Different indices to characterize water use pattern of micro-sprinkler irrigated onion (Allium cepa L.)

The amount of water used by any crop largely depends on the extent to which the soil water depletion from the root zone is being recharged by appropriate depth of irrigation. To test this hypothesis a field study was carried out in November–March of 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 on a sandy loam (Aeric haplaquept) to quantify the effect of depth of irrigation applied through micro-sprinklers on onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb yield (BY) and water use patterns. Seven irrigation treatments consisted of six amounts of sprinkler applied water relative to compensate crop (K_c) and pan (K_p) coefficient-based predicted evapotranspiration loss from crop field (ET_p) (i) 160% of ET_p (1.6ET_p); (ii) 1.4ET_p; (iii) 1.2ET_p; (iv) 1.0ET_p; (v) 0.8ET_p; (vi) 0.6ET_p; (vii) 40 mm of surface applied water whenever cumulative pan evaporation equals to 33 mm. Water use efficiency (WUE), net evapotranspiration efficiency (WUE_ET) and irrigation water use efficiency (WUE_I) were computed. Marginal water use efficiency (MWUE) and elasticity of water productivity (EWP) of onion were calculated using the relationship between BY and measured actual evapotranspiration (ET_c). Yield increased with increasing sprinkler-applied water from 0.6 to 1.4ET_p. Relative to the yield obtained at 0.6ET_p, yield at 1.0ET_p increased by 23–25% while at 1.4ET_p it was only 3–9% greater than that at 1.0ET_p. In contrast, yield at 1.6ET_p was 9–12% less than that at 1.4ET_p. Maximum WUE (7.21 kg m⁻³) and WUE_ET (13.87 kg m⁻³) were obtained under 1.0ET_p. However, the highest WUE_I (3.83 kg m⁻³) was obtained with 1.2ET_p. The ET_c associated with the highest WUE was 20% less than that required to obtain the highest yields. This study confirmed that critical levels of ET_c needed to obtain maximum BYs, or WUE, could be obtained more precisely from the knowledge of MWUE and EWP.     

Use of saline–sodic waters through phytoremediation of calcareous saline–sodic soils

Use of poor-quality groundwater has become inevitable for irrigation to compensate rapidly increasing water demands in many arid and semiarid regions. Salinity and sodicity are the principal soil and water quality concerns in such areas. Many saline–sodic and sodic soils have saline or saline–sodic subsurface drainage waters. Amelioration of these soils needs a source of calcium (Ca²⁺) that can replace the excess exchangeable sodium (Na⁺). Most of these soils, however, contain calcite (CaCO₃) of extremely low solubility. The native calcite does not supply adequate levels of Ca²⁺ for soil amelioration as do other chemical amendments. Phytoremediation may help ameliorate such soils through cultivation of certain crops tolerant to ambient soil salinity and sodicity. This amelioration strategy works through plant root action to help dissolve CaCO₃ to supply adequate Ca²⁺ without the application of an amendment. During a 3-year field experiment conducted under irrigated conditions, we evaluated phytoremediation against soil application of gypsum and farm manure, and water treatment with sulphuric acid on a calcareous saline–sodic soil (pH_s=8.0–8.4, EC_e=24–32 dS m⁻¹, SAR=57–78, CaCO₃=45–50 g kg⁻¹ for the top 0.15 m depth; Calcic Haplosalids). A saline–sodic water (EC=2.9–3.4 dS m⁻¹, SAR=12.0–19.4, RSC=4.6–10.0 mmol_c l⁻¹, SAR_adj=15.6–18.4) was used to irrigate the rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops grown in rotation. Active desalinisation and desodication processes were observed in all the treatments. After the final wheat crop, the 1.2 m soil profile EC_e was 7±0.5 dS m⁻¹ and SAR was 15±2 with non-significant treatment differences, indicating comparable soil amelioration effect of phytoremediation with other treatments. Better crop yields were obtained from the manure-treated plots, owing to its annual addition to the soil that possibly improved soil fertility. Phytoremediation needed minimum capital input because no initial investment was made to purchase the amendments.     

Determination of the permissible amount of liquid animal waste applied to soil filters

Protection against water pollution by agricultural wastes makes decomposition of organic effluents necessary. The problem of oxidation of liquid animal wastes in soil filters is described. The theory of oxygen diffusion in soil in which the oxygen consumption rates vary with time, was applied to determine the aerobic and anaerobic zones in the irrigated soil profile. The results of calculations for different biochemical oxygen demands (BOD) of pig slurry and for different soil air-filled porosity (n_g) allow the determination of maximum BOD loads for the given air porosity of soils. The permissible amount of organic pollutants as BOD₅ in wastewater is 0.2 kg m⁻³ for n_g = 0.10 m³ m⁻³, BOD₅ = 0.9 kg m⁻³ for n_g = 0.20 m³ m⁻³, and BOD₅ = 2.75 kg m⁻³ for n_g = 0.30 m³ m⁻³. These limits were obtained under several assumptions, such as uniform distribution of air-filled porosity in the upper part of soil, oxygen respiration of soil similar to that of pig slurry, aerobic zone present in the upper 50 cm of the soil profile, and irrigation every 5 days.     

Fixed versus variable bulk canopy resistance for reference evapotranspiration estimation using the Penman–Monteith equation under semiarid conditions

In this paper, daily ET₀ estimates at two semiarid locations, Zaragoza and Córdoba, were obtained from the Penman–Monteith equation using either fixed (70 s m⁻¹) or variable r_c values. Variable r_c values were computed with two models, Katerji and Perrier, and Todorovic. Daily ET₀ estimates were computed from 24-h meteorological averages or from the sum of hourly estimates. Daily ET₀ measured values were obtained from a weighing lysimeter (Zaragoza) and an eddy covariance system (Córdoba). There was a good agreement at both locations between estimated and measured ET₀ values using a fixed r_c value and 24-h meteorological averages. Estimates obtained from the sum of hourly estimates were somewhat worse. When 24-h meteorological averages were used, the Katerji and Perrier model for variable r_c slightly improved ET₀ estimates at both locations. But that improvement does not support the effort to locally calibrate that model. When daily ET₀ estimates were obtained from the sum of hourly estimates, the Todorovic model improved the estimation at Zaragoza and, at a lesser degree, at Córdoba. Under the semiarid conditions of the two studied locations, the use of the Todorovic model is recommended to get hourly ET₀ estimates from which daily estimates can be obtained. If 24-h meteorological averages are used, a fixed r_c value as proposed by Allen et al. [Crop evapotranspiration: guidelines for computing crop water requirements, FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56, FAO, Rome, 1998] should be enough for accurate ET₀ estimates.     

亏缺灌溉对南疆棉花生长和水分利用的影响

针对南疆地区水资源短缺、作物水分利用效率低等问题,以棉花为试验材料进行田间小区试验,在棉花现蕾期、开花期以及结铃期分别设置3个亏缺灌溉水平(W₁:50%ET_c,W₂:65%ET_c,W₃:80%ET_c,ET_c为作物蒸发蒸腾量),以全生育期100%ET_c灌溉处理为对照(CK),研究膜下滴灌条件下,不同生育期亏缺灌溉对棉花生长、产量、氮素吸收和水分利用效率的影响.结果表明:现蕾期亏水对棉花株高、叶面积指数、地上干物质生长、氮素吸收和产量有不同程度的抑制效应,但复水后补偿效应显著,其中轻度亏水(W₃)在籽棉产量减少3.48%的条件下,WUE高达1.57 kg/m³,显著高于CK的1.48 kg/m³;开花期亏水,棉花的各项生长指标均有显著降低,复水后补偿效应不显著,不利于棉花生长发育;结铃期亏水对棉花地上干物质累积、氮素吸收和产量均有显著的抑制效应,但在W₂和W₃水平下,WUE均达1.51 kg/m³.综合考虑在保证棉花产量的同时达到节水增产的目的,可在棉花蕾期进行80%ET_c灌水,其他生育阶段实施充分灌溉,来控制营养生长,促进生殖生长,获得更高的水分利用效率.     

新疆滴灌施肥棉花生长和产量的水肥耦合效应

在新疆石河子棉花种植区,研究了滴灌施肥棉花生长和产量的水肥耦合效应.试验设置3个灌水水平和5个NPK施肥水平.结果表明,滴灌施肥条件下,灌水量对株高、有效铃数、百铃质量、籽棉产量、水分利用效率和灌溉水利用效率影响均在0.05水平下具有统计学意义,对和叶面积指数的影响在0.01水平下具有统计学意义,其变化随着灌水量的增加而增加;施肥对株高、叶面积指数、有效铃数、百铃质量和籽棉产量影响在0.01水平下具有统计学意义,水肥交互作用对单株有效铃数、百铃质量和籽棉产量影响在0.01水平下具有统计学意义.施肥过高对作物生长有一定的抑制作用.灌水量为60%ET_c,施肥量为300 kg/hm²∶120 kg/hm²∶60 kg/hm²(ω_N∶ω_P2O5∶ω_K2O)时氮、磷、钾的利用效率均最高,灌水量为100%ET_c,施肥量为150 kg/hm²:60 kg/hm²∶30 kg/hm²(ω_N∶ω_P2O5∶ω_K2O)时氮、磷、钾养分回收率最高.从产量、水分利用效率和肥料偏生产力等角度综合考虑,灌水量100%ET_c、300 kg/hm²∶120 kg/hm²∶60 kg/hm²(ω_N∶ω_P2O5∶ω_K2O)为最佳滴灌施肥策略.     

灌水量及灌水频率对玉米生长和水分利用的影响

利用遮雨棚蒸渗桶栽试验,研究灌水量和灌水频率对夏玉米生长、产量和水分利用的影响.试验以“郑单958”为研究材料,设置3个灌水量水平W1(120%ETc),W2(100%ETc)和W3(80%ETc)和3个灌水频率D1(3 d),D2(6 d)和D3(9 d)共9个处理,在生育期内对桶栽玉米的各项生长指标进行观测,分析不同处理对玉米的影响.结果表明:玉米的株高、叶面积、干物质量和产量随着灌水量的增大,均呈现出增加趋势;随着灌水频率的增大,均呈现出下降趋势.显著性分析表明,灌水量对夏玉米生长特性和产量的影响程度大于灌水频率.单株玉米产量在W₁D3处理下达到最大值,在W₃D1处理下玉米产量最小,差异具有统计学意义.水分利用效率和灌溉水利用效率则随灌水量的增大呈现先增大后减小趋势,且随灌水频率的增加逐渐降低.W₂D3处理的水分利用效率和灌溉水利用率最高,分别为1.83和1.61 kg/m3.基于各处理水分利用效率和产量变化,W₁D3(120%ETc,9 d)可作为基于试验条件下较适宜的灌水技术.     

垄作沟灌土壤水盐分布及作物产量试验研究

对垄作沟灌土壤水盐分布及作物产量进行了田间试验.结果表明,灌水定额为400 m³/hm²时,沟底土壤水分的垂直运动明显增大.当灌水定额增加100 m³/hm²时,土壤水分水平运动高于垂直运动.沟底土壤全盐量受灌水定额影响明显:在灌水阶段,沟底表层土壤发生脱盐现象.土壤蒸发阶段,土壤发生积盐现象.垄顶土壤含盐量相对稳定,基本不发生向下运移.重度水分亏缺(处理T1,灌溉定额为1 700 m³/hm²)垄、沟积盐量分别为1.49,1.35 kg/m²,中度水分亏缺(处理T2,灌溉定额为2 100 m³/hm²)垄沟积盐量分别为1.42,1.12 kg/m²,充分灌水(处理T3,灌溉定额为2 500 m³/hm²)垄、沟积盐量分别为1.32,0.83 kg/m²,畦灌措施使0~100 cm土壤发生脱盐现象,脱盐量为1.29 kg/m².垄作沟灌下,制种玉米产量为2 765.1~4 619.5 kg/hm²,WUE为0.755~0.969 kg/m³.穗长(L_s)、穗粗(d_s)、行粒数(N_R)与作物产量呈显著正相关关系.     

Irrigation and fertiliser strategies for minimising nitrogen leaching from turfgrass

Establishing and implementing management practices that limit N leaching from agricultural and horticultural land is a priority internationally. Movement of N through soil to surface and ground waters can degrade aquatic systems and compromise water used for drinking, industry and recreation. Reported annual rates of N leaching from turfgrass range from 0 to 160 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, representing up to 30% of applied N. Irrigation rate, fertiliser regime and turfgrass growth phase influence the amounts of N leached. Nitrogen losses tend to be low (<5% of applied fertiliser N) from established turfgrass that is not over-irrigated, and has received N fertiliser at 200–300 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Efficient irrigation management is critical for efficient N use. Irrigation scheduling that does not cause water to move beyond the active rooting zone decreases the amount of N leached from established turfgrass, without being detrimental to, and in some instances enhancing, turfgrass growth and quality. Applying N fertilisers at rates and frequencies that match N requirements decreases N leaching from established turfgrass. Soil disturbance, such as during preparation of areas for planting turfgrass, can increase N leaching. Therefore, the main strategies for minimising N leaching from turfgrass are (i) optimise irrigation regimes, and (ii) ensure N is applied at rates and frequencies that match turfgrass demand. These strategies are particularly important during turfgrass establishment. Further work is required on turfgrass-soil N cycling and partitioning of N applied to turfgrass. Research needs to be conducted for a broad range of turfgrass species, turfgrass ages, soil types and climates.     

Evapotranspiration and seed yield of field grown soybean under deficit irrigation conditions

Evapotranspiration was measured for a reference crop, rye grass (Lolium prerenne) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) grown over two seasons in 2000 and 2001 at Tal Amara Research Station, Lebanon, using drainage and weighing lysimeters. Climatic data from the field weather station were recorded daily. Within the experimental plots, irrigation was withheld at full bloom, R2 stage (S1 treatment), at seed enlargement, R5 stage (S2 treatment) and at mature seeds, R7 stage (S3 treatment). Further, a control (C) was fully-irrigated throughout the growing period.Average crop evapotranspiration (ETc) as measured by the drainage lysimeters in 2000 totaled 800 mm for a total growing period of 140 days. However, when ETc was measured by the weighing lysimeter in 2001, it was 725 mm during a growing period of 138 days. Average crop coefficients (K_c) were computed for different growth stages for the two growing periods by dividing the measured crop evapotranspiration (ETc) by the corresponding measured reference evapotranspiration (ETo-rye grass). K_c values ranged from 0.62 at V10 stage (10th node on the main stem beginning with the unifoliolate node) to 1.0 at pod initiation, then to 0.81 at mature pods.Growth parameters, leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter accumulation, have been shown to be sensitive to water stress caused by the deficit irrigations. However, growth parameters were found to compensate for water stress at early stages, while at seed maturity the compensation ability was decreased.Plants of the lysimeters produced average aboveground biomass and seed yield of 8.1 and 3.5 t ha⁻¹, respectively. However, in the well-irrigated field treatment, aboveground biomass and seed yield averaged 7.3 and 3.2 t ha⁻¹, respectively. Deficit irrigation at R2 stage reduced aboveground biomass and seed yield by 16 and 4%, respectively, while deficit irrigation at R5 stage reduced these two parameters by 6 and 28%, respectively, with comparison to the control. The significant decrease in biomass at R2 stage due to water deficit may be attributed to a pronounced reduction in the number of vegetative nodes. However, limited irrigation at this stage did not reduce significantly (P < 0.01) neither seed number nor seed weight, while at R5 stage these two parameters were reduced by 20 and 10%, respectively, with comparison to the control. Results showed also that deficit irrigation at R7 stage (S3) was more profitable than irrigation deficit at any other crop phenology and did not cause significant reductions either in seed number or seed weight.     

通辽玉米滴灌灌溉制度

为更加合理制定玉米滴灌灌溉制度,以我国“节水增粮行动”为背景, 于2016年在内蒙古通辽开展玉米滴灌灌溉制度试验研究.根据试验区34 a的降雨资料进行降雨频率分析,选取不同水文年型的代表年,结合玉米滴灌试验得到实际耗水规律,对比6种灌溉处理在各生育阶段的变化情况,测定了株高、叶面积指数、玉米产量等指标.结果表明:中水处理作物性状及产量较高,且水分利用效率最高,为最佳灌水处理;以中水处理作为滴灌灌溉制度的参考依据,通过气象数据计算参考蒸发蒸腾量ET₀.利用实际耗水量获取各生育阶段作物系数,结合代表年型的ET₀计算需水量.根据降雨量,得到不同水文年型滴灌灌溉制度:枯水年覆膜滴灌灌溉定额1 575 m³/hm²,无膜滴灌灌溉定额1 785 m³/hm²;平水年覆膜滴灌灌溉定额1 125 m³/hm²,无膜滴灌灌溉定额1 425 m³/hm²;丰水年覆膜滴灌灌溉定额600 m³/hm²,无膜滴灌灌溉定额900 m³/hm².     

Response of corn, grain sorghum, and sunflower to irrigation in the High Plains of Kansas

Groundwater is being mined in much of the irrigated area of the central and southern High Plains of the USA. Profits and risks inherent in irrigation management depend on the association between crop yield and level of water application. Research was conducted over a 14 year period (1974–1987) to establish the yield vs. water application relationships of corn, grain sorghum, and sunflower. The research was located near Tribune, Kansas, USA on a Ulysses silt loam soil. Plots were level-basins to which water was added individually through gated pipe. Irrigation studies of the three crops were located adjacent to each other. Irrigation treatments were arranged in completely randomized blocks with three replications. As total irrigation amount increased from 100 to 200, 200 to 300, and 300 to 400 mm, sunflower yield increased by 0.53 Mg ha⁻¹, 0.43 Mg ha⁻¹, and 0.37 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. Corn outyielded grain sorghum at total irrigation amounts of 345 mm and above. Yield increase over continuous dryland was greater in corn than in grain sorghum at total irrigation amounts above 206 mm. Therefore, if grain mass is the consideration, grain sorghum is a better choice than corn at less than 206 mm of irrigation, whereas corn is a better choice than grain sorghum at more than 206 mm of irrigation.     

不同亏缺灌溉方式对冬小麦产量及水分利用效率的影响

【目的】优选适宜的小麦节水灌溉模式。【方法】采用田间小区试验,以生育期内灌越冬水、拔节水和开花水为对照(CK),设置了3种不同的亏缺灌溉模式:浇拔节水和开花水(T1)、拔节水+开花水隔畦交替灌溉(T2)、返青水+孕穗水+开花水隔畦交替灌溉(T3)。在拔节期和开花期,测定了小麦光合速率、蒸腾速率、棵间蒸发量、干物质量,并测定了小麦的产量和水分利用效率。【结果】T1处理小麦的光合速率与CK无显著差异,但蒸腾速率显著低于CK。在T2、T3处理中,干区、湿区的光合速率与CK也无显著差异,但干区小麦的蒸腾速率显著低于CK和湿区。各处理棵间蒸发量均显著低于CK。T2、T3处理中干区小麦的棵间蒸发量均显著低于湿区。T1处理提高了小麦花后干物质积累量,但花前干物质转移量减少。T2、T3处理湿区小麦花后干物质积累量高于CK,但花前干物质转移量显著低于CK。T2、T3处理干区小麦花后干物质积累量均显著低于湿区,但花前干物质转移均高于湿区小麦。T1、T2和T3处理对小麦产量没有显著影响,但均显著减少灌溉水量和作物的耗水量。【结论】3种时空亏缺灌溉模式均显著提高了小麦灌溉水利用效率和水分利用效率。     

灌水量、种植密度和行距对河西地区春玉米产量的影响

为确定河西地区膜下滴灌春玉米适宜的灌水量和配套栽培技术,2020年在中国农业大学石羊河流域农业与生态节水试验站开展大田试验,设置2个灌水量(W₁,W₂)、2个种植密度(D₁,D₂)和3种行距(L₁,L₂,L₃),共12个处理,3次重复.通过测定株高、叶面积指数(LAI)、干物质累积及分配等指标,研究灌水量、种植密度与行距对春玉米生长、产量和水肥利用效率的影响.结果表明,在相同灌水量下,处理D₂的株高和LAI显著高于D₁,增加种植密度提高了玉米群体干物质积累量、产量及水分利用效率(WUE).处理W₂D₂L₃的干物质累积量和产量最高,分别为96.45和17.72 t/hm²;处理W₁D₂L₃的水分利用效率最大,为3.57 kg/m³.灌水量与种植密度两者交互作用对产量及其构成因素的影响具有统计学意义(P<0.05);灌水量、种植密度与和行距三者交互作用对收获指数的影响具有统计学意义(P<0.05),对作物耗水量(ET)和WUE的影响具有统计学意义(P<0.01).灌水量、种植密度与行距均对河西地区春玉米群体结构、耗水量、产量及水分利用效率存在一定的调控效应:由大到小为种植密度、行距和灌水量.综合分析,“80%ET_c+10.0万株/hm²+宽窄行”为河西地区膜下滴灌春玉米适宜的灌水和种植模式.     

紫花苜蓿耗水规律及灌溉制度优化研究

为研究河套灌区紫花苜蓿的耗水规律,同时对现有灌溉制度进行优化,在田间试验的基础上,设置不同灌水水平对前两茬苜蓿进行了研究。结果表明:现蕾期和开花期是紫花苜蓿耗水的旺盛阶段,该阶段土壤水分亏缺会直接影响苜蓿产量的形成。通过多元线性回归的方法求解得到了两茬紫花苜蓿各生育期的敏感性系数,分别在0.103~0.731和0.041~0.375之间,且以现蕾期和开花期为最大,说明这两个生育阶段为苜蓿生长的关键阶段。以Jensen模型为基础,采用最小二乘法初步优化了两茬紫花苜蓿生育期内的灌溉制度,第1茬灌溉定额以1 400 m3/hm~2为宜,第2茬以2 300 m3/hm~2为宜,两茬灌水次数分别以4次和5次为最优。     

Assessment of irrigation and environmental quality at the hydrological basin level: II. Salt and nitrate loads in irrigation return flows

Irrigation return flows may induce salt and nitrate pollution of receiving water bodies. The objectives of this study were to perform a salt and nitrogen mass balance at the hydrological basin level and to quantify the salt and nitrate loads exported in the drainage waters of three basins located in a 15,500 ha irrigation district of the Ebro River Basin (Spain). The main salt and nitrogen inputs and outputs were measured or estimated in these basins along the 2001 hydrological year. Groundwater inflows in the three basins and groundwater outflow in one basin were significant components of the measured mass balances. Thus, the off-site impact ascribed solely to irrigation in these basins was estimated in the soil drainage water. Salt concentrations in soil drainage were low (TDS of around 400–700 mg/l, depending on basins) due to the low TDS of irrigation water and the low presence of salts in the geologic materials, and were inversely related to the drainage fractions (DF = 37–57%). However, due to these high DF, salt loads in soil drainage were relatively high (between 3.4 and 4.7 Mg/ha), although moderate compared to other areas with more saline geological materials. Nitrate concentrations and nitrogen loads in soil drainage were highest (77 mg NO₃⁻/l and 195 kg N/ha) in basin III, heavily fertilized (357 kg N/ha), with the highest percentage of corn and with shallow, low water retention flood-irrigated soils. In contrast, the lowest nitrate concentrations and nitrogen loads (21 mg NO₃⁻/l and 23 kg N/ha) were found in basin II, fertilized with 203 kg N/ha and preponderant in deep, alluvial valley soils, crops with low N requirements (alfalfa and pasture), the highest non-cropped area (26% of total) and with fertigation practices in the sprinkler-irrigated fields (36% of the irrigated area). Thus, 56% of the N applied by fertilization was lost in soil drainage in basin III, as compared to only 16% in basin II. In summary, a low irrigation efficiency coupled to an inadequate management of nitrogen fertilization are responsible for the low-salt, high-nitrate concentrations in soil and surface drainage outflows from the studied basins. In consequence, higher irrigation efficiencies, optimized nitrogen fertilization and the reuse for irrigation of the low-salt, high-nitrate drainage waters are key management strategies for a better control of the off-site pollution from the studied irrigation district.     

Effect of water deficit in different growth stages on stem sap flux of greenhouse grown pear-jujube tree

The effects of water deficit in different fruit growth stages on the variation of stem sap flux of 6-year old greenhouse-grown pear-jujube trees were investigated. Treatments included sufficient water supply during the whole fruit-growing period (T₁), mild water deficit during the flowering–fruit setting stage (T₂), moderate water deficit during the fruit rapid growth stage (T₃) and severe water deficit during the fruit maturing stage (T₄). Results showed that significant compensation effect on stem sap flux after re-watering was observed in T₂, but not in T₃ and T₄ stages. At the end of rapid growth stage, the diurnal variation of stomatal conductance generally had a similar trend as that of stem sap flux, but with a distinct midday depression from 12:00 to 14:00 p.m. In addition, a linear relationship between the relative available soil water content (RAWC) and the ratio of daily stem sap flux to that of sufficient water treatment was observed (R² = 0.4489).     

Incorporation of ridge and furrow method of rainfall harvesting with mulching for crop production under semiarid conditions

A plastic-covered ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting (PRFRH) system combined with mulches was designed to increase water availability to crops for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid Loess region of northwest China. The system was built by shaping the soil surface with alternate ridges and furrows along the contour. The plastic-covered ridges served as a rainfall harvesting zone and furrows as a planting zone. Some materials were also used to mulch the furrows to increase the effectiveness of the harvested water. This system can make better utilization of light rain by harvesting rainwater through the plastic-covered ridge. The field experiment (using corn as an indicator crop) showed that grain yields in the PRFRH system with mulches in 1998 and 1999 were significantly higher than the controls, with an increase of 4010–5297 kg per ha (108–143%). In most treatments, the water use efficiencies (WUE) were in excess of 2.0 kg m⁻³. The WUE values of corn in this system were 1.9 times greater than the controls in 1998 and 1.4 times greater than the controls in 1999. The plastic-covered ridge led to a yield increase of 3430 kg per ha (92%) in 1998 and of 1126 kg per ha (21%) in 1999 compared with the uncovered ridge. On average, the additional mulches in the furrow brought about a yield increase of 8–25%. Based on the results of this study and other researches, this technique can increase corn grain yield by 60–95% in drought and average years, 70–90% in wet years, and 20–30% in very wet years. The PRFRH system had the potential to increase crop yield and produced greater economic benefit, therefore it could be used in regions dominated by light rainfall of low intensity where crops generally fail due to water stress.     

Water use of young ‘Fuji’ apple trees at three soil moisture regimes in drainage lysimeters

Studies were conducted during 4 months of each growing season in 1994 and 1995 to measure water use of young apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh. cv ‘Fuji’) growing under different soil moisture regimes in temperate climate conditions and to evaluate monthly crop coefficients of such conditions. To do so, double pot lysimeters under a transparent rain shield were designed and installed. The three soil moisture regimes in three replicates each were: (A) drip-irrigation at −50 kPa of soil matric potential (IR50); (B) drip-irrigation at −80 kPa of soil matric potential (IR80); and (C) constant shallow water table at 0.45 m below the soil surface (WT45). In each treatment, soil surface was maintained with or without turf grasses. Monthly water use was not different in drip-irrigated treatments (IR50 and IR80), but greatest in the WT45 treatment. Monthly crop coefficients increased linearly in time for drip-irrigated apple trees (r² values of 0.76^*** for IR50 and of 0.77^*** for IR80), while those obtained in the WT45 treatment fluctuated. Leaf water potential (LWP) of drip-irrigated trees was similar until 63 days after treatment (DAT), but the values for IR80 trees began to decline thereafter. The LWP of WT45 trees decreased from 48 DAT. Temporal variations in leaf water content (LWC) was similar to that of LWP, except for two abrupt decreases in IR80 trees. The LWC of WT45 trees began to decrease from 59 DAT, and this occurred 2 weeks after the reduction in LWP. Average shoot length of IR50 trees was greater than that of IR80 and WT45 trees. The results of this study provided water use and crop coefficients for apple trees in relation to soil moisture regimes under temperate climate.     

基于无人机多时相植被指数的冬小麦产量估测

通过无人机搭载多光谱相机,对不同水分亏缺条件下冬小麦多个生育期进行遥感监测,采用不同种类多光谱植被指数表征冬小麦的生长特征,分析了植被指数与冬小麦产量的相关关系,并利用多时相植被指数构建产量估测数据集,采用偏最小二乘回归、支持向量机回归和随机森林回归3种机器学习算法进行冬小麦产量估测.结果表明,随着冬小麦的生长,多个植...