Deficit irrigation in maize for reducing agricultural water use in a Mediterranean environment

Research on crop response to deficit irrigation is important to reduce agricultural water use in areas where water is a limited resource. Two field experiments were conducted on a loam soil in northeast Spain to characterize the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to deficit irrigation under surface irrigation. The growing season was divided into three phases: vegetative, flowering and grain filling. The irrigation treatments consisted of all possible combinations of full irrigation or limited irrigation in the three phases. Limited irrigation was applied by increasing the interval between irrigations. Soil water status, crop growth, above-ground biomass, yield and its components were measured. Results showed that flowering was the most sensitive stage to water deficit, with reductions in biomass, yield and harvest index. Average grain yield of treatments with deficit irrigation around flowering (691 g m⁻²) was significantly lower than that of the well-irrigated treatments (1069 g m⁽²). Yield reduction was mainly due to a lower number of grains per square metre. Deficit irrigation or higher interval between irrigations during the grain filling phase did not significantly affect crop growth and yield. It was possible to maintain relatively high yields in maize if small water deficits caused by increasing the interval between irrigations were limited to periods other than the flowering stage. Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was higher in treatments fully irrigated around flowering.     

不同生育期水分亏缺对春青稞水分利用和产量的影响

对不同生育期水分亏缺程度对春青稞(Hordeum vulgare)水分利用效率和产量的影响进行了桶栽试验研究。试验处理设充分灌溉处理(2个水分控制下限和秸秆覆盖)以及在全生育期和5个不同生育期的4个水分亏缺程度(轻度、中度、重度和极度)处理,共27个处理。结果表明,在充分灌溉条件下,75%田间持水率水分下限控制处理的春青稞收获指数、籽粒产量和作物水分利用效率大于80%水分处理;秸秆覆盖处理的籽粒产量和水分利用效率在所有试验处理中最大。在全生育期水分亏缺条件下,春青稞籽粒产量均小于充分灌溉处理,且随着水分亏缺程度的增大而显著减小;轻度至重度水分亏缺处理可获得更大的作物收获指数和水分利用效率,但极度水分亏缺却导致最低的籽粒产量、收获指数和水分利用效率。除成熟期水分亏缺处理外,不同生育期水分亏缺处理条件下,春青稞籽粒产量和作物水分利用效率基本随着水分亏缺程度的增大而减小;拔节期、分蘖期和灌浆期水分亏缺对籽粒产量的不利影响较大。地表秸秆覆盖或全生育期轻度至重度水分亏缺处理可提高春青稞水分利用效率。     

Effect of different drip irrigation regimes on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) yield, quality and water use efficiency in Middle Anatolian, Turkey

Agricultural production has forced researchers to focus on increasing water use efficiency by improving either new drought-tolerant plant varieties or water management for arid and semi-arid areas under water shortage conditions. A field study was conducted to determine effects of seasonal deficit irrigation on plant root yield, quality and water use efficiency (WUE) of sugar beet for a 2-year period in the semi-arid region. Irrigations were applied when approximately 50–55% of the usable soil moisture was consumed in the effective rooting depth at the full irrigation (FI) treatment. In deficit irrigation treatments, irrigations were applied at the rates of 75, 50 and 25% of full irrigation treatment on the same day. Irrigation water was applied by a drip irrigation system. Increasing water deficits resulted in a relatively lower root and white sugar yields. The linear relationship between evapotranspiration and root yield was obtained. Similarly, WUE was the highest in DI25 irrigation conditions and the lowest in full irrigation conditions. According to the averaged values of 2 years, yield response factor (k _y ) was 0.93 for sugar beet. Sugar beet root quality parameters were influenced by drip irrigation levels in both years. The results revealed that irrigation of sugar beet with drip irrigation method at 75% level (DI25) had significant benefits in terms of saved irrigation water and large WUE, indicating a definitive advantage of deficit irrigation under limited water supply conditions. In an economic viewpoint, 25% saving of irrigation water (DI25) caused 6.1% reduction in the net income.     

Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum × P. radens) growth and essential oil yield response to different soil water depletion regimes

Effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like South Africa, could increase crop yield and thereby improve productivity of scarce fresh water resources. Experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, from 2004 to 2006, to investigate the effect of soil water depletion regimes on rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum × P. radens cv. Rose) essential oil yield, essential oil composition and water-use efficiency in an open field and a rain shelter. Four maximum allowable soil water depletion levels (MAD), 20, 40, 60 and 80% of the plant available soil water (ASW) in the top 0.8 m root zone, were applied as treatments. Plant roots extracted most soil water from the top 0.4 m soil layer. Increasing the soil water depletion level to 60% and higher resulted in a significant reduction in herbage mass and essential oil yield. Water stress apparently increased the essential oil concentration (percentage oil on fresh herbage mass basis), but its contribution to total essential oil yield (kg/ha oil) was limited. Irrigation treatments did not affect essential oil composition. An increase in maximum allowable depletion level generally resulted in a decrease in leaf area and an increase in leaf to stem fresh mass ratio. Up to 28% of irrigation water could be saved by increasing maximum allowable depletion level of ASW from 20 to 40%, without a significant reduction in essential oil yield.     

Yield performance of spring wheat improved by regulated deficit irrigation in an arid area

A field experiment was conducted in 2003 and 2004 growing seasons to evaluate the effects of regulated deficit irrigation on yield performance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) in an arid area. Three regulated deficit irrigation treatments designed to subject the crops to various degrees of soil water deficit at different stages of crop development and a no-soil-water-deficit control was established. Soil moisture was measured gravimetrically in the increment of 0–20 cm every five to seven days in the given growth periods, while that in 20 increments to 40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm depth measured by neutron probe. Compared to the no-soil-water-deficit treatment, grain yield, biomass, harvest index, water use efficiency (WUE), and water supply use efficiency (WsUE) in spring wheat were all greatly improved by 16.6–25.0, 12.4–19.2, 23.5–27.3, 32.7–39.9, and 44.6–58.8% under regulated deficit irrigation, and better yield components such as thousand-grain weight, grain weight per spike, number of grain, length of spike, and fertile spikelet number were also obtained, but irrigation water was substantially decreased by 14.0–22.9%. The patterns of soil moisture were similar in the regulated deficit treatments, and the soil moisture contents were greatly decreased by regulated deficit irrigation during wheat growing seasons. Significant differences were found between the no-soil-water-deficit treatment and the regulated soil water deficit treatments in grain yield, yield components, biomass, harvest index, WUE, and WsUE, but no significant differences occurred within the regulated soil water deficit treatments. Yield performance proved that regulated deficit irrigation treatment subjected to medium soil water deficit both during the middle vegetative stage (jointing) and the late reproductive stages (filling and maturity or filling) while subjected to no-soil-water-deficit both during the late vegetative stage (booting) and the early reproductive stage (heading) (MNNM) had the highest yield increase of 25.0 and 14.0% of significant water-saving, therefore, the optimum controlled soil water deficit levels in this study should range 50–60% of field water capacity (FWC) at the middle vegetative growth period (jointing), and 65–70% of FWC at both of the late vegetative period (booting) and early reproductive period (heading) followed by 50–60% of FWC at the late reproductive periods (the end of filling or filling and maturity) in treatment MNNM, with the corresponding optimum total irrigation water of 338 mm. In addition, the relationships among grain yield, biomass, and harvest index, the relationship between grain yield and WUE, WsUE, and the relationship between harvest index and WUE, WsUE under regulated deficit irrigation were also estimated through linear or non-linear regression models, which indicate that the highest grain yield was associated with the maximum biomass, harvest index, and water supply use efficiency, but not with the highest water use efficiency, which was reached by appropriate controlling soil moisture content and water consumption. The relations also indicate that the harvest index was associated with the maximum biomass and water supply use efficiency, but not with the highest water use efficiency.     

Water-use efficiency of sorghum and groundnut under traditional and current irrigation in the Gezira scheme, Sudan

In the Gezira irrigation scheme in central Sudan, serious symptoms of water waste have been identified in the last two decades, especially in sorghum and groundnut fields. To quantify losses, water-use efficiencies and related parameters were obtained for these two food crops under the traditional attended daytime water application and the newly evolved unattended continuous watering method. In this on-farm research, the neutron scattering method was used to determine the actual soil water deficits of the two crops. A simple Penman equation was used for approximating reference crop evapotranspiration and evaporation losses from standing water and wet soil surface. An updated approach using the Penman-Monteith equation was additionally applied. The study revealed wastage of irrigation water in both irrigation methods but at different rates and also differently for each crop. In the attended field, the average seasonal over-irrigation, which is the difference between average application depth Q and average soil moisture deficit SWD, was observed to range between 0.4 and 1.5 of SWD (0.3 and 0.6 of Q) and the corresponding values in the unattended field were 0.6 and 3.2 of SWD (0.4 and 0.8 of Q). Higher values are shown by the groundnut subplots, which crop also suffers from excess water, and by the drier year as well as in the unattended fields. A first approximation is given, still including readily available water at harvest, of minimum water requirements in attended watering for maximum yields. In the drier year, when more irrigation water was applied, an amount equal to 30-50% of these minimum water requirements was lost in evaporation from standing water/wet surface, which is the main unproductive water. More frequent land levelling aiming at minimum standing water in better attended irrigation and farm management (e.g. weeding) are priority measures proposed. The quantitative on-farm water waste determinations represent the innovative content of this paper. Knowing precisely how large the problem is and being able to quantify its components will contribute much to the arguments of those who wish to take the proposed measures.     

The wheat yields and water-use efficiency in the Loess Plateau: straw mulch and irrigation effects

The yield of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of the major crops planted in the Loess Plateau, China, is mainly affected by available water. Straw mulch and irrigation are efficient ways of influencing wheat yield and water-use efficiency. To develop better semiarid crop and water management practices, a 13-year experiment in spring wheat monoculture was conducted at the Dingxi Soil and Water Conservation Institute of the Loess Plateau. The influence of rainfall during the growing season (March–July) on yields of rain-fed wheat was studied for 13 years (1982–1992 and 1997–1998). The influence of straw mulch and irrigation on wheat yield, and water-use efficiency, was studied for 2 years (1997–1998). We found that growing season rainfall had a significant (P < 0.05) influence on biomass and grain yield of spring wheat in rain-fed conditions during the 13 years. Both biomass and grain yield were very low and varied significantly due to the low and significant variability of growing season rainfall. Straw mulch increased wheat yields significantly during both dry (1997) and wet (1998) years. It increased biomass and grain yield by 37 and 52%, respectively, in 1997, and by 20 and 26%, respectively, in 1998. Straw mulch also significantly decreased evapotranspiration (P < 0.05), soil water depletion (P < 0.01), and increased water-use efficiency (P < 0.001). Biomass and grain yield both increased (P < 0.01 orP < 0.001) with increasing irrigation in 1997 and 1998. The three irrigation levels increased the biomass yield from 34 to 66% in 1997, and from 34 to 77% in 1998. The irrigation levels also increased grain yield from 53 to 102% in 1997, and from 22 to 57% in 1998. Water-use efficiency for biomass and grain yield also increased with increasing irrigation. On the other hand, irrigation water-use efficiency for biomass and grain yield decreased with increasing irrigation. The results suggest that higher crop yields in the semiarid Loess Plateau may be achieved by using irrigation, or a proper combination of straw mulch and irrigation.     

Effects of deficit irrigation scheduling on yields and soil water balance of irrigated maize

This paper presents the findings of the effect of some selected deficit irrigation scheduling practices on irrigated maize crop in a sub-catchment in south western part of Tanzania. Field experiments, in which maize (TMV1-ST) variety was planted under total irrigation, were conducted during the dry seasons of 2004 and 2005. Surface irrigation method was used and the crop was planted in basins. The seasonal water applied ranged from 400 to 750 mm. Soil moisture content from both cropped and bare soils, leaf area index, dry matter, and grain yields were measured. The dry matter yield ranged between 6,966 and 12,672 kg/ha, and grain yields obtained were between 1,625 and 4,349 kg/ha. The results showed that deficit irrigation at any crop growth stage of the maize crop led to decrease in dry matter and grain yields, seasonal evapotranspiration and deep percolation. Deficit irrigation in any one growth stage of the maize crop only seems to affect grain production and no significant effect on biomass production, but deficit irrigation that spanned across two or more growth stages affect both biomass and grain production drastically. Crop water use efficiency (WUE) and Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were strongly influenced by the number of growth stages in which deficit irrigations were applied and how critical the growth stages were to moisture stress rather than the amount of irrigation water applied. While maximum WUE was obtained under full irrigation, maximum IWUE was obtained in the deficit irrigation treatment at vegetative growth stage, which suggest that IWUE may be improved upon by practicing deficit irrigation at the vegetative growth stage of the maize crop.     

Analysis of deficit irrigation strategies for corn using crop growth simulation

Summary Corn yields for full irrigation and 4 different levels of deficit irrigation were simulated using a model developed by Stockle and Campbell (1985). Different irrigation levels were obtained by holding the application depth constant and allowing the irrigation interval to vary from 1 to 5 days. Silt loam and loamy sand soils, two root depths, two water contents at planting time, total pumping heads ranging from 0 to 800 m, four ratios of energy cost to commodity price and climatic data for the 1974 growing season at Davis, California were examined. The different variable combinations resulted in a wide range of crop water deficit and yield. Results indicated that, for given combinations, slight deficit (ratios of actual to potential transpiration larger than 0.89) provided higher net benefit than full irrigation. Larger deficits were never advantageous across the diverse range of conditions examined, indicating that potential benefits are associated with only a narrow range of irrigation deficits. This result illustrates the risk involved when deficit irrigation is practiced. Large soil water holding capacity, high soil water contents at planting and deep root exploration were found important for successful implementation of deficit irrigation. Total pumping head and the ratio of energy cost to commodity price were important factors in determining the feasibility of deficit irrigation for the conditions examined. It was also found that the level of irrigation which maximized net benefits tended to be lower for situations where the quantity of water available for irrigation was fixed and the amount of land which could be irrigated was unlimited than when there was sufficient water to fully irrigate the entire farm. Situations where deficit irrigation is a more effective way of reducing energy cost than reducing system operating pressure were ob served.Scientific Paper No. 7571 Project 0634, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6120, USA     

Comparison of drip and sprinkler irrigation strategies on sunflower seed and oil yield and quality under Mediterranean climatic conditions

This study compares the effects of different irrigation regimes on seed yield and oil yield quality and water productivity of sprinkler and drip irrigated sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) on silty-clay-loam soils in 2006 and 2007 in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. In sprinkler irrigation a line-source system was used in order to create gradually varying irrigation levels. Irrigation regimes consisted of full irrigation (I₁) and three deficit irrigation treatments (I₂, I₃ and I₄), and rain-fed treatment (I₅). In the drip system, irrigation regimes included full irrigation (FI-100), three deficit irrigation treatments (DI-25, DI-50, DI-75), partial root zone drying (PRD-50) and rain-fed treatment (RF). Irrigations were scheduled at weekly intervals both in sprinkler and drip irrigation, based on soil water depletion within a 0.90 m root zone in FI-100 and I₁ plots. Irrigation treatments influenced significantly (P < 0.01) sunflower seed and oil yields, and oil quality both with sprinkler and drip systems. Seed yields decreased with increasing water stress levels under drip and sprinkler irrigation in both experimental years. Seed yield response to irrigation varied considerably due to differences in soil water contents and spring rainfall distribution in the experimental years. Although PRD-50 received about 36% less irrigation water as compared to FI-100, sunflower yield was reduced by an average of 15%. PRD-50 produced greater seed and oil yields than DI-50 in the drip irrigation system. Yield reduction was mainly due to less number of seeds per head and lower seed mass. Soil water deficits significantly reduced crop evapotranspiration (ET), which mainly depends on irrigation amounts. Significant linear relationships (R² = 0.96) between ET and oil yield (Y) were obtained in each season. The seed yield response factors (ky_seed) were 1.24 and 0.86 for the sprinkler and 1.19 and 1.06 for the drip system in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The oil yield response factor (ky_oil) for sunflower was found to be 1.08 and 1.49 for both growing seasons for the sprinkler and 1.36 and 1.25 for the drip systems, respectively. Oil content decreased with decreasing irrigation amount. Consistently greater values of oil content were obtained from the full irrigation treatment plots. The saturated (palmitic and stearic acid) and unsaturated (oleic and linoleic acid) fatty acid contents were significantly affected by water stress. Water stress caused an increase in oleic acid with a decrease in linoleic acid contents. The palmitic and stearic acid concentrations decreased under drought conditions. Water productivity (WP) values were significantly affected by irrigation amounts and ranged from 0.40 to 0.71 kg m⁻³ in 2006, and from 0.69 to 0.91 kg m⁻³ in 2007. The PRD-50 treatment resulted in the greatest WP (1.0 kg m⁻³) and irrigation water productivity (IWP) (1.4 kg m⁻³) in both growing seasons. The results revealed that under water scarcity situation, PRD-50 in drip and I₂ in sprinkler system provide acceptable irrigation strategies to increase sunflower yield and quality.     

A comparison between low-cost drip irrigation,conventional drip irrigation,and hand watering in Nepal

Access to irrigation water is a critical element in meeting the food demands of a rapidly increasing population in the Middle Mountains of Nepal. The recent introduction of low-cost drip irrigation (LCDI) to Nepal represents an affordable means of expanding irrigation into rainfed areas, thereby increasing land productivity. This study presents a comparison of the effects on soil volumetric water content and cauliflower yield of three irrigation methods (LCDI, conventional drip irrigation (CDI), and hand watering) operated under three different irrigation regimes in the Jhikhu Khola Watershed, Nepal. Irrigation regime R₁ supplied only half of the estimated crop water requirement, characterized by small volumes applied on alternate days. The other two irrigation regimes (regimes R₂ and R₃), supplied the full estimated crop water requirement, however differed in application timing. Small volumes were applied frequently (daily) under regime R₂, whereas in regime R₃, greater water volumes were applied less frequently (alternate days for the majority of experiment). Although differences in the soil volumetric water content (SVWC) were present between the irrigation methods, differences were not consistent between the three irrigation regimes. Regardless of irrigation regime, cumulative cauliflower yields were lowest under conventional drip irrigation. In contrast, there were significant differences in cauliflower yield between LCDI and hand watering between irrigation regimes. Irrigation regime R₁ resulted in lower SVWC and lower cumulative yields than regimes R₂ and R₃, however, water-use efficiency was greater under regime R₁ than under regimes R₂ and R₃. These results suggest that LCDI and hand watering are both viable options to increase food production in water scarce, small-scale farming in Nepal, however, long-term economic and labour benefits are greater under LCDI.     

不同灌溉定额对向日葵生物量累积动态及产量构成要素的影响

为探究河套灌区向日葵不同播前灌水量及现蕾—开花期复水对地上生物量累积、分配以及产量构成要素的影响,试验以当地常规灌溉量(播前135 mm,复水90 mm)为对照,设置A1(播前108 mm,复水90 mm)、A2(播前81 mm、复水90 mm)、B1(播前108 mm、复水72 mm)和B2(播前81 mm、复水72 mm)4个处理进行对比研究。结果表明,适当减少播前灌水量,向日葵在开花期生物量累积补偿效应表现显著,且充分复水较限制复水的生物累积量提高16.45%~32.24%。相同播前灌水量下,收获期充分复水处理总生物量高于限制复水处理(P0.01),不同复水处理收获期籽粒百分比差异显著(P0.05),且A1处理籽粒占总生物量的百分比最高,达到43.02%。播前适当的减少灌水量(108 mm),充分复水能显著提高(P0.05)经济产量,而相同播前灌水量下,现蕾—开花期减少灌水量会显著降低经济产量(P0.05)。采用隶属函数法综合评价不同灌溉下的产量和产量构成要素、灌溉水分生产率等相关指标,得出A1处理最优。A1处理经济产量、灌溉水分生产率分别较CK显著提高8.47%和23.19%,其原因是平均单株实粒数和结实率的显著提高(P0.05)。研究表明,河套灌区向日葵适宜的灌溉制度为播前灌水108 mm,现蕾-开花期复水90 mm。     

夏玉米不同生育期亏缺-复水对蒸发蒸腾和产量的影响

【目的】探究不同时间尺度下夏玉米蒸发蒸腾量的变化规律。【方法】试验在夏玉米3个生育阶段(出苗—拔节期、拔节—抽雄期、抽雄—灌浆期)分别设置3个灌水水平(充分灌溉：100%ET_a;中度水分亏缺：80%ET_a;重度水分亏缺：60%ET_a),其中ET_a为蒸渗仪实测的充分灌溉条件下的蒸发蒸腾量,采用正交试验设计,共9个处理(CK、T1、T2、T3、T4、T5、T6、T7处理和T8处理),其中CK为充分灌溉处理,其余处理为不同程度的亏缺灌溉处理,研究了不同生育期亏缺-复水对夏玉米不同时间尺度蒸发蒸腾量、产量和水分利用效率的影响。【结果】与CK相比,不同亏缺灌溉处理下夏玉米蒸发蒸散量均有所减少。T3处理复水后蒸发蒸腾量基本可以恢复至正常水平,而T5、T6处理和T7处理复水后均未恢复至正常水平。抽雄—灌浆期土壤含水率应保持在75%田间持水率以上,土壤含水率低于50%田间持水率时,夏玉米将停止生长。不同亏缺灌溉处理的产量相较于CK减少5.85%～32.25%,其中T3处理比CK减少5.85%,且T3处理水分利用效率...     

The effects of applied water at various fractions of measured evapotranspiration on reproductive growth and water productivity of Thompson Seedless grapevines

The reproductive growth and water productivity (WP_b) of Thompson Seedless grapevines were measured as a function of applied water amounts at various fractions of measured grapevine ET_c for a total of eight irrigation treatments. Shoots were harvested numerous times during the growing season to calculate water productivity. Berry weight was maximized at the 0.6–0.8 applied water treatments across years. As applied water amounts increased soluble solids decreased. Berry weight measured at veraison and harvest was a linear function of the mean midday leaf water potential measured between anthesis and veraison and anthesis and harvest, respectively. As applied water amounts increased up to the 0.6–0.8 irrigation treatments there was a significant linear increase in yield. Yields at greater applied water amounts either leveled off or decreased. The reduction in yield on either side of the yearly maximum was due to fewer numbers of clusters per vine. Maximum yield occurred at an ET_c ranging from 550 to 700 mm. Yield per unit applied water and WP_b increased as applied water decreased. The results from this study demonstrated that Thompson Seedless grapevines can be deficit irrigated, increasing water use efficiency while maximizing yields.     

Irrigation scheduling strategies for cotton to cope with water scarcity in the Fergana Valley, Central Asia

The Central Asian countries face high water scarcity due to aridity and desertification but excess water is often applied to the main irrigated crops. This over-irrigation contributes to aggravate water scarcity problems. Improved water saving irrigation is therefore required, mainly through appropriate irrigation scheduling. To provide for it, after being previously calibrated and validated for cotton in the Fergana region, the irrigation scheduling simulation model ISAREG was explored to simulate improved irrigation scheduling alternatives. Results show that using the present irrigation scheduling a large part of the applied water, averaging 20%, percolates out of the root zone. Several irrigation strategies were analyzed, including full irrigation and various levels of deficit irrigation. The analysis focused a three-year period when experiments for calibration and validation of the model were carried out, and a longer period of 33 years that provided for an analysis considering the probabilities of the demand for irrigation water. The first concerned a wet period while the second includes a variety of climatic demand conditions that provided for analyzing alternative schedules for average, high and very high climatic demand. Results have shown the importance of the groundwater contribution, mainly when deficit irrigation is applied. Analyzing several deficit irrigation strategies through the respective potential water saving, relative yield losses, water productivity and economic water productivity, it could be concluded that relative mild deficits may be adopted. Contrarily, the adoption of high water deficit that produce high water savings would lead to yield losses that may be economically not acceptable.     

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.     

Wet soil volume and strategy effects on drip-irrigated olive trees (cv. ‘Arbequina’)

The effect on productive and vegetative behavior and on the quality of oil from Olea europaea L. when applying two distinct irrigation techniques, full irrigation (FI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), was studied. A total of five wet soil volumes (WSVs, 12, 24, 35, 47 and 59%) expressed in terms of the potential root exploration volume were established for each strategy. The experiment was performed on cv. ‘Arbequina’ in an olive grove in Tarragona (Spain). Results obtained suggest that a 20% reduction in the irrigation dose (RDI) had no significant effect either on olive fruit and oil production or on oil content. Likewise, no significant increase in irrigation water-use efficiency was observed for FI with respect to RDI. A tendency for olive and oil production per hectare to increase with increased WSV percentage was observed, although there were no significant differences between FI and RDI except for 59% WSV in the RDI strategy, producing the best response.     

调亏灌溉对日光温室青茄品质和耗水规律的影响

在日光温室滴灌条件下采用小区试验方法,研究了不同生育期不同程度调亏灌溉对青茄耗水规律、产量、品质和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,温室青茄耗水高峰出现在成熟采摘期,该阶段耗水模系数在49.96%～64.11%之间;苗期的耗水量最小,其阶段耗水模系数在8.64%～16.68%之间。苗期和成熟采摘期适度调亏灌溉(灌水定额为适宜供水的80%)可提高青茄产量和水分利用效率,开花坐果期水分过度亏缺(灌水定额为适宜供水的60%)对青茄品质有所改善,但显著降低青茄产量和灌溉水利用效率。综合考虑产量和品质,拟定日光温室青茄滴灌条件下适宜的灌溉制度为,灌水周期10d,苗期和成熟采摘期适度亏水,灌水定额分别为12mm和20mm;开花坐果期宜充分灌溉,灌水定额为25mm。     

Yield,water use and root distribution of wheat as affected by pre-sowing and post-sowing irrigation

Irrigation water is a limited resource, and therefore irrigation practices must be rationalized for high water-use efficiency. Little is known about the influence of stored water in deep soils on the water needs and the post-sowing irrigation requirements of crops. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of combinations of light and heavy pre-sowing irrigations with two post-sowing irrigation regimes on yield, root growth, water use and water-use efficiency of wheat on a deep alluvial sandy loam soil. Post-sowing treatments consisted of (i) five 75-mm irrigations at five growth stages, and (ii) irrigations based on pan evaporation, i.e. at IW/PAN-E ratio of 0.75 (75 mm of irrigation water were provided as soon as the open-pan evaporation minus rainfall since previous irrigation was 100 mm).The latter regime required 175 mm less water than that with irrigation at growth stages. Profile water utilization was inversely related to post-sowing irrigation water. Where pre-sowing irrigation was light, post-sowing irrigations based on pan evaporation yielded significantly less than those based on growth stages. With heavy pre-sowing irrigation, irrigation based on the pan evaporation yielded as much as five irrigations at growth stages. The former decreased the mean water application by 153 mm and increased the water-use efficiency by 26%. Irrigation based on pan evaporation stimulated greater utilization of stored water by increasing the rooting density in deeper layers.It is indicated that for higher water-use efficiency and yield, wheat should be sown after a heavy pre-sowing irrigation, and post-sowing irrigation should be based on 0.75 pan evaporation.     

水分调控与种植模式对枸杞生长和水分利用效率的影响

探究适于引黄灌区枸杞的水分调控和种植模式,以解决水土资源紧缺的生产实际问题。采用两因素随机区组设计进行大田试验,设置4个水分梯度（充分灌溉W0,75%～85%;轻度亏缺W1,65%～75%;中度亏缺W2,55%～65%;重度亏缺W3,45%～55%）和2种种植模式（枸杞单作D、枸杞间作苜蓿J）,研究不同灌水种植模式对土壤水分含量,以及枸杞耗水特征、生长、产量和水分利用效率的影响。研究结果表明,枸杞总耗水量随水分亏缺程度加重而减小,间作较单作增加了耗水量,但同时提高了灌水利用比例。枸杞生长随水分亏缺程度加重而减缓,间作苜蓿抑制枸杞生长。轻度亏缺W1提高了枸杞干果百粒质量,充分灌溉枸杞产量最大,轻度亏缺枸杞水分利用效率最高,DW1处理水分利用效率为3.83 kg/（hm2·mm）。间作苜蓿对枸杞产量影响不显著,降低了枸杞水分利用效率,但因苜蓿的产出而提升了综合效益。综合考虑,轻度水分调控W1的枸杞生长与水分利用效率均较优,间作会一定程度上影响枸杞生长,但能提高水土资源利用效率。