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.     

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     

Water use and wheat yields in northern India under different irrigation regimes

Field studies were conducted during a 3-year period to determine wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in response to irrigation scheduling and variable fertilization.Irrigation scheduling was done on the basis of cumulative pan evaporation. Irrigations were given at 25, 50 and 75% available water in the top 60 cm soil profile. The amount of irrigation water applied at each irrigation was equivalent to 75% of the cumulative open pan evaporation. The crop was fertilized at the rate of 0, 60, and 120 kg/ha nitrogen.The yield of wheat was significantly affected by irrigation water and nitrogen treatments. Maximum yield was obtained with irrigation at 50% available soil water and 120 kg/ha nitrogen addition (5092 kg/ha). Consumptive use of water was maximum when irrigation was applied at 75% available soil water. The irrigation at 50% available soil water, however, resulted in greatest yield per cm water use by the crop.     

Effects of irrigation and planting patterns on radiation use efficiency and yield of winter wheat in North China

The factor limiting the increase in winter wheat yield was not the deficiency of light radiation but the low radiation use efficiency (RUE). In 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, an experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Station of Shandong Agricultural University to study the effects of irrigation and different planting patterns on the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) capture ratio, PAR utilization, and winter wheat yield. In this experiment, winter wheat was planted in four patterns as follows: uniform row planting (U; row spacing, 30 cm), “20 + 40” wide-narrow row planting (W), “20 + 40” furrow planting (F), and “20 + 40” bed planting (B), which are very popular in North China. The results showed that under different irrigation regimes, there was no significant difference (less than 15.93%) between any of the planting patterns with respect to the amount of PAR intercepted by the winter wheat canopies. However, significant differences were observed between different planting patterns with respect to the amount of PAR intercepted by plants that were 60-80 cm above the ground surface (53.35-225.16%). This result was mainly due to the changes in the vertical distributions of leaf area index (LAI). As a result, the effects of the planting patterns on RUE and the winter wheat yield were due the vertical distribution of PAR in the winter wheat canopies. During the late winter wheat growing season, irrespective of the applied irrigation, the RUE in case of F was higher than that in case of U, W, and B by 0.05-0.09, 0.04-0.08, and 0.02-0.12 g/mol, respectively, and the yield was higher by 238.39-693.46, 160.02-685.96, and 308.98-699.06 kg/ha, respectively. Only under the fully irrigated conditions, the RUE and winter wheat yield significantly (LSD; P < 0.05) increased in case of B. This experiment showed that in North China, where the water shortage is the highest, application of planting pattern B should be restricted. Instead, F should be used in combination with deficit irrigation to increase the RUE and grain yield of winter wheat.     

Camelina water use and seed yield response to irrigation scheduling in an arid environment

Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz is a promising, biodiesel-producing oilseed that could potentially be implemented as a low-input alternative crop for production in the arid southwestern USA. However, little is known about camelina’s water use, irrigation management, and agronomic characteristics in this arid environment. Camelina experiments were conducted for 2 years (January to May in 2008 and 2010) in Maricopa, Arizona, to evaluate the effectiveness of previously developed heat unit and remote sensing basal crop coefficient (K _cb ) methods for predicting camelina crop evapotranspiration (ET) and irrigation scheduling. Besides K _cb methods, additional treatment factors included two different irrigation scheduling soil water depletion (SWD) levels (45 and 65 %) and two levels of seasonal N applications within a randomized complete block design with 4 blocks. Soil water content measurements taken in all treatment plots and applied in soil water balance calculations were used to evaluate the predicted ET. The heat-unit K _cb method was updated and validated during the second experiment to predict ET to within 12–13 % of the ET calculated by the soil water balance. The remote sensing K _cb method predicted ET within 7–10 % of the soil water balance. Seasonal ET from the soil water balance was significantly greater for the remote sensing than heat-unit K _cb method and significantly greater for the 45 than 65 % SWD level. However, final seed yield means, which varied from 1,500 to 1,640 kg ha^?1 for treatments, were not significantly different between treatments or years. Seed oil contents averaged 45 % in both years. Seed yield was found to be linearly related to seasonal ET with maximum yield occurring at about 470–490 mm of seasonal ET. Differences in camelina seed yields due to seasonal N applications (69–144 kg N ha^?1 over the 2 years) were not significant. Further investigations are needed to characterize camelina yield response over a wider range of irrigation and N inputs.     

滴灌水氮耦合对水氮利用及冬小麦产量的影响

以华北地区冬小麦为试验对象,参考直径20 cm标准蒸发皿的累计水面蒸发量E,通过2 a的大田试验(2012—2013),研究了大田地表滴灌条件下水氮耦合制度对作物耗水量、作物生理指标、产量、氮残留及水氮利用效率的影响,结果表明,冬小麦生育期内的耗水量、叶面积指数及产量受灌水定额的影响更为显著(P<0.05);滴灌条件下,当施氮量在120~290 kg/hm²时,水氮耦合效应对冬小麦耗水量的影响不具有统计学意义;在滴灌灌水定额为0.80E,施氮量为140~190 kg/hm²的水氮耦合模式下,冬小麦的产量较高,土壤硝态氮的当季残留较少,且进一步显著增加灌水定额和氮肥投入量将导致产量的明显下降;综合考虑冬小麦水氮利用效率和对地下水的潜在淋失风险,华北典型区滴灌水氮耦合的优化组合范围宜为灌水定额为0.80E,施氮量为140~190 kg/hm².     

Effects of saline water irrigation on soil salinity and yield of winter wheat–maize in North China Plain

Drought and fresh water shortage are in the way of sustainable agriculture development in the North China Plain. The scarcity of fresh water forces farmers to use shallow saline ground water, which helps to overcome drought and increase crop yields but also increases the risk of soil salinization. This paper describes salt regimes and crop responses to saline irrigation water based on field experiments conducted from October 1997 to September 2005. It was found that use of saline water causes the ECe of the topsoil (0–100 cm, Cv: 0.196∼0.330) to be higher and more variable than the subsoil (100–180 cm, Cv: 0.133∼0.219). The salt load rapidly increased, notably in the upper 80 cm and especially during the season of October 1999 to June 2000. It was concluded that the maximum soil depth to which the soil was leached during the wet season was about 150 cm. The relative yields of winter wheat could be ranked Fresh Sufficient (FS, 100%) > Fresh Limited (FL, 91.80%) > Saline Sufficient (SS, 91.63%) > Saline Limited (SL, 88.28%) > Control (C, 69.58%) and for maize FS (100%) > FL (96.37%) > SS (93.05%) > SL (90.04%)> C (89.81%). The best irrigation regime was Saline Limited for winter wheat and maize, provided rainfall is sufficient. The experiments confirm that saline irrigation water appears to be economically attractive to farmers in the short term and ecological hazards can still be controlled with proper leaching.     

灌溉水矿化度对土壤盐分及冬小麦产量的影响

为合理高效利用河北低平原区浅层地下咸水资源,采用田间试验的方法,系统研究了不同矿化度(1,2,4,6,8 g/L)灌溉水对土壤盐分分布与冬小麦产量的影响.结果表明,随灌溉水中矿化度的增加,0～20 cm厚度的土层土壤容重增加,同时土壤孔隙率逐渐降低.与淡水处理(1 g/L)相比,矿化度为2 g/L的灌溉水浇灌的麦田0～100 cm土层土壤平均盐分含量未出现明显增加;冬小麦拔节期、孕穗期和抽穗期的叶面积指数、株高以及单位面积穗数、穗粒数、千粒质量和籽粒产量未呈现明显差异.然而,当灌溉水矿化度增加到4 g/L以上时,0～100 cm土层土壤平均盐分含量大幅增加,植株生长受到明显抑制,籽粒产量出现显著下降,减产主要因素为咸水灌溉导致的冬小麦穗数减少.在该灌溉模式下,推荐冬小麦咸水灌溉的适宜矿化度低于2 g/L.     

Water use and lint yield response of drip irrigated cotton to the length of irrigation season

A 2-year experiment was conducted at Tal Amara Research Station in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon to determine water use and lint yield response to the length of irrigation season of drip irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Crop evapotranspiration (ET_crop) and reference evapotranspiration (ET_rye-grass) were directly measured at weekly basis during the 2001 growing period using crop and rye-grass drainage lysimeters. Crop coefficients (K_c) in the different growth stages were calculated as ET_crop/ET_rye-grass. Then, the calculated K_c values were used in the 2002 growing period to estimate evapotranspiration of cotton using the FAO method by multiplying the calculated K_c values by ET_rye-grass measured in 2002. The length of irrigation season was determined by terminating irrigation permanently at first open boll (S1), at early boll loading (S2), and at mid boll loading (S3). The three treatments were compared to a well-watered control (C) throughout the growing period. Lint yield was defined as a function of components including plant height at harvest, number of bolls per plant, and percentage of opened bolls per plant.Lysimeter-measured crop evapotranspiration (ET_crop) totaled 642 mm in 2001 for a total growing period of 134 days, while when estimated with the FAO method in 2002 it averaged 669 mm for a total growing period of 141 days from sowing to mature bolls. Average K_c values varied from 0.58 at initial growth stages (sowing to squaring), to 1.10 at mid growth stages (first bloom to first open boll), and 0.83 at late growth stages (early boll loading to mature bolls).Results showed that cotton lint yields were reduced as irrigation amounts increased. Average across years, the S1 treatment produced the highest yield of 639 kg ha⁻¹ from total irrigations of 549 mm, compared to the S2 and S3 treatments, which yielded 577 and 547 kg ha⁻¹ from total irrigations of 633 and 692 mm, respectively, while the control resulted in 457 kg ha⁻¹ of lint yield from 738 mm of irrigation water. Water use efficiency (WUE) was found to be higher in S1 treatment and averaged 1.3 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹, followed by S2 (1.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), and S3 (1.0 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), while in the control WUE was 0.80 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. Lint yield was negatively correlated with plant height and the number of bolls per plant and positively correlated with the percentage of opened bolls. This study suggests that terminating irrigation at first open boll stage has been found to provide the highest cotton yield with maximum WUE under the semi-arid conditions of the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon.     

Water use and water-use efficiency of wheat and barley in relation to seeding dates,levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization

Response of timely and late seeded wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to three levels of irrigation and four rates of nitrogen was investigated under pre-seeding irrigation. Water extraction pattern and water use of these crops varied markedly. Barley outyielded wheat by 27 and 9%, but used 9 and 21 mm less water, when one and two irrigations were given at critical stages, respectively. These results indicate the possibilities of considerable saving of water (100 mm) for barley without any decrease in grain yield and increased water-use efficiency (WUE) of wheat and barley by irrigating at critical stages as compared to irrigation at 75% depletion of available soil water (ASW). In general WUE decreased with increase in irrigation frequency and delay in seeding.Nitrogen fertilization with marginal additional water use (4–9%) increased yield linearly (45–98%) and thus increased WUE of wheat and barley. This additional water was extracted from below 60 cm depth at tensions ? 1.5 MPa and particularly in maximum growth and reproductive stages. These results suggest that barley should be preferred to wheat under medium to severe water stress and late seeding conditions.     

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.     

喷灌水肥与种植密度互作对水氮利用效率和冬小麦产量的影响

为研究豫北地区喷灌水肥一体化条件下不同种植密度和施氮频次对土壤水分、硝态氮含量及冬小麦产量的影响,开展田间试验.试验设置了2个种植密度(D1:187 kg/hm²、D2:262 kg/hm²)和3个施氮频次(F1:返青后追肥1次、F2:返青后追肥2次、F3:返青后追肥3次).试验结果表明:种植密度和施氮频次均显著影响冬小麦籽粒产量, 且两者间存在明显的互作效应.种植密度增大,冬小麦生育期0~100 cm土层土壤贮水量显著提高.主要生育期的根系生长层土壤含水量显著增加,其中孕穗期在100 cm土层深度的含水量D2较D1分别提高29.42%,3.10%和32.04%,灌浆期在80 cm土层深度的含水量D2较D1分别提高29.69%,27.52%和25.71%.当种植密度为262 kg/hm²,施氮频次为1次时,冬小麦产量较高,深层土层的土壤硝态氮当季残留较少.综合分析表明,该种植密度和施氮频次为当地冬小麦生育期的最优措施.     

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen application methods on input use efficiency of wheat under limited water supply in a Vertisol of Central India

Field experiments were conducted in a deep Vertisol at the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal during the years 2001–2005 to assess the effect of five different irrigation strategies through combinations of sprinkler and flood irrigation and two N application methods on yield and water use efficiency of wheat (cv WH 147). The amount of irrigation applied each year differed according to the availability of water in the water harvesting pond to simulate the actual water crisis faced by the farmers in this region during these years due to monsoon failure. Results indicated that when wheat was grown only with 8-cm irrigation at sowing or 14 cm up to the crown root initiation stage, dry sowing of wheat immediately followed by sprinkler and subsequent irrigation through flooding produced the highest yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies. However, when 20-cm irrigation was supplied up to the flowering stage or 14-cm irrigation was supplied up to tillering stage through sprinkler in 4 and 3 splits, respectively, at critical growth stages, maximized the grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Across the years, the crop yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies increased with increase in water supply.     

Impact of drip and level-basin irrigation on growth and yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain

A field experiment was conducted for 3 consecutive years (2007–2009) to study the effects of two different irrigation methods, that is, level-basin irrigation (BI) and drip irrigation (DI), and different treatment levels on crop growth, yield, and WUE of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the North China Plain (NCP). The results indicate that irrigation methods and treatment levels had significant effects on crop growth and yield of winter wheat. Irrigation amounts significantly influenced plant heights, LAI, and winter wheat grain yields (P < 0.05 level) for both irrigation methods. Further, the DI method significantly improved yield and WUE compared with the BI method (P < 0.05 level) under conditions of deficit irrigation. Without irrigation system investment consideration, crop water productivity was highest when DI was used and irrigations were scheduled when soil water was depleted to 60 and 50 % of field capacity.     

Water use and plant response in two rice irrigation methods

Pin-Point (PP) irrigation is being used by rice producers in the southern US to suppress red rice (Oryza sativa), the major weed in rice production. In PP irrigation, germinated seed is dropped into the floodwater. After 24 h the field is drained, remains moist for 3 to 5 days, then reflooded until near harvest. Little is known about water use of the PP method in comparison to the conventional Flush-Flood (FF) method in which germinated seed is also dropped into the floodwater and the field is drained after 24 h, similar to PP, or the field is drill-seeded, flooded and drained, but permanent flood is delayed for 30 to 35 days. During this 30 to 35 days non-flood period, flushing (periodic irrigation) is used to maintain seedling contact with the soil and prevent water stress. Water use of PP and FF irrigated rice was studied during 1994 and 1995 growing seasons near Beaumont, TX. Three plots were subjected to the PP irrigation technique and three to the FF method. A flow meter measured irrigation water applied, and lysimeters measured evapotranspiration, transpiration, and evaporation. The FF method required an average of 113 mm more irrigation water than the PP method, due to flushing of FF plots during the non-flood period. Evapotranspiration (ET) was higher for PP plots during the period when FF plots were dry. During the flood period, ET in FF plots was higher than in PP plots in 1994, due to mainly a lower leaf area index and a more open canopy which led to greater evaporation from the water surface. No differences in ET were found in 1995. Stomatal conductance was lower in FF plots during the non-flood period, indicating some degree of water stress. Irrigation method did not affect yield, but the PP method reduced time to 100% heading by 5 to 7 days. These results suggest that the PP method can be useful not only to suppress red rice, but also to save water and produce an earlier maturing crop. Early maturity is particularly important in areas where ratoon cropping is practiced.     

Tomato yield, biomass accumulation, root distribution and irrigation water use efficiency on a sandy soil, as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation scheduling

Florida is the largest producer of fresh-market tomatoes in the United States. Production areas are typically intensively managed with high inputs of fertilizer and irrigation. The objectives of this 3-year field study were to evaluate the interaction between N-fertilizer rates and irrigation scheduling on yield, irrigation water use efficiency (iWUE) and root distribution of tomato cultivated in a plastic mulched/drip irrigated production systems. Experimental treatments included three irrigation scheduling regimes and three N-rates (176, 220 and 230 kg ha⁻¹). Irrigation treatments included were: (1) SUR (surface drip irrigation) both irrigation and fertigation line placed right underneath the plastic mulch; (2) SDI (subsurface drip irrigation) where the irrigation line was placed 0.15 m below the fertigation line which was located on top of the bed; and (3) TIME (conventional control) with irrigation and fertigation lines placed as in SUR and irrigation being applied once a day. Except for the “TIME” treatment all irrigation treatments were controlled by soil moisture sensor (SMS)-based irrigation set at 10% volumetric water content which was allotted five irrigation windows daily and bypassed events if the soil water content exceeded the established threshold. Average marketable fruit yields were 28, 56 and 79 Mg ha⁻¹ for years 1-3, respectively. The SUR treatment required 15-51% less irrigation water when compared to TIME treatments, while the reductions in irrigation water use for SDI were 7-29%. Tomato yield was 11-80% higher for the SUR and SDI treatments than TIME where as N-rate did not affect yield. Root concentration was greatest in the vicinity of the irrigation and fertigation drip lines for all irrigation treatments. At the beginning of reproductive phase about 70-75% of the total root length density (RLD) was concentrated in the 0-15 cm soil layer while 15-20% of the roots were found in the 15-30 cm layer. Corresponding RLD distribution values during the reproductive phase were 68% and 22%, respectively. Root distribution in the soil profile thus appears to be mainly driven by development stage, soil moisture and nutrient availability. It is concluded that use of SDI and SMS-based systems consistently increased tomato yields while greatly improving irrigation water use efficiency and thereby reduced both irrigation water use and potential N leaching.     

施氮量对扬黄灌区土壤水分、温度、碳氮及玉米产量的影响

针对宁夏扬黄灌区降水少、春季低温不利于玉米出苗和生长,而作物生育中后期高温胁迫导致玉米生产力低下等问题,在滴灌条件下设置秸秆全量还田(9000 kg/hm2)配施3个不同纯氮用量:150,300,450 kg/hm2(即处理N1,N2,N3),并以秸秆还田不施氮肥为对照处理(CK),研究不同施氮量对土壤水分、土壤温度、...     

Dry-period irrigation and fertilizer application affect water use and yield of spring wheat in semi-arid regions

Based on a field study on the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China, the strategies of limited irrigation in farmland in dry-period of normal-precipitation years are studied, and the effects on water use and grain yield of spring wheat of dry-period irrigation and fertilizer application when sowing are examined. The study includes four treatments: (1) with 90 mm dry-period irrigation but without fertilizer application (W); (2) with fertilizer application but without dry-period irrigation (F); (3) with 90 mm dry-period irrigation plus fertilizer application (WF); (4) without dry-period irrigation and fertilizer application (CK). The results indicate that dry-period irrigation resulted in larger and deeper root systems and larger leaf area index (LAI) compared with the non-irrigated treatments. The root/shoot ratio (R/S) in the irrigated treatments was significantly higher than in the non-irrigated treatments. The grain yields in F, W and WF are 1509, 2712 and 3291 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, which are 13.7, 104.3 and 147.9% higher than that (1328 kg ha⁻¹) of CK, and at the same time the grain yields in W and WF are also significantly higher than in F. Water use efficiencies (WUE) in terms of grain yield are 5.70 and 6.91 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ in W and WF, respectively, being 65.7 and 101.1% higher than that (3.44 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) of CK. The highest WUE and grain yield consistently occurred in WF, suggesting that the combination of dry-period irrigation and fertilizer application has a beneficial effect on improving WUE and grain yield of spring wheat.     

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

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

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on yield and yield components of two rapeseed cultivars

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of irrigation and nitrogen on two cultivars of oilseed crops (Brassica napus L. cv. canola and Brassica campestris L. cv rapeseed) on a sandy-clay-loam soil during 1993–1994. The mean plant height ranges for canola were: 1.20–1.40 m (well water) and 1.40–1.57 m (aquaculture effluent); and for rapeseed from 1.281.52 m (well water) and 1.41–1.58 m (aquaculture effluent) in different fertilizer treatments. Mean biomass yield for canola ranged between 14.60–17.84 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 14.09–19.51 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent); and for rapeseed from 16.67–19.51 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 12.70–20.74 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). The mean seed yield for canola varied from 2.65–3.44 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 3.02–3.74 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent): and for rapeseed from 2.73–3.26 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and from 2.62–3.29 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). The mean straw yield ranges for canola were: 12.01–14.39 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 13.65–15.93 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent); and for rapeseed from 11.67–13.28 Mg ha⁻¹ (well water) and 9.83–17.45 Mg ha⁻¹ (aquaculture effluent). The mean oil contents for canola were 30.92–36.12% (aquaculture effluent) and 32.47–35.78% (well water); and for rapeseed from 30.15–34.53% (aquaculture effluent) and 33.50–35.96% (aquaculture effluent). The mean protein contents of straw were 5.42–6.44% (canola) and 3.78–4.37% (rapeseed) in different fertilizer treatments. Application of 175 kg N ha⁻¹ with 50 kg P ha⁻¹ showed significant effect on crop yield under both types of irrigation water. Based on the results of this study, it appears that cultivars of rapeseed recently introduced from Canada have an excellent potential as oilseed crops in Saudi Arabia.