Irrigation and tillage effects on root development,water use and yield of wheat on coarse textured soils

Summary Rapid drying of surface layers of coarse-textured soils early in the growth season increases soil strength and restricts root growth. This constraint on root growth may be countered by deep tillage and/or early irrigation. We investigated tillage and irrigation effects on root growth, water use, dry matter and grain yield of wheat on loamy sand and sandy loam soils for three years. Treatments included all combinations of two tillage systems i) conventional tillage (CT) — stirring the soil to 10 cm depth, ii) deep tillage (DT) — subsoiling with a single-tine chisel down to 35–40 cm, 40 cm apart followed by CT; and four irrigation regimes, i) I₀ — no post-seeding irrigation, ii) I₁ — 50 mm irrigation 30 days after seeding (DAS), iii) I₂ — 50 mm irrigation 30 DAS and subsequent irrigations of 75 mm each when net evaporation from USWB class A open pan (PAN-E) since previous irrigation accumulated to 82 mm, and iv) I₃ — same as in I² but irrigation applied when PAN-E accumulated to 62 mm. The crop of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. HD 2329) was fertilized with 20kg P, 10kg K and 5kg Zn ha^–1 at seeding. The rate of nitrogen fertilization was 60 kg ha^–1 in the unirrigated and 120 kg ha^–1 in the irrigated treatments. Tillage decreased soil strength and so did the early post-seeding irrigation. Both deep tillage and early irrigation shortened the time needed for the root system to reach a specified depth. Subsequent wetting through rain/irrigation reduced the rate of root penetration down the profile and also negated deep tillage effects on rooting depth. However, tillage/irrigation increased root length density in the rooted profile even in a wet year. Better rooting resulted in greater profile water depletion, more favourable plant water status and higher dry matter and grain yields. In a dry year, the wheat in the DT plots used 46 mm more water, remained 3.3 °C cooler at grain-fill and yielded 68% more grain than in CT when unirrigated and grown in the loamy sand. Early irrigation also increased profile water depletion, more so in CT than DT. Averaged over three years, grain yield in DT was 12 and 9% higher than in CT on loamy sand and sandy loam, respectively. Benefits of DT decreased with increase in rainfall and irrigation. Irrigation significantly increased grain yield on both soils, but the response was greatly influenced by soil type, tillage system and year. The study shows that soil related constraints on root growth may be alleviated through deep tillage and/or early irrigation.     

Effects of irrigation strategies and soils on field grown potatoes: Yield and water productivity

Yield and water productivity of potatoes grown in 4.32 m² lysimeters were measured in coarse sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam and imposed to full (FI), deficit (DI), and partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation strategies. PRD and DI as water-saving irrigation treatments received 65% of FI after tuber bulking and lasted for 6 weeks until final harvest. Analysis across the soil textures showed that fresh yields were not significant between the irrigation treatments. However, the same analysis across the irrigation treatments revealed that the effect of soil texture was significant on the fresh yield and loamy sand produced significantly higher fresh yield than the other two soils, probably because of higher leaf area index, higher photosynthesis rates, and “stay-green” effect late in the growing season. More analysis showed that there was a significant interaction between the irrigation treatments and soil textures that the highest fresh yield was obtained under FI in loamy sand. Furthermore, analysis across the soil textures showed that water productivities, WP (kg ha⁻¹ fresh tuber yield mm⁻¹ ET) were not significantly different between the irrigation treatments. However, across the irrigation treatments, the soil textures were significantly different. This showed that the interaction between irrigation treatments and soil textures was significant that the highest significant WP was obtained under DI in sandy loam. While PRD and DI treatments increased WP by, respectively, 11 and 5% in coarse sand and 28 and 36% in sandy loam relative to FI, they decreased WP in loamy sand by 15 and 13%. The reduced WP in loamy sand was due to nearly 28% fresh tuber yield loss in PRD and DI relative to FI even though ET was reduced by 9 and 11% in these irrigation treatments. This study showed that different soils will affect water-saving irrigation strategies that are worth knowing for suitable agricultural water management. So, under non-limited water resources conditions, loamy sand produces the highest yield under full irrigation but water-saving irrigations (PRD and DI) are not recommended due to considerable loss (28%) in yield. However, under restricted water resources, it is recommended to apply water-saving irrigations in sandy loam and coarse sand to achieve the highest water productivity.     

Irrigation, tillage and mulching effects on soybean yield and water productivity in relation to soil texture

Depleting groundwater resources in Indian Punjab call for diversifying from rice to crops with low evapo-transpiration needs and adopting water-saving technologies. Soybean offers a diversification option in coarse- to medium-textured soils. However, its productivity in these soils is constrained by high soil mechanical resistance and high soil temperature during early part of the growing season. These constraints can be alleviated through irrigation, deep tillage and straw mulching. This 3-years field study examines the individual and combined effects of irrigation, deep tillage, and straw mulching regimes on soybean yield and water productivity (WP) in relation to soil texture. Combinations of two irrigation regimes viz., full irrigation (I_f), and partial irrigation (I_p) in the main plot; two tillage regimes viz., conventional-till (CT)-soil stirring to 0.10 m depth, and deep tillage (DT)-chiseling down to 0.35 m depth followed by CT in the subplot; and two mulch rates viz., 0 (M₀) and 6 t ha⁻¹ (M) in the sub-subplot on two soils differing in available water capacity were evaluated.Seed yield was greater in the sandy loam than in the loamy sand reflecting the effects of available water capacity. Irrigation effects were greater on loamy sand (40%) than on sandy loam (5%) soil. Deep tillage benefits were also more on loamy sand (14%) compared to sandy loam (5%) soil. Yield gains with mulching were comparable on the two soils (19%). An evaluation of interaction effects showed that mulching response was slightly more in I_p (20%) than in I_f regimes (17%) in the sandy loam; while in the loamy sand, mulching gains were comparable (18-19%) in both irrigation regimes. Benefits of deep tillage in the loamy sand soil were more in I_p (20%) than in I_f regimes (17%). Deep tillage and straw mulching enhanced WP (ratio of seed yield/water use) from 1.39 to 1.97 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ in I_p regime, and from 1.87 to 2.33 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ in I_f regime in the loamy sand soil. These effects on WP were less in the sandy loam soil with greater available water capacity. Yield and WP gains are ascribed to deeper and denser rooting due to moderation of soil temperature and water conservation with straw mulching and tillage-induced reduction in soil mechanical resistance. Root mass in CTM₀, CTM, DTM₀ and DTM was 2.79, 5.88, 5.34 and 5.58 mg cm⁻² at pod-filling in the loamy sand soil. Comparable yield responses to deep tillage or mulching in the loamy sand soil suggest that either of the options, depending on their cost and availability considerations, can be employed for improving soybean yield and water productivity.     

Effect of irrigation application depth on cereal production in the semi-arid climate of southern Alberta

Different water application depths and irrigation intervals were compared for two cereal crops in southern Alberta. Four irrigation treatments and three fertilizer N treatments were applied to soft white wheat in 1987 and 1988 and barley in 1989 and 1990 on a Lethbridge loam. The treatments were light, frequent irrigation for the whole growing season (F), conventional irrigation for the whole growing season (C), light, frequent irrigation until heading, followed by conventional irrigation (FC), and conventional irrigation until heading, followed by light, frequent irrigation (CF). Fertilizer N as ammonium nitrate was broadcast in the spring at 0, 60 and 120 kg N ha^-1. Light frequent irrigations for the entire growing season increased wheat straw yield compared to the conventional irrigation treatment (5211kg ha^-1 vs 4152 kg ha^-1, respectively). Straw yield with F irrigation for part of the growing season was intermediate between the other two irrigation treatments. Irrigation treatment did not affect soft white wheat grain yield. Barley straw yield was not affected by irrigation treatment but barley grain yield was greater for the C irrigation treatment than the F and FC treatments (4924 kg ha^-1 vs 4177 kg ha^-1, respectively). Lodging was evident in the barley crops, particularly with F irrigation in the first half of the growing season. Grain/straw ratios were greater for the C than the other irrigation treatments. Higher water use in the F than the C treatment in the higher water stress years (1988 and 1989) was balanced with greater vegetative growth. In the lower water stress growing seasons (1987 and 1990), higher water use in the C than the F treatment was attributed to deep percolation. Water use efficiency (WUE) was generally not affected by irrigation treatment except for barley in 1989, when lower WUE values in the F than the C treatment were associated with severe lodging.     

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on yield,yield components and water use efficiency of barley in Saudi Arabia

Water use efficiency and yield of barley were determined in a field experiment using different irrigation waters with and without nitrogen fertilizer on a sandy to loamy sand soil during 1994–1995 and 1995–1996. Depending upon different fertilizer treatments, the overall mean crop yield ranges for two crop seasons were: greenmatter from 19.48–55.0 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 21.92–66.5 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent); drymatter from 6.86–20.69 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 7.87–20.90 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent); biomass from 4.12–21.31 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 8.10–19.94 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent) and grain yield from 2.12–5.50 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 3.25–7.25 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for grain yield was 3.37–8.74 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (well water) and 5.17–11.53 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for total biomass ranged between 6.55–33.88 kg⁻¹ ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (well water) and 12.88–31.70 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). The WUE for drymatter was 10.91–32.90 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (well water) and 12.51–33.22 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). It was found that grain yield and WUE obtained in T-4 and T-5 irrigated with well water and receiving 75 and 100% nitrogen requirements were comparable with T-4 and T-5 irrigated with aquaculture effluent and receiving 0 and 25% nitrogen requirements. In conclusion, application of 100 to 150 kg N ha⁻¹ for well water and up to 50 kg N ha⁻¹ for aquaculture effluent irrigation containing 40 Mg N l⁻¹ would be sufficient to obtain optimum grain yield and higher WUE of barley in Saudi Arabia.     

Response of wheat to irrigation with small amounts of water applied in various ways

In dry land agriculture, crop failure is often due to dry seed beds which hamper crop stand establishment and root growth. Irrigation with small amounts of water may make the difference between success and failure of the crop. A 2-year field study on a sandy loam soil evaluated the response of wheat to irrigation with 4—60 mm water applied in various ways. An amount of 4 or 6 mm water applied in the furrow enhanced above-ground plant growth, root growth, grain yield and water use considerably compared to the same amount of water surface applied to seeded rows. With surface irrigation of 40 or 60 mm water, crop growth and grain yield increased further; however, a significantly higher grain yield was obtained with post-seeding rather than pre-seeding irrigation.     

Effects of water quality and frequency of irrigation on growth and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

A field trial on a loamy sand soil was carried out to study the effect of three irrigation waters with different qualities on growth and yield of ‘Gesto’, a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar. Three irrigation water quality treatments (canal irrigation water, drainage water, and mixed canal and drainage waters at 1:1 ratio) were imposed with two irrigation frequencies (I and 2 week intervals). In addition, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were applied at different rates. Barley grain and straw yields were significantly decreased under the use of drainage water (EC 10.7–16.7 dS m⁻¹), attributed mainly to reduction in the number of spikes per plant and grain weight. The mixed irrigation water (EC 6.8–9.9 dS m⁻¹) produced high seedling emergence and good vegetative growth, which was followed by high grain and straw yields. These yields were not significantly different from those under fresh canal irrigation water (EC 2.8–3.9 dS m⁻¹). Thus, mixed water could be another alternative for irrigation under similar experimental conditions especially with high rates of nitrogen (250–350 kg ha⁻¹) and phosphorus (90 kg ha⁻¹) fertilization at weekly irrigation intervals, which could eventually save more fresh irrigation canal water for other cultivated crops.     

Irrigation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in relation to tillage and mulching

For sustainable sunflower production in semi-arid sub-tropical regions, it is essential to increase its water use efficiency. Field studies were conducted for three years on deep alluvial loamy sand (Typic Ustipsamment) and sandy loam (Typic Ustochrept) soils at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, to evaluate the interactive effects of three irrigation regimes (irrigation water to net open pan evaporation ratios, I₁, I₂, I₃) on sunflower yield in relation to tillage (conventional tillage, CT, and deep-tillage, DT) and mulching (no mulch, M₀, and residue mulch, M₁).Both deep tillage and mulch significantly increased crop yield irrespective of soil type and year. Increase in mean achene yield across soils during three years with DT over CT varied between 10 and 16% and that with mulch over no mulch by 8 to 17%.Deep tillage and/or mulching helped the crop in efficient utilization of water by increasing leaf area index (LAI) and the depth and density of rooting. Irrigation and tillage interacted for their effects on yield on loamy sand, as the crop responded to higher level of irrigation with CT than with DT. On loamy sand, mean achene yield increased with increase in water supply up to IW/PE = 1.5 in a dry year and upto IW/PE = 1.2 in relatively wetter years. On sandy loam, mean yield response to irrigations was observed upto IW/PE = 1.0 in all the three years.Regression analysis of relative yield against water supply during the three years on both the soils, showed that for 80% relative yield the crop required 105 cm water in CTM₀, 90 cm in CTM or DTM₀ and only 80 cm in DTM. The study suggests that deep tillage or straw mulch may be used to achieve higher water use efficiency in sunflower on coarse textured soils in semi-arid, sub-tropical regions.     

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.     

不同灌水量与每穴直播粒数对滴灌水稻生长发育及产量的影响

【目的】探索滴灌水稻高产高效的适宜灌溉定额及播种量。【方法】本试验在新疆农业科学院国家灰漠土肥力与肥料效应监测基地进行,设置3个灌溉定额水平,分别为796 mm(W1)、938 mm(W2)、1 059 mm(W3),每穴直播粒数设为每穴8粒(D1)、14粒(D2)、20粒(D3)3个水平,观测比较不同生育期株高、叶面积指数、干物质积累量等生长指标,分析不同灌水量与每穴直播粒数对滴灌水稻生长发育、产量及水分利用效率的影响。【结果】灌水量与每穴直播粒数交互作用以组合W3D1株高、叶面积指数和干物质积累量最高,分别为83.46 cm、8.46和2 962.67 g/m2,交互作用达到极显著水平(p≤0.01);W3D1处理产量最高达到6 789.00 kg/hm~2,灌水量对产量的影响达到显著水平(p≤0.05);W3D1水分利用效率为最优组合达到0.65 kg/m3。每穴直播粒数为8粒时,与W1、W2处理相比,W3处理产量增幅为54.95%、30.24%;W3处理中,D1处理与D2、D3处理相比,产量增幅分别为19.11%、23.96%。【结论】在本试验条件下,W3D1组合灌溉水量及每穴直播粒数为最佳。     

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     

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.     

Evaluation of crop water stress index for LEPA irrigated corn

This study was designed to evaluate the crop water stress index (CWSI) for low-energy precision application (LEPA) irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) grown on slowly-permeable Pullman clay loam soil (fine, mixed, Torrertic Paleustoll) during the 1992 growing season at Bushland, Tex. The effects of six different irrigation levels (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, and 0% replenishment of soil water depleted from the 1.5-m soil profile depth) on corn yields and the resulting CWSI were investigated. Irrigations were applied in 25 mm increments to maintain the soil water in the 100% treatment within 60–80% of the “plant extractable soil water” using LEPA technology, which wets alternate furrows only. The 1992 growing season was slightly wetter than normal. Thus, irrigation water use was less than normal, but the corn dry matter and grain yield were still significantly increased by irrigation. The yield, water use, and water use efficiency of fully irrigated corn were 1.246 kg/m², 786 mm, and 1.34 kg/m³, respectively. CWSI was calculated from measurements of infrared canopy temperatures, ambient air temperatures, and vapor pressure deficit values for the six irrigation levels. A “non-water-stressed baseline” equation for corn was developed using the diurnal infrared canopy temperature measurements as T _c–T _a = 1.06–2.56 VPD, where T _c was the canopy temperature (°C), Ta was the air temperature (°C) and VPD was the vapor pressure deficit (kPa). Trends in CWSI values were consistent with the soil water contents induced by the deficit irrigations. Both the dry matter and grain yields decreased with increased soil water deficit. Minimal yield reductions were observed at a threshold CWSI value of 0.33 or less for corn. The CWSI was useful for evaluating crop water stress in corn and should be a valuable tool to assist irrigation decision making together with soil water measurements and/or evapotranspiration models. Received: 19 May 1998     

Dynamics of plant and animal production of a subterranean clover pasture grazed by sheep: Part 1—Field measurements for model calibration

A grazing system with Merino sheep and subterranean clover pasture was studied in a 550 mm rainfall, mediterranean climate in Western Australia.Changes over twelve months in seed, the quantities of green and dry herbage, soil moisture, animal intake and liveweight, wool growth and body composition were measured. Six paddocks, representing two soil types, were grazed continuously at 8·75 sheep per hectare. The system was also simulated and the actual results were compared with those from the simulation model.From a seed pool in March of 300 kg ha^?1, 80% of which was soft and non-dormant, 4000 clover seedlings per square metre became established; subsequent drought reduced this to 1450 plants per square metre. From measurements of soil moisture it was shown that this population survived at available moisture levels as low as 0·5 mm in the main root zone in gravelly sandy loam. Pasture growth rate reached a spring peak of 102 kg ha^?1 day^?1 and total growth (estimated from pasture grazed for 26 weeks) was 6700 kg ha^?1 for 500 mm of rainfall between germination and maximum biomass. At maturity, burr and seed made up 57% of the plant residues on offer, with a seed pool of 1160 kg ha^?1. During the summer this biomass decreased at 5 kg ha^?1 day^?1 without grazing and 19 kg ha^?1 day^?1 under grazing.The liveweight losses and gains of the sheep were atypical, no liveweight gain until 1200 kg ha^?1 of gree herbage was available—about treble the expected amount. Measurements of food intake indicate a gross inefficiency in energy utilisation during the winter and a low intake of energy in the spring.Total green and dry plant residues showed general agreement between actual and simulated results for most of the growing season. However, the field data highlighted error in the pasture sub-model which were corrected and are reported elsewhere.     

Wheat yield response to line source sprinkler irrigation and soil management practices on medium-textured shallow soils of arid environment

A field experiment was conducted for 3 years to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation under different soil management practices on biomass production, grain yield, yield components and water productivity of spring wheat (Triticum estivum L.). Soil management practices consisted of tillage (conventional and deep tillage) and Farmyard manure (0 and 10 t ha^?1 FYM). Line source sprinkler laterals were used to generate one full- (ETm) and four deficit irrigation treatments that were 88, 75, 62 and 46 % of ETm, and designated as ETd₁, ETd₂, ETd₃, and ETd₄. Deep tillage significantly enhanced grain yield (14–18 %) and water productivity (1.27–1.34 kg m^?3) over conventional tillage. Similarly, application of FYM at 10 t ha^?1 significantly improved grain yield (10–13 %) and water productivity (1.25–1.31 kg m^?3) in comparison with no FYM. Grain yield response to irrigation varied significantly (5,281–2,704 kg ha^?1) due to differences in soil water contents. Water productivity varied from 1.05 to 1.34 kg m^?3, among the treatments in 3 years. The interactive effect of irrigation × tillage practices and irrigation × FYM on grain yield was significant. Yield performance proved that deficit irrigation (ETd₂) subjected to 75 % soil water deficit had the smallest yield decline with significant water saving would be the most appropriate irrigation level for wheat production in arid regions.     

Yield and water-production functions of two durum wheat cultivars grown under different irrigation and nitrogen regimes

Wheat (Triticum durum L.) yields in the semi-arid regions are limited by inadequate water supply late in the cropping season. Planning suitable irrigation strategy and nitrogen fertilization with the appropriate crop phenology will produce optimum grain yields. A 3-year experiment was conducted on deep, fairly drained clay soil, at Tal Amara Research Station in the central Bekaa Valley of Lebanon to investigate the response of durum wheat to supplemental irrigation (IRR) and nitrogen rate (NR). Three water supply levels (rainfed and two treatments irrigated at half and full soil water deficit) were coupled with three N fertilization rates (100, 150 and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) and two cultivars (Waha and Haurani) under the same cropping practices (sowing date, seeding rate, row space and seeding depth). Averaged across N treatments and years, rainfed treatment yielded 3.49 Mg ha⁻¹ and it was 25% and 28% less than half and full irrigation treatments, respectively, for Waha, while for Haurani the rainfed treatment yielded 3.21 Mg ha⁻¹, and it was 18% and 22% less than half and full irrigation, respectively. On the other hand, N fertilization of 150 and 200 kg N ha⁻¹ increased grain yield in Waha by 12% and 16%, respectively, in comparison with N fertilization of 100 kg N ha⁻¹, while for cultivar Haurani the increases were 24% and 38%, respectively. Regardless of cultivar, results showed that supplemental irrigation significantly increased grain number per square meter and grain weight with respect to the rainfed treatment, while nitrogen fertilization was observed to have significant effects only on grain number per square meter. Moreover, results showed that grain yield for cultivar Haurani was less affected by supplemental irrigation and more affected by nitrogen fertilization than cultivar Waha in all years. However, cultivar effects were of lower magnitude compared with those of irrigation and nitrogen. We conclude that optimum yield was produced for both cultivars at 50% of soil water deficit as supplemental irrigation and N rate of 150 kg N ha⁻¹. However, Harvest index (HI) and water use efficiency (WUE) in both cultivars were not significantly affected neither by supplemental irrigation nor by nitrogen rate. Evapotranspiration (ET) of rainfed wheat ranged from 300 to 400 mm, while irrigated wheat had seasonal ET ranging from 450 to 650 mm. On the other hand, irrigation treatments significantly affected ET after normalizing for vapor pressure deficit (ET/VPD) during the growing season. Supplemental irrigation at 50% and 100% of soil water deficit had approximately 26 and 52 mm mbar⁻¹ more ET/VPD, respectively, than those grown under rainfed conditions.     

Water use — Yield relations for cowpea and maize

Three cowpea varieties and one maize variety were subjected to varying irrigation treatments, ranging from water deficits to over-irrigation, on a silty loam soil classified as an Alfisol at Ile-Ife, Nigeria. There was a strong curvilinear relation between cowpea yield and evapotranspiration (R² = 0.86 for dry matter yield and R² = 0.87 for dry seed yield). The values of the correlation coefficient dropped to 0.62 and 0.66 for dry matter and seed yields, respectively, when a linear relation was used. When data for over-irrigated fields were omitted from the calculation, a linear relationship yielded R² values close to unity (R² = 0.99). Similar results were obtained on maize dry matter and grain yields in relation to evaporation.     

Effect of treated effluent irrigation and nitrogen on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of wheat

Yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat was investigated under field conditions using two types of irrigation waters with and without nitrogen on a sandy-loam to loamy-sand soil during 1992–1993 and 1993–1994. Depending upon different nitrogen treatments, the mean crop yield ranges in 1992–1993 were: grain yield 6.19–6.87 Mg ha⁻ and biomass 15.41–16.34 Mg ha⁻¹ receiving treated effluent. The mean crop yield ranges in 1993–1994 were: grain yield 0.46–3.23 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 5.20–6.54 Mg ha⁻¹ (treated effluent); and biomass 1.84–10.80 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water), and 16.00–19.29 Mg ha⁻¹ (treated effluent). The NUE for grain yield in 1992–1993 was between 16.70–50.23 kg kg⁻¹ N (well water) and 20.65–91.56 kg kg⁻¹ N (treated effluent). Whereas the NUE in 1993-94, varied between 10.49–32.13 kg grain kg⁻¹ N (well water) and 21.30–72.93 kg grain kg⁻¹ N (treated effluent). The NUE for total biomass in 1992–1993 varied between 46.54–130.32 kg kg⁻¹ N (well water) and 53.66–158.77 kg kg⁻¹ N (treated effluent). Similarly, the NUE in 1993–1994 varied between 35.99–102.1 kg biomass kg⁻¹ N (well water) and 59.27–161.89 kg biomass kg⁻¹ N (treated effluent). A significant decrease in NUE was observed with increasing nitrogen application both for grain and biomass production. In conclusion, a higher grain yield and NUE of wheat crop can be achieved with low application rates of nitrogen if the crop is irrigated with treated effluent containing nitrogen in the range of 20 mg L⁻¹ and above.     

Irrigation planning in cotton through simulation modeling

Experiments were undertaken at CCS Haryana Agricultural University Farm, Sirsa (India) to estimate the optimum irrigation schedule for cotton resulting in minimum percolation losses. The sprinkler line source technique was adopted for creating various irrigation regimes at different crop growth stages. The SWASALT (Simulation of Water And SALT) model after calibration and validation provided water balance components. The wa-ter management response indicators (WMRI's) such as transpiration efficiency E_t/(Irr + P), relative transpiration E_t/E_tp, evapotranspiration efficiency ET/(Irr + P), soil moisture storage change ΔW/W_int (deficit/excess) and percolation loss Perc/(Irr. + P) were evaluated using water balance components as estimated by the simulation study. Under limited water supply conditions, the optimum irrigation depth was found to be 57 mm at crop growth stages with pre-sowing and 1^st irrigation of 120 mm and 80 mm respectively for sandy clay loam underlain by sandy loam soil (Type I). The corresponding values of relative transpiration, transpiration efficiency and evapotranspiration efficiency were 0.65, 0.65 and 0.89 respectively. The crop yield varied linearly with increasing irrigation depth which was evident from increase in relative transpiration with increasing depth of water application. However, increased depth of irrigation resulted in less moisture utilisation from soil storage (20% depletion at 40 mm depth and 4.4% moisture built up at 100 mm depth). The extended simulation study for sandy soil underlain by loamy sand (Type II) indicated that two pre-sowing irrigations each 40 mm and subsequent irrigations of 40 mm at an interval of 20 days depending upon rainfall were optimum. This irrigation scenario resulted in zero percolation loss accompanied by 74% relative transpiration and 14 per cent soil moisture depletion. Received: 20 November 1995     

The effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on rapeseed (Brassica napes) production in South-Eastern Australia

Summary A field trial was conducted to determine the response of rapeseed (Brassica napus cv. Marnoo) to two irrigation treatments and six nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Dry matter accumulation, leaf area development and seed yield were measured. The dry matter and seed yield response to applied nitrogen was greater under irrigated compared to rainfed conditions. Maximum seed yield (approx. 3.8 t ha^–1) was obtained from the irrigated treatment receiving 100 kg N ha^–1 applied at sowing. This high rate of N application at sowing led to more rapid leaf area development and higher maximum LAI compared to treatments supplied with split application of the same amount of N at sowing and rosette stages. Greater partitioning of dry matter into the leaf component and higher specific leaf areas under the higher N regime were largely responsible for this increase. Higher maximum LAI's were associated with greater numbers of pods per plant, which combined with longer leaf area duration led to higher final seed yields.