI significantly increased root tip number and surface area of fine roots (with the diameter of ≤2.5 × 10⁻¹ mm) and promoted roots to deeper soil on the slope, and then simulated root water uptake. AFI only decreased the grain yield by 0.9%, but increased water use efficiency on seed yield by 8.3%. Thus AFI promoted root growth and metabolism on the slope, increased the effective absorption area of root system and improved water use efficiency without significant reduction of grain yield.     

灌水施氮方式对玉米生育期土壤NO3--N时空分布的影响

在干旱区大田条件下,以制种玉米"金西北22号"为供试材料,采用交替灌水、固定灌水、均匀灌水和交替施氮、固定施氮、均匀施氮二因素三水平的完全组合方案,在拔节期、大喇叭口期、抽雄期、灌浆期和成熟期对0~100 cm土层分层监测植株正下方、植株正南侧和植株正北侧的土壤NO_3~--N含量。结果表明:监测时期内,植株南、北两侧较植株下和0~40 cm土层较40~100 cm土层的土壤NO_3~--N含量时空分布受灌水施氮方式影响更大。固定灌水固定施氮下,水氮同区时土壤NO_3~--N在施氮侧下移,而水氮异区时土壤NO_3~--N在施氮侧累积。灌浆期,40~80 cm土层的植株下,与均匀灌水相比,交替灌水下不同施氮方式的土壤NO_3~--N含量减少9.9%~14.4%。交替灌水均匀施氮或交替灌水交替施氮使得土壤NO_3~--N在较长时间内维持在0~40 cm土层周围,成熟期二者0~100 cm土层的土壤NO_3~--N残留量相近,但较其他处理减少11.7%~27.3%。综上,交替灌水均匀施氮或交替灌水交替施氮使玉米生育期土壤NO_3~--N含量时空分布比较合理,成熟期土壤NO_3~--N残留量较低。     

Evaluation of the influence of irrigation methods and water quality on sugar beet yield and water use efficiency

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have increased the pressure on limited existing fresh water to meet the growing needs for food production. Two immediate responses to this challenge are the efficient use of irrigation technology and the use of alternative sources of water. Drip irrigation methods may play an important role in efficient use of water but there is still limited information on their use on sugar beet crops in arid countries such as Iran. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of irrigation method and water quality on sugar beet yield, percentage of sugar content and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). The irrigation methods investigated were subsurface drip, surface drip and furrow irrigation. The two waters used were treated municipal effluent (EC = 1.52 dS m⁻¹) and fresh water (EC = 0.509 dS m⁻¹). The experiments used a split plot design and were undertaken over two consecutive growing seasons in Southern Iran. Statistical testing indicated that the irrigation method and water quality had a significant effect (at the 1% level) on sugar beet root yield, sugar yield, and IWUE. The highest root yield (79.7 Mg ha⁻¹) was obtained using surface drip irrigation and effluent and the lowest root yield (41.4 Mg ha⁻¹) was obtained using furrow irrigation and fresh water. The highest IWUE in root yield production (9 kg m⁻³) was obtained using surface drip irrigation with effluent and the lowest value (3.8 kg m⁻³) was obtained using furrow irrigation with fresh water. The highest IWUE of 1.26 kg m⁻³ for sugar was obtained using surface drip irrigation. The corresponding efficiency using effluent was 1.14 kg m⁻³. Irrigation with effluent led to an increase in the net sugar yield due to an increase in the sugar beet root yield. However, there was a slight reduction in the percentage sugar content in the plants. This study also showed that soil water and root depth monitoring can be used in irrigation scheduling to avoid water stress. Such monitoring techniques can also save considerable volumes of irrigation water and can increase yield.     

Effect of improved cultural practices on crop yield and soil salinity under relatively saline groundwater applications

The salinity in the root zone increases with the application of relatively saline groundwater. Therefore, a limited water supply coupled with high pumping cost and salinity hazards, makes it more important than ever that irrigation water be used efficiently and judiciously. In the present study, farmer's practices of irrigation application methods (Field 1) were compared with the water saving techniques (Field 2) for crop yield and salinization for two years with maize–wheat–dhanicha cropping pattern. For maize crop, regular furrow method of irrigation was used in Field 1 and alternate furrow method of irrigation was used in Field 2. For wheat experiments, basin irrigation method of water application was compared with bed and furrow method. For dhanicha, basin irrigation was applied in both the fields. The results showed that about 36% water was saved by applying irrigation water in alternate furrows in each season without compromising the maize crop yield. The salt accumulation in root zone in alternate furrow field was less than that in regular furrow field. The salinity level near the surface increased substantially in both the fields. The water saving in wheat crop under bed and furrow was 9–12% in both seasons. The salinization process in both fields during wheat crop was almost same except redistribution of salts throughout the root zone in basin field of wheat. The salinity developed in root zone during two major growing seasons was leached in monsoon.     

Soil water distribution, uniformity and water-use efficiency under alternate furrow irrigation in arid areas

Soil water distribution, irrigation water advance and uniformity, yield production and water-use efficiency (WUE) were tested with a new irrigation method for irrigated maize in an arid area with seasonal rainfall of 77.5–88.0 mm for 2 years (1997 and 1998). Irrigation was applied through furrows in three ways: alternate furrow irrigation (AFI), fixed furrow irrigation (FFI) and conventional furrow irrigation (CFI). AFI means that one of the two neighboring furrows was alternately irrigated during consecutive watering. FFI means that irrigation was fixed to one of the two neighboring furrows. CFI was the conventional method where every furrow was irrigated during each watering. Each irrigation method was further divided into three treatments using different irrigation amounts: i.e. 45, 30, and 22.5 mm water for each watering. Results showed that the soil water contents in the two neighboring furrows of AFI remained different until the next irrigation with a higher water content in the previously irrigated furrow. Infiltration in CFI was deeper than that in AFI and FFI. The time of water advance did not differ between AFI, FFI and CFI at all distances monitored, and water advanced at a similar rate in all the treatments. The Christiansen uniformity coefficient of water content in the soil (CU_s) was used to evaluate the uniformity of irrigated water distribution and showed no decrease in AFI and FFI, although irrigation water use was smaller than in CFI. Root development was significantly enhanced by AFI treatment. Primary root numbers, total root dry weight and root density were all higher in AFI than in the FFI and CFI treatments. Less irrigation significantly reduced the total root dry weight and plant height in both the FFI and CFI treatments but this was less substantial with AFI treatments. The most surprising result was that AFI maintained high grain yield with up to a 50% reduction in irrigation amount, while the FFI and CFI treatments all showed a substantial decrease of yield with reduced irrigation. As a result, WUE for irrigated water was substantially increased. We conclude that AFI is an effective water-saving irrigation method in arid areas where maize production relies heavily on repeated irrigation. Received: 16 October 1999     

不同灌溉方法对盐渍土壤中水、盐、热分布的影响

通过温室盐渍土壤中的种植试验,对常规灌溉、固定灌溉、交替灌溉3种灌水方式下水分、盐分、温度的变化情况进行了研究。结果表明,交替灌溉水分利用效率优于常规灌溉和固定灌溉;相同时间内交替灌溉的干燥沟升温幅度大于湿润沟,随着土壤深度的增加温度呈逐渐减小的趋势;常规灌溉土壤返盐最多,固定灌溉返盐最少。土壤水溶性盐、Cl-、Na+在土壤表层积聚现象明显。     

不同灌水模式对土壤水分和硝态氮分布的影响

通过2年带防雨棚微区试验研究了传统灌水施肥与水肥异区交替灌水施肥对土壤中水分和硝态氮分布的影响。结果表明:土壤水分和硝态氮分布与灌水方式和灌水量有关。无论灌水量高低,第1次灌水后,水肥异区的施肥沟与灌水沟在0~60 cm土层土壤水分和硝态氮含量存在差异。第2次灌水后,施肥沟与灌水沟之间土壤水分含量的差异会随灌水量增加而缩小,而二沟之间0~60 cm土层中硝态氮含量的差异则随灌水量的增加而增加。同时,土壤中表层及亚表层硝态氮含量随灌水量的增加而增加。考虑到减少水分的深层渗漏和提高肥料的有效性,在交替灌水时必须控制灌水量,建议灌水量在450~600 m3/hm2为佳。     

Simulation of 1D surface and 2D subsurface water flow and nitrate transport in alternate and conventional furrow fertigation

Increasing water and fertilizer productivity stands as a relevant challenge for sustainable agriculture. Alternate furrow irrigation and surface fertigation have long been identified as water and fertilizer conserving techniques in agricultural lands. The objective of this study was to simulate water flow and fertilizer transport in the soil surface and in the soil profile for variable and fixed alternate furrow fertigation and for conventional furrow fertigation. An experimental data set was used to calibrate and validate two simulation models: a 1D surface fertigation model and the 2D subsurface water and solute transfer model HYDRUS-2D. Both models were combined to simulate the fertigation process in furrow irrigation. The surface fertigation model could successfully simulate runoff discharge and nitrate concentration for all irrigation treatments. Six soil hydraulic and solute transport parameters were inversely estimated using the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization technique. The outcome of this process calibrated HYDRUS-2D to the observed field data. HYDRUS-2D was run in validation mode, simulating water content and nitrate concentration in the soil profiles of the wet furrows, ridges and dry furrows at the upstream, middle and downstream parts of the experimental field. This model produced adequate agreement between measured and predicted soil water content and nitrate concentration. The combined model stands as a valuable tool to better design and manage fertigation in alternate and conventional furrow irrigation.     

Subsurface drip irrigation of onions: Effects of drip tape emitter spacing on yield and quality

Improved irrigation water use efficiency is an important component of sustainable agricultural production. Efficient water delivery systems such as subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) can contribute immensely towards improving crop water use efficiency and conserving water. However, critical management considerations such as choice of SDI tube, emitter spacing and installation depth are necessary to attain improved irrigation efficiencies and production benefits. In this study, we evaluated the effects of subsurface drip tape emitter spacing (15, 20 and 30 cm) on yield and quality of sweet onions grown at two locations in South Texas—Weslaco and Los Ebanos. Season-long cumulative crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was 513 mm in Weslaco and 407 mm at Los Ebanos. Total crop water input (rain + irrigation) at Weslaco was roughly equal to ETc (92% ETc) whereas at Los Ebanos, water inputs exceeded ETc by about 35%. Onion yields ranged from 58.5 to 70.3 t ha⁻¹ but were not affected by drip tube emitter spacing. Onion pungency (pyruvic acid development) and soluble solids concentration were also not significantly influenced by treatments. Crop water use efficiency was slightly higher at Weslaco (13.7 kg/m³) than at Los Ebanos (11.7 kg/m³) partly because of differences in total water inputs resulting from differences in irrigation management. The absence of any significant effects of drip tape emitter spacing on onion yield may be due to the fact that irrigation was managed to provide roughly similar irrigation amounts and optimum soil moisture conditions in all treatments.     

Management guidelines for efficient irrigation of vegetables using closed-end level furrows

Closed-end level furrows are commonly used to irrigate vegetables in the Lower Colorado River region (LCRR). The application efficiency of furrow irrigation in this area is often low. The objective of this study is to develop management tools and guidelines for the efficient irrigation of vegetables using closed-end level furrows. The study consisted of field experiment and modeling (model calibration, model verification, and the development of management tools by simulation). Field experiments were performed over a period of 27 months. Infiltration parameters were estimated for four soil textural groups (i.e., moderately coarse textured, medium textured, moderately fine textured, and fine textured soils) using a two-point method modified for closed-end level furrows. Model verification shows that the surface irrigation hydraulic model used in this study (SRFR) is capable of simulating the furrow irrigation process with acceptable levels of accuracy. Results of the study also indicate that adequate and efficient irrigations can be achieved using closed-end level furrows through the proper selection of unit inlet flow rate, Q_o, and cutoff time, t_co. However, given the soil and crop combinations in the LCRR, sometimes significant increases in irrigation efficiency, compared to present levels, can be attained only if furrow lengths are shorter than the typical size currently in use in the LCRR. Limitations of the proposed management tools and on-going research to address these limitations are briefly discussed.     

Interaction of water and nitrogen on maize grown for silage

Water scarcity and environmental pollution due to excessive nitrogen (N) applications are important environmental concerns. The Varamin region, which is located in the central part of Iran, is one of the locations where farmers apply 250-350 kg N ha⁻¹ for silage maize without any concerns with respect to the available water for irrigation. The objective of this study was to quantify the response of the silage maize (Zea mays L.) to variable irrigation and N fertilizer applications under arid and semi-arid conditions and to determine the optimum amount of N fertilizer as a function of irrigation. The maize Hybrid 704 single-cross was planted on 3 August 2003 and on 25 June 2004. The experimental treatments consisted of three N rates (0, 150, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) and four levels of irrigation, including two deficit irrigation levels 0.70 SWD (soil water depletion) and 0.85 SWD, a full-irrigation level (1.0 SWD) and an over-irrigation level (1.13 SWD). Twelve treatments were arranged in a strip-plot design in a randomized complete block with three replicates. Gravimetric soil samples were collected in 2003 and a neutron probe was used in 2004 to measure soil water content. Leaf area index, total aboveground biomass (TB), plant height, stem diameter, and leaf, stem, and ear dry weight were measured during the growing seasons and at final harvest. Total aboveground biomass was affected by irrigation (P < 0.0001) during both years and was also affected by N fertilizer in 2003 (P = 0.0001) and 2004 (P < 0.0001). However, there was no irrigation and N fertilizer interaction for both years (P > 0.5). Total aboveground biomass and biomass of the crop components increased as a function of the amount of water and N applied. For each of the irrigation levels, there was an associated optimum amount of N, which increased as the amount of irrigation water that was applied increased. Among the four irrigation levels that were studied, 0.85 SWD was the optimum level of irrigation for the conditions at the experimental site. The results also indicated that an increase in N applications is not a good strategy to compensate for a decrease of TB under drought stress conditions. We concluded that the effect of N fertilizer on TB depends on the availability of water in the soil, and that the amount of N fertilizer applied should be decreased under drought stress conditions. Further research will combine these results with a crop simulation model to help optimize nitrogen and water management for silage maize.     

Agronomic and economic response to furrow diking tillage in irrigated and non-irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

The Southeast U.S. receives an average of 1300 mm annual rainfall, however poor seasonal distribution of rainfall often limits production. Irrigation is used during the growing season to supplement rainfall to sustain profitable crop production. Increased water capture would improve water use efficiency and reduce irrigation requirements. Furrow diking has been proposed as a cost effective management practice that is designed to create a series of storage basins in the furrow between crop rows to catch and retain rainfall and irrigation water. Furrow diking has received much attention in arid and semi-arid regions with mixed results, yet has not been adapted for cotton production in the Southeast U.S. Our objectives were to evaluate the agronomic response and economic feasibility of producing cotton with and without furrow diking in conventional tillage over a range of irrigation rates including no irrigation. Studies were conducted at two research sites each year from 2005 to 2007. Irrigation scheduling was based on Irrigator Pro for Cotton software. The use of furrow diking in these studies periodically reduced water consumption and improved yield and net returns. In 2006 and 2007, when irrigation scheduling was based on soil water status, an average of 76 mm ha⁻¹ of irrigation water was saved by furrow diking, producing similar cotton yield and net returns. Furrow diking improved cotton yield an average of 171 kg ha⁻¹ and net return by $245 ha⁻¹ over multiple irrigation rates, in 1 of 3 years. We conclude that furrow diking has the capability to reduce irrigation requirements and the costs associated with irrigation when rainfall is periodic and drought is not severe.     

Effect of irrigation method and quantity on squash yield and quality

Squash yield and quality under furrow and trickle irrigation methods and their responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated in 2010 spring and fall growing seasons. A field experiment was conducted using squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) grown in northern Egypt at Shibin El Kom, Menofia. A randomized split-plot design was used with irrigation methods as main plots and different irrigation quantities randomly distributed within either furrow or trickle irrigation methods. Irrigation quantity was a fraction of crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) as: 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 ET_c. Each treatment was repeated three times, two of five rows from each replicate were left for squash seed production. In well-watered conditions (1.0 ET_c), seasonal water use by squash was 304 and 344 mm over 93 days in spring and 238 and 272 mm over 101 days in fall under trickle and furrow irrigation methods, respectively. Squash fruit yield and quality were significantly affected by season and both irrigation method and quantity. Fruit number and length were not affected by irrigation method and growing season, respectively. Interaction between season and irrigation quantity significantly affected leaf area index, total soluble solid (TSS), and fruit weight. Moreover, seed yield and quality were significantly affected by growing season and both irrigation method and quantity except harvest index, which was not affected by irrigation method. Significant differences for the interaction between season and irrigation method were only found for seed yield and 100 seeds weight. Except for harvest index, no significant difference was observed by interaction between season and irrigation quantity. Both fruit and seed yields were significantly affected in a linear relationship (r² ≥ 0.91) by either deficit or surplus irrigation quantities under both irrigation methods. Adequate irrigation quantity under trickle irrigation, relative to that of furrow, enhanced squash yield and improved its quality in both growing seasons. Fall growing season was not appropriate for seed production due to obtaining many of empty seeds caused by low weather variables at the end of the season. The results from small experiment were extrapolated to large field to find out optimal irrigation scheduling under non-uniform of irrigation application.     

不同沟灌方式对玉米光合速率和蒸腾速率的影响

交替隔沟灌溉和固定隔沟灌溉玉米的蒸腾速率较常规灌溉明显下降,光合速率有降低但降幅不大。交替隔沟灌溉玉米的叶片水分利用效率最高。随着土壤含水率的增大,不同处理玉米的光合速率和蒸腾速率都趋于增大。交替方式和固定方式玉米的光合速率增幅比常规灌溉大,叶片水分利用效率大于常规灌溉。     

隔沟交替灌溉研究进展

隔沟交替灌溉是以通过改善作物根信号功能、光合作用、蒸腾作用和气孔导度等生理特性,进而提高作物产量为目的的一项高效节水灌溉技术。介绍了隔沟交替灌溉技术发展概况,系统阐述隔沟交替灌溉的作用机理,主要包括根系系统的吸收补偿功能、农田土壤水分消耗和水分利用效率变化3个方面,明确了该技术在作物栽培中的应用效果与发展前景。隔沟交替灌溉可显著提高作物产量和水分利用效率,在优质高产节水型农业生产中具有重要意义。