The growth and nitrogen economy of rice under sprinkler and flood irrigation in South East Australia

Summary ¹⁵N balances were compared in rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Calrose) grown under continuous flood (CF) or sprinkler irrigation. Two sprinkler treatments with irrigation frequencies of once (S1W) and thrice (S3W) per week were studied. Five atom %¹⁵N-labelled urea (60 kg N ha^–1) was applied to microplots either 36 or 84 days after emergence (DAE). An equivalent amount of unlabelled urea was applied at the other application time, so that each microplot received a total of 120 kg N ha^–1 in an equal split. There was no significant effect of irrigation treatment on recovery of urea N by straw. Straw recovery from urea applied 36 DAE was almost half that from an application 84 DAE, and time of urea application produced a similar effect on recovery in grain. Grain recovery in S1W was less than half that in CF and S3W for both application times. Total plant recovery of urea N applied 36 DAE was similar for all irrigation treatments (average 29%), but for urea applied 84 DAE total plant recovery in CF (67%) was significantly higher than in S1W (49%). Total N uptake in the plant tops was considerably lower in both the sprinkler-irrigated treatments when compared with CF, and this was mostly due to reduced soil N uptake in S3W (one-half) and S1W (one-third). The proportion of N derived from fertilizer in the plant tops increased from 40% in CF to 60% in S1W. Immobilization of applied N in the soil of the sprinkler-irrigated treatments was greater than in CF by factors of 1.5 (S3W) and 2 (S1W). Immobilization of urea N applied 36 DAE was almost 50% greater than immobilization of urea N applied 84 DAE. There was a trend for lower losses of fertilizer N with sprinkler irrigation (mean loss 18% of the applied N) compared with CF (27%). Within all irrigation treatments, the loss from urea applied 36 DAE was more than double the loss from urea applied 84 DAE. An additional study in CF compared the ¹⁵N balance for split application versus a single dose applied 36 DAE (before permanent flood). Split application resulted in significantly increased plant recovery of applied ¹⁵N, and this was largely associated with increased recovery in the grain. Slightly more fertilizer N was immobilized in the soil with a single application. The effect of application method on N loss was not significant.     

Timing of limited irrigation and N-injection for grain sorghum

When subsurface irrigation sources are lacking in humid and subhumid regions, high yearly precipitation may allow for storage of surface water in farm ponds and lakes for irrigation. Irrigation at selected growth stages may avoid critical stress for crops with some drought tolerance, such as grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Because grain sorghum is responsive to N, injecting fertilizer N through the irrigation system also may improve production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of timing of limited-amount irrigation and N fertigation on grain sorghum yield; yield components; grain N content; and N uptake at the 9-leaf, boot, and soft dough stages. The experiment was conducted from 1984 to 1986 on a Parsons silt loam (fine, mixed, thermic, Mollic Albaqualf). The experiment was designed as a 6 × 2 factorial plus two reference treatments. Six timings for irrigation were targeted at the 9-leaf (9L), boot (B), soft dough (SD), 9L-B, 9L-SD, and B-SD growth stages. N application systems were either 112 kg N ha^–1 surface-banded preplant or 56 kg N ha^-1 preplant and 56 kg N ha^–1 injected through the irrigation at a rate of 28 kg N ha^–1 per 2.5 cm of irrigation. Two reference treatments included were one receiving N but no irrigation and one receiving neither N nor irrigation. In 1984, irrigation generally increased grain sorghum yield by nearly 1 Mg ha^–1. However, yield was not affected by selection of irrigation timing, N application method, or the interaction of the two factors. This was partly because early irrigations increased kernels/head, whereas later irrigations increased kernel weight. Above average rainfall during the growing season, especially just prior to the 9-leaf, boot, and soft dough growth stages, resulted in no irrigations in 1985. In 1986, yield was increased by early (9-leaf) irrigations as compared to soft dough irrigations. Early irrigations resulted in higher kernels/head; however, rainfall after the soft dough irrigation may have masked any treatment effect on kernel weight. As in 1984, N application method did not affect grain sorghum yields, even though yield was reduced to less than 3 Mg ha^–1 with no N nor irrigation. In both 1984 and 1986, N uptake at succeeding growth stages appeared to respond to irrigations made at previous growth stages. Injecting half of the fertilizer N through the irrigation system did not affect N uptake compared to applying all N preplant. The lack of response to fertigation may be related to the low leaching potential of the soil used in this study.Contribution No. 92-606-J, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station     

Soil matric potential-based irrigation scheduling to rice (Oryza sativa)

About half of the total fresh water used for irrigation in Asia is used for rice production. Decreasing water resources and increasing water costs necessitates increasing water use efficiency for rice. The most common method of irrigation in northwestern India is through alternate wetting and drying with a fixed irrigation interval, irrespective of soil type and climatic demand resulting in over-irrigation or under-irrigation under different soil and weather situations. Soil matric potential may be an ideal criterion for irrigation, since variable atmospheric evaporativity, soil texture, cultural practices and water management affect rice irrigation water requirements. A 4-year field study was conducted to assess the feasibility of rice irrigation scheduling on the basis of soil matric potential and to determine the optimum matric potential so as to optimize irrigation water without any adverse effect on the yield. The treatments included scheduling irrigation to rice with tensiometers installed at 15–20 cm soil depth at five levels of soil matric suction viz. 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240±20 cm, in addition to the recommended practice of alternate wetting and drying with an interval of 2 days after complete infiltration of ponded water. The grain yield of rice remained unaffected up to soil moisture suction of 160±20 cm each year. Increasing soil matric suction to 200 and 240±20 cm decreased rice grain yield non-significantly by 0–7% and 2–15%, respectively, over different years compared to the recommended practice of the 2-day interval for scheduling irrigation. Irrigation at 160±20 cm soil matric suction helped save 30–35% irrigation water compared to that used with the 2-day interval irrigation. With a soil matric potential irrigation criterion the total amount of irrigation water used was a function of the number of rainy days and evaporation during the rice season.     

The effect of partial wetting of the root zone on yield and water use efficiency in a drip-and sprinkler-irrigated mature grapefruit grove

Summary The effect of partial wetting of the root zone on yield and water use efficiency in a drip- and sprinkler-irrigated mature grapefruit grove was tested in a long-term experiment from 1976 to 1979. Three different percentages of the surface soil areas ( 30%, 40% and 70%) were wetted by the use of single and double drip laterals and sprinklers, respectively. Irrigation frequencies were 3 and 7 days for the drip treatments and 14 and 21 days for the sprinkler-irrigated plots.Two amounts of water, 80% and 100% of the total seasonal water application as previously determined from the soil moisture depletion data (ca. 630 and 800 mm), were applied at the different irrigation intervals for the drip- and sprinkler-irrigated treatments during the irrigation season (April–November). Soil moisture and salinity patterns were determined by the neutron scattering method and by gravimetric sampling. The partition of water extraction from the wet and dry zones in the drip-irrigated treatments was determined. About 86% of the total amount of water depletion was from the wet zone and 14% from the dry zone. Percolation losses in the irrigated treatments receiving 80% of the total seasonal water application decreased as compared with the 100% irrigated plots. Salts accumulated during the irrigation season were leached out by the winter rainfall.The effect of the reduction of irrigation application amount, first introduced in 1976, on the grapefruit yield was cumulative. The average yield (for the three years 1977, 1978, 1979) in the 80%, drip-irrigated plots at 3-day intervals, was 89 t/ha, compared with 98 t/ha in the 100% irrigated plots. The average yields obtained in the sprinkler and trickle irrigation treatments receiving 100% of the water application was 84 t/ha and 100 t/ha, respectively. Yield reductions in the plots receiving reduced water application of 80% were 11% for the drip treatments and 13% for the sprinkler treatment; the extent of the yield reduction varied according to the time interval between irrigations. The fruit quality was up to the required standards in all treatments. Water use efficiency was greater in the drip-irrigated plots than in the sprinkled ones, and also greater in the plots given the reduced water applications (80% of the maximum seasonal amount of the irrigation water applied), as compared with plots receiving the full amount of irrigation.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Bet Dagan 50–250, Israel. No. 175-E, 1981 series     

The influence of soil water potential on the flowering pattern,pod set and yield of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The effect of the soil water potential on pod yield of snap beans grown with a series of irrigation frequencies was studied over two seasons. The treatments were to furrow-irrigate either weekly or fortnightly during the preflowering period, and each treatment then received weekly or fortnightly irrigations to harvest. These treatments were compared with trickle irrigation applied daily in the first season and every second day in the second season. The irrigation frequencies during the pre-flowering period did not influence the pod yield. However, in the second season plants given the trickle irrigation treatment produced more early flowers and set pods earlier than those in the other treatments. Consequently the pods were harvested three days earlier from plants on this treatment.Pod yield was determined by the irrigation treatments applied after flowering. The highest yield was similar in each season (16.7 t ha^–1) and was produced under trickle irrigation. Fortnightly irrigations during the pod-fill phase reduced yield by 56% in the first season and 41% in the second season when compared with trickle irrigation. The pod yield was reduced by 0.5 t ha^–1 each day the soil water potential at 30 cm depth was less than –50 kPa. This relationship accounted for about 77% of the variation in pod yield.     

The influence of method and frequency of irrigation on soil aeration and some biochemical responses of apple trees

Summary The effect of various irrigation regimes on soil aeration was tested in a two-year experiment with 15 year-old apple trees growing in soil containing 67% clay. Irrigation was applied by sprinklers at four intervals ranging from 3 to 18 days and by trickle irrigation every 7 days. Each treatment received a total of 800–850 mm water from May until September. Irrigation by sprinkling at 7 day intervals appeared to be optimal for fruit growth. Less frequent irrigations resulted in smaller fruits; sprinkling at 3–4 day intervals, as well as trickle irrigation reduced the fruit growth rate in July. Leaves from plots irrigated once every 3–4 days had a low chlorophyll content and accumulated relatively large amounts of ethanol, particularly when grafted on the Khashabi rootstock, which is highly susceptible to damage caused by inadequate soil aeration. With increasing intervals between irrigations, the resistance of the leaf surface to the diffusion of water vapour measured prior to irrigation increased, and water loss relative to that from an evaporation pan decreased. Sprinkling at intervals of 14 days resulted in maximal, and at 3–4 days in minimal, air contents of the soil when calculated as averages for the total period of irrigation. The decrease in soil air content with very frequent irrigations was particularly marked in the upper soil layer; this same layer also had a relatively low air content near the emitters in trickle irrigation. After each irrigation, relatively large amounts of ethylene accumulated in the soil atmosphere, indicating inadequate soil aeration, particularly with sprinkling intervals of 3–4 days and at a depth of 30 cm. However, the influence of the irrigation treatments on the oxygen and carbon dioxide contents of the soil atmosphere was small and not consistent.     

Plant water relations and nutrient uptake in French bean

Summary Field investigations carried out at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, during 1985–1986 and 1986–1987 with French bean crops indicated that irrigation when soil matric potential at 0.15 m depth reached — 45 kPa resulted in highest dry matter production, green pod yield, nutrient uptake and water use efficiency (WUE) as compared to irrigations scheduled at -65 or -85 kPa. The difference in pod yield between irrigations scheduled at -25 and -45 kPa was not significant. Increasing soil moisture stress increased the canopy temperature and adversely affected plant water relations. There was a quadratric relationship between green pod yield and evapotranspiration (ET) with the yield-maximising ET ranging between 268 and 299 mm. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased green pod yield, nutrient uptake and WUE but had no marked effect on water relations and canopy temperature.Contribution No. 234/88 of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India     

A comparison of drip and furrow irrigated cotton on a cracking clay soil

Summary To determine if drip irrigation increases fertilizer requirements and/or the efficiency of utilization compared to furrow irrigation, growth and nitrogen uptake were measured in a four-year experiment comparing surface (SD) and buried (BD) methods of drip irrigation with furrow irrigation (F) of cotton. The soil was a slowly-permeable cracking grey clay (vertisol) at Narrabri, N.S.W Drip-irrigated treatments were maintained at a deficit of 45 mm below the fully-irrigated soil water content, while F was irrigated when the deficit reached about 90 mm. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer was applied weekly with drip irrigation to BD and SD over the first half of the season, and as a conventional single application to F before sowing. Leaf area index (LAI), dry matter and N uptake were influenced more by season than by method of irrigation. LAI during boll filling averaged 2.4 and was 10% greater in BD than in SD and F. Final dry matter averaged 988 g m^–2 and was 10% greater in BD and SD than in F. The efficiency of conversion of solar radiation into dry matter averaged 0.55 g MJ^–1; lint yield as a fraction of dry matter averaged 0.18; neither parameter was consistently influenced by the method of irrigation. Total N uptake ranged from 97 to 170 kg ha^–1 and was influenced by irrigation method in one season only, when it was less in F than in SD and BD. N was often taken up later under drip irrigation than under F: there was up to 40% less N taken up by SD than F in the early flowering stage. The delay was associated with later application of N to BD and SD compared with F, and the application of N to the surface of alternate furrows of SD. Plant factors such as root ageing and competition between roots and bolls, were also implicated. We conclude that all of the N should be applied to drip-irrigated cotton on these soils by mid flowering, and that some of the N should be applied in the soil before sowing.     

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     

Evaluation on the irrigation and fertilization management practices under the application of treated sewage water in Beijing, China

Irrigation and fertilization management practices play important roles in crop production. In this paper, the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) was used to evaluate the irrigation and fertilization management practices for a winter wheat–summer corn double cropping system in Beijing, China under the irrigation with treated sewage water (TSW). A carefully designed experiment was carried out at an experimental station in Beijing area from 2001 to 2003 with four irrigation treatments. The hydrologic, nitrogen and crop growth components of RZWQM were calibrated by using the dataset of one treatment. The datasets of other three treatments were used to validate the model performance. Most predicted soil water contents were within ±1 standard deviation (S.D.) of the measured data. The relative errors (RE) of grain yield predictions were within the range of −26.8% to 18.5%, whereas the REs of biomass predictions were between −38% and 14%. The grain nitrogen (N) uptake and biomass N uptake were predicted with the RE values ranging from −13.9% to 14.7%, and from −11.1% to 29.8%, respectively. These results showed that the model was able to simulate the double cropping system variables under different irrigation and fertilization conditions with reasonable accuracy. Application of RZWQM in the growing season of 2001–2002 indicated that the best irrigation management practice was no irrigation for summer corn, three 83 mm irrigations each for pre-sowing, jointing and heading stages of winter wheat, respectively. And the best nitrogen application management practice was 120 kg N ha⁻¹ for summer corn and 110 kg N ha⁻¹ for winter wheat, respectively, under the irrigation with TSW. We also obtained the alternative irrigation management practices for the hydrologic years of 75%, 50% and 25%, respectively, in Beijing area under the conditions of irrigation with TSW and the optimal nitrogen application.     

Response of cotton to different soil water deficits on clay soils

Summary Cotton was grown under sprinkler irrigation on a silty clay soil at Keiser, Arkansas, for the 1987, 1988 and 1989 growing seasons. Irrigation treatments consisted of maximum soil water deficits (SWD) of 25, 50 and 75 mm and a nonirrigated control. While the irrigated treatments were significantly different from the control for plant height and total seedcotton yield, significant differences among the three irrigated treatments were only observed for plant height. Yields were significantly lower in 1989 than in the other two years of the study, due in part to later planting. The 3-year averages for total seedcotton yield were 3280 and 2870 kg ha^–1 for irrigated and nonirrigated, respectively, for an average increase corresponding to irrigation of 416 kg ha^–1 or 14.5% of the nonirrigated yield. The maximum increase was observed in 1988 as 602 kg ha^–1 or 20.6% of the nonirrigated yield for that year. The 75 mm allowable SWD was the most efficient treatment and resulted in a 3-year average of 3.85 kg ha^–1 additional seedcotton (above the nonirrigated) harvested for each 1 mm of irrigation applied. Maintaining the SWD below a 75 mm maximum required an average of four irrigations and 110 mm of irrigation water per year.     

水肥耦合对温室番茄产量、水分利用效率和品质的影响

为指导日光温室番茄高产节水优质的灌溉施肥,以番茄为研究对象,设置3种施肥方式(总施肥量相同,施肥时间不同,其中F₁:不施底肥,番茄移栽后随水追施总肥量的30%,剩余70%平分6次追肥,F₂:底肥施1/2,剩余平分6次追肥,F₃:全施底肥不追肥)和3种土壤水势的灌水下限(W₁:-30 kPa,W₂:-50 kPa,W₃:-70 kPa),研究滴灌条件下水肥耦合对番茄耗水量、产量、水分利用效率和品质的影响.结果表明:施肥方式对番茄的耗水量差异不具有统计学意义,而灌水下限对耗水量有极显著性影响,且耗水量与灌水量呈极显著的正相关关系(P<0.01);与产量最大处理F₂W₁相比,F₂W₂处理产量降低6.91%,但节水14.83%,水分利用效率提高8.51%;TTS质量分数与平均单果重呈极显著负相关,而与除糖酸比外其他影响品质指标呈显著性正相关关系;综合考虑产量、WUE及TTS质量分数,利用TOPSIS综合评价方法,确定了温室滴灌条件下番茄节水调质的最优灌溉施肥模式为:移栽前施入底肥为总肥量的50%,移栽后灌水20 mm,进入开花坐果期以后,20 cm土层的土壤水势控制在-50 kPa以上,每次灌水定额为10 mm,剩余肥料每隔1次灌水追肥1次,将剩余50%的肥料分6次追肥.研究成果为制定日光温室番茄节水高产优质的灌溉模式提供了理论依据.     

Evaluation of the RZWQM for the Simulation of Water and Nitrate Movement in Level-Basin,Fertigated Maize

This study concerns the evaluation of the root zone water quality model (RZWQM) to simulate the seasonal water and nitrate movement in a level basin irrigated corn field under three different nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments. The three N treatments, superimposed over a split basal dose applied before and at planting, were: a single broadcast application of 150 kg N/ha as urea (100% amidic form), a single fertigation application of the same N as UAN (50% amidic, 25% ammonium and 25% nitrate) with the first irrigation, and multiple UAN fertigations with three irrigations. Certain variety-specific maize crop parameters in the model were obtained by fitting these parameters to field data from the single fertigation treatment. The model was then evaluated on water and N results for the treatments. The model adequately simulated the water and nitrate transport for the season, with the seasonal averages of measured and predicted values differing by less than 5%. The most significant differences between measured and simulated water and nitrate occurred near the soil surface (15 cm depth), mostly during the days when the soil was extremely wet following irrigations. With the soil hydraulic properties estimated by simple means, the model tends to overestimate downward water fluxes and related nitrate transport through a compacted layer; however, it is found to be a useful tool to study the relative impacts of alter- nate nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation practices on root zone water quality.     

间歇灌溉缓释肥施肥水平对水稻生长特性及产量的影响

水稻水肥调控是水稻获得高产的重要原因。为揭示间歇灌溉模式下不同缓释肥施肥水平对水稻生产影响,选取湖北省漳河灌区为研究区域,以水稻品种荃早优丝苗为试验材料,于2019年6-9月开展了淹水灌溉W1和间歇灌溉W2两种灌溉模式以及传统肥N1和缓释肥N2不同施肥水平[F(0.5)、F(0.75)、F(1)、F(1.25)、F(1.5)]互作条件下的水稻种植桶栽试验研究。结果表明,不同水肥处理对水稻株高、叶绿素SPAD终值的影响不显著,但在缓释肥条件下,植株株高、叶绿素SPAD值整体上在一定范围与施肥水平呈正相关,间歇灌溉模式下,N2F(1.5)处理与N2F(1)、N2F(0.75)处理差异显著,N2F(1.5)水平比N2F(1)、N2F(0.75)分别显著高出71%、91%。不同水肥处理对产量的影响显著,淹灌缓释肥W1N2F(1)处理产量最高可达18 170.29 kg/hm²,间歇灌溉传统肥W2N1F(1)处理次之,为17 826.86 kg/hm²。不同缓释肥施肥水平下淹灌模式产量比间歇灌溉平均高6.43%。传统肥条件下,间歇灌溉比淹灌产量高3.7%,缓释肥施肥水平对产量的影响最为显著。水稻种植施用缓释肥时,淹水灌溉模式更为适宜。     

Integrated management of irrigation water and fertilizers for wheat crop using field experiments and simulation modeling

The reported study aimed at developing an integrated management strategy for irrigation water and fertilizers in case of wheat crop in a sub-tropical sub-humid region. Field experiments were conducted on wheat crop (cultivar Sonalika) during the years 2002–2003, 2003–2004 and 2004–2005. Each experiment included four fertilizer treatments and three irrigation treatments during the wheat growth period. During the experiment, the irrigation treatments considered were I₁ = 10% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) of available soil water (ASW); I₂ = 40% MAD of ASW; I₃ = 60% MAD of ASW. The fertilizer treatments considered in the experiments were F₁ = control treatment with N:P₂O₅:K₂O as 0:0:0 kg ha⁻¹, F₂ = fertilizer application of N:P₂O₅:K₂O as 80:40:40 kg ha⁻¹; F₃ = fertilizer application of N:P₂O₅:K₂O as 120:60:60 kg ha⁻¹ and F₄ = fertilizer application of N:P₂O₅:K₂O as 160:80:80 kg ha⁻¹. In this study CERES-wheat crop growth model of the DSSAT v4.0 was used to simulate the growth, development and yield of wheat crop using soil, daily weather and management inputs, to aid farmers and decision makers in developing strategies for effective management of inputs. The results of the investigation revealed that magnitudes of grain yield, straw yield and maximum LAI of wheat crop were higher in low volume high frequency irrigation (I₁) than the high volume low frequency irrigation (I₃). The grain yield, straw yield and maximum LAI increased with increase in fertilization rate for the wheat crop. The results also revealed that increase in level of fertilization increased water use efficiency (WUE) considerably. However, WUE of the I₂ irrigation schedule was comparatively higher than the I₁ and I₃ irrigation schedules due to higher grain yield per unit use of water. Therefore, irrigation schedule with 40% maximum allowable depletion of available soil water (I₂) could safely be maintained during the non-critical stages to save water without sacrificing the crop yield. Increase in level of fertilization increases the WUE but it will cause environmental problem beyond certain limit. The calibrated CERES-wheat model could predict the grain yield, straw yield and maximum LAI of wheat crop with considerable accuracy and therefore can be recommended for decision-making in similar regions.     

Evaluation of CERES-Wheat and CropSyst models for water–nitrogen interactions in wheat crop

Crop simulation models can provide an alternative, less time-consuming and inexpensive means of determining the optimum crop N and irrigation requirements under varied soil and climatic conditions. In this context, two dynamic mechanistic models (CERES (Crop Environment REsource Synthesis)-Wheat and CropSyst (Cropping Systems Simulation Model)) were validated for predicting growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L) under different nitrogen and water management conditions. Their potential as N and water management tool was evaluated for New Delhi representing semi-arid irrigated ecosystems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The field experiment was carried out on a silty clay loam soil at the Research Farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during 2000–2001 to collect the input data for the calibration and validation of both the models on wheat crop (variety HD 2687). The models were evaluated for three water regimes [I4 (4 irrigations within the growing season), I3 (3 irrigations within the growing season) and I2 (2 irrigations within the growing season)] and five N treatments (N₀, N₆₀, N₉₀, N₁₂₀ and N₁₅₀). Both the models were calibrated using data obtained from the treatments receiving maximum nitrogen and irrigations, i.e., N₁₅₀ and I4 treatments. The models were then validated against other water and nitrogen treatments. For performance evaluation, in addition to coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Wilmot's index of agreement (IoA) were estimated. Both CERES-Wheat and CropSyst provided very satisfactory estimates for the emergence, flowering and physiological maturity dates. For CERES-Wheat overall prediction (pooled result of the three water regimes) of grain yield was satisfactory with significant R² values (0.88). The model, however, under estimated the biomass under all water regimes and N levels except for N₀ level, under which biomass was overpredicted. CropSyst predicted yield and biomass of wheat more closely than CERES-Wheat. The combined RMSE for the three water regimes between predicted and observed grain yield was 0.36 Mg ha⁻¹ for CropSyst as compared to 0.63 Mg ha⁻¹ for CERES-Wheat. Similarly, RMSE between observed and predicted biomass by CropSyst was 1.27 Mg ha⁻¹ as compared to 1.94 Mg ha⁻¹ between observed and predicted biomass by CERES-Wheat. Wilmot's index of agreement (IoA) also indicated that CropSyst model is more appropriate than CERES-Wheat in predicting growth and yield of wheat under different N and irrigation application situations in this study.     

土壤基质势调控对温室滴灌番茄土壤水分分布和产量的影响

【目的】指导设施蔬菜生产中科学合理地利用滴灌技术进行灌溉。【方法】采用小区试验的方法,以冬春茬番茄为研究对象,布置了7个不同土壤基质势阈值的试验,在番茄开花坐果期和结果期分别控制滴头正下方20 cm深度土壤基质势在-15和-15 kPa(S1)、-15和-30 kPa(S2)、-15和-45 kPa(S3)、-25和-25 kPa(S4)、-30和-15 kPa(S5)、-30和-30 kPa(S6)以及-30和-45 kPa(S7),研究了日光温室滴灌土壤基质势调控下土壤水分随时间变化及空间分布的规律,以及番茄产量、畸形果率和灌溉水利用效率等。【结果】①控制滴头正下方20 cm深度土壤基质势可以明显影响0～100 cm深度土壤水分状况。②在番茄开花坐果期,当土壤基质势阈值控制在-30 kPa或更高时,番茄根系主要吸收利用0～60 cm深度以上范围的土壤水分,70 cm深度以下土壤水分基本不变,0～60 cm深度土壤体积含水率平均为28.6%,为田间持水率的84%,60～100 cm土壤体积含水率平均为36.2%,为田间持水率的90%。③番茄进入结果期后,当土壤基质势阈值控制在-25～-15 kPa时,整个土体土壤含水率基本保持在田间持水率的77%～91%,根系主要吸收利用0～60 cm深度以上范围的土壤水分,70 cm深度以下土壤水分消耗缓慢;当土壤基质势阈值降低到-45～-30 kPa时,根系吸收利用到80～100 cm深度的土壤水分,整个土体土壤含水率不断降低,降低到田间持水率的60%～66%。④不同处理番茄产量、畸形果率和灌溉水利用效率有明显差异,其中S3和S7处理番茄产量高,S5处理产量低;S1、S3和S4处理的畸形果率大,S6和S7处理的畸形果率低;S1处理的灌溉水利用效率最低,S7处理的灌溉水利用效率最高。【结论】日光温室少量高频滴灌条件下,当滴头正下方20 cm深度土壤基质势阈值开花坐果期控制在-30 kPa、结果期控制在-45 kPa时,整个土体土壤水分状况基本良好,番茄的产量高,畸形果率低,灌溉水利用效率高。     

Yield and water relations of wheat as influenced by irrigation and depth of tillage

Summary Development of a ploughpan has been reported in Bangladesh for almost all ploughed soils which are puddled for transplanted rice cultivation. Field information on the water requirement of dryland crops such as wheat and the effects of loosening the dense layer on crop yield and water use efficiency are very limited. Field experiments were, therefore, conducted in the grey floodplain soil of Sonatala series (Aeric Haplaquept) to study the irrigation and tillage effects on the yield and water relations of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Sonalika). The split plot design experiment comprised four irrigation treatments in the mainplots viz. W₀ = no irrigation, W₁ = irrigation of 5 cm at 4 weeks after planting, W₂-W₁ + irrigation(s) of 5 cm each at irrigation water to cummulative pan evaporation (IW/CPE) ratio of 0.75 and W₃- W₁ + irrigation(s) of 5 cm eacht at IW/CPE ratio of 0.50. The sub-plot tillage depth treatments were: A-7.5 cm (traditional), B-15 cm, C-22.5 cm, D-22.5 cm practised in alternate wheat seasons. Measurements were made of grain and straw yield, soil water depletion and water expense efficiency.Irrigation had no effect on grain or straw yield. Tillage to 15 cm increased wheat yield by about 15% over traditional depth to ploughing. In general, deep tillage coupled with one irrigation at four weeks after planting produced the largest wheat yield.Soil water depletion (SWD) in the 0–90 cm profile was greatest in the treatment receiving two irrigations, one at 4 weeks and again at IW/CPE ratio of 0.50. The average SWD in this treatment was 113 in 1982–83 and 82 mm in 1983–84. Plots receiving traditional tillage (7.5 cm) had the greatest SWD. Total water expense were the greatest in treatments receiving three irrigations. The maximum water expense efficiency (WEE) of wheat was observed in the non-irrigated plots in 1982–83 and 1983–84, respectively. Deep tillage treatments, in general, had significantly greater WEE than those under traditional ploughing. Intensive irrigation and efficient soil and water management are important factors in enhancing crop productivity. The former not only permits judicious water use but also better utilization of other production factors thereby leading to increased crop yield which, in turn, helps stabilize the farming economy. The best way to meet increasing demand for water is to adopt efficient water management practices to increase water use efficiency.Irrigation should aim at restoring the soil water in the root zone to a level at which the crop can fully meet its evapo-transpiration (ET) requirement. The amount of water to be applied at each irrigation and how often a soil should be irrigated depend, however, on several factors such as the degree of soil water deficit before irrigation, soil types, crops, and climatic conditions (Chaudhury and Gupta 1980).Knowledge of movement of water through the soil is imperative to efficient water management and utilization. The presence of a dense pan impedes water movement into the sub-soil. As a result, the top soil becomes saturated by irrigation and sensitive dryland crops can fail as this plough layer impedes the penetration of roots into deeper soil layers and decreases water extraction. Crops growing in these soils often undergo severe water stress within 5–8 days after rainfall or irrigation (Lowry et al. 1970). Due to decrease rates of water flow, the lower soil layer may remain unsaturated and as a result, the recharge and soil water storage in the profile are considerably decreased (Sur et al. 1981).In Bangladesh, ploughpans develop to varying degree in almost all ploughed soils (Brammer 1980). They are particularly marked in soils which are puddled for transplanted rice cultivation where the pan is usually only 8–10 cm below the soil surface and 3–5 cm thick. Its presence is generally regarded as advantageous for cultivation of transplanted rice in that it prevents excessive deep percolation losses of water. But in the same soil this cultivation for a subsequent dryland crop would adversely affect yield. A slight modification of the plough layer could enable good yields of both rice and a dryland crop to be obtained in the same soil in different seasons (Brammer 1980). The sub soils have a good bearing capacity, both when wet and dry and the pan can easily be reformed, if desired, for cultivating transplanted rice after a dryland crop like wheat.Professor of Soil Science, Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh     

The Effect of supplemental irrigation and nitrogen fertilisation on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Summary Four irrigation treatments: no irrigation; early irrigation (150 mm); late irrigation (150 mm); and early+late irrigation (275 mm), with 363 mm of rain; and four basic applications of nitrogen (0, 60, 120, 180 kg ha^–1), with and without an additional nitrogen top dressing of 60 kg ha^–1, were applied to autumn-sown wheat.For any given total nitrogen rate, there was no difference between the single and the split application.Grain yields ranged from 3040 kg ha^–1 for the unirrigated, zero-nitrogen treatment to 6340 kg ha^–1 for the two irrigations, 180 kg ha ^–1 N treatment. There was a strong interaction of irrigation and nitrogen on grain yields which was due mainly to the late irrigation: in the absence of the late irrigation the optimal nitrogen rate was 120 kg hat, followed by a marked decline in yield with additional nitrogen, whereas the application of the late irrigation shifted the optimum nitrogen rate to 180 kg ha^–1. In the absence of the late irrigation, increasing the nitrogen rate from 0 to 240 kg ha ^–1 reduced kernel weight from 42 to 32 mg, whereas late irrigation largely prevented this decrease (42 to 39 mg). The reduction in kernel weight was evident even at the first nitrogen increments, in the range where grain yield was still increasing. Lack of nitrogen reduced soil moisture extraction during the grain filling stage, particularly from soil layers deeper than 60 cm.Stomatal aperture in the irrigated treatments was markedly larger in nitrogen-supplied than in nitrogen-deficient wheat, although the leaf hydration was similar; in the unirrigated treatment, the nitrogen-supplied plants had a lower hydration and smaller stomatal aperture than nitrogen-deficient plants.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel, No: 282-E, 1977 series     

Water use and yield of winter wheat in Northern India as affected by timing of last irrigation

Summary Standard local practice in Northern India is to continue irrigation of winter wheat crop almost up to harvest, based on the farmer's belief that this treatment increases grain weight and yield. The effect of an early cut-off of irrigation on the water use was studied in a three-year experiment on a deep, sandy-loam soil.Wheat, sown during the second or third week of November, received its first irrigation four weeks later. Subsequently treatments included irrigations of 7.5 cm water depth applied after 10 cm of cumulative pan evaporation minus rainfall had elapsed since the previous irrigation up till mid-April; irrigations of 7.5 cm up till mid-February and thereafter irrigation equal to 75 and 100% soil-water deficit in the 0–180 cm profile around March 10 with no later irrigation; and a similar treatment with one additional irrigation after making up the water deficit.Least irrigation water was used from the treatment in which 75% water deficit was restored around March 10 and no further irrigation was applied. This treatment increased the average extraction of profile water by 4 cm compared to treatments in which irrigation was continued until mid-April. Profile water depletion was inversely related to the amount of irrigation. Grain weight and yields from the various treatments harvested in the last week of April were unaffected by the treatments.The authors are grateful to the ICAR for financing this research