Simulation of transpiration, drainage, N uptake, nitrate leaching, and N uptake concentration in tomato grown in open substrate

Free-drainage or “open” substrate system used for vegetable production in greenhouses is associated with appreciable NO₃⁻ leaching losses and drainage volumes. Simulation models of crop N uptake, N leaching, water use and drainage of crops in these systems will be useful for crop and water resource management, and environmental assessment. This work (i) modified the TOMGRO model to simulate N uptake for tomato grown in greenhouses in SE Spain, (ii) modified the PrHo model to simulate transpiration of tomato grown in substrate and (iii) developed an aggregated model combining TOMGRO and PrHo to calculate N uptake concentrations and drainage NO₃⁻ concentration. The component models simulate NO₃⁻-N leached by subtracting simulated N uptake from measured applied N, and drainage by subtracting simulated transpiration from measured irrigation. Three tomato crops grown sequentially in free-draining rock wool in a plastic greenhouse were used for calibration and validation. Measured daily transpiration was determined by the water balance method from daily measurements of irrigation and drainage. Measured N uptake was determined by N balance, using data of volumes and of concentrations of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ in applied nutrient solution and drainage. Accuracy of the two modified component models and aggregated model was assessed by comparing simulated to measured values using linear regression analysis, comparison of slope and intercept values of regression equations, and root mean squared error (RMSE) values. For the three crops, the modified TOMGRO provided accurate simulations of cumulative crop N uptake, (RMSE = 6.4, 1.9 and 2.6% of total N uptake) and NO₃⁻-N leached (RMSE = 11.0, 10.3, and 6.1% of total NO₃⁻-N leached). The modified PrHo provided accurate simulation of cumulative transpiration (RMSE = 4.3, 1.7 and 2.4% of total transpiration) and cumulative drainage (RMSE = 13.8, 6.9, 7.4% of total drainage). For the four cumulative parameters, slopes and intercepts of the linear regressions were mostly not statistically significant (P < 0.05) from one and zero, respectively, and coefficient of determination (r²) values were 0.96-0.98. Simulated values of total drainage volumes for the three crops were +21, +1 and −13% of measured total drainage volumes. The aggregated TOMGRO-PrHo model generally provided accurate simulation of crop N uptake concentration after 30-40 days of transplanting, with an average RMSE of approximately 2 mmol L⁻¹. Simulated values of average NO₃⁻ concentration in drainage, obtained with the aggregated model, were −7, +18 and +31% of measured values.     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentration,irrigation and nitrogenous fertilizer application on the growth and yield of spring wheat in semi-arid areas

In this paper, we discuss the effect of elevated CO₂ concentration, irrigation and nitrogenous fertilizer application on the growth and yield of spring wheat in semi-arid areas. A field experiment was conducted at the Dingxi Agricultural Experiment Station during 2000–2002. According to the experimental design, the CO₂ concentration increased to 14.5, 40 and 54.5 μmol mol⁻¹, respectively, by NH₄HCO₃ (involving CO₂) application, direct application of CO₂ gas and combination of fertilizer NH₄HCO₃ plus CO₂ application, which are equal to CO₂ concentration of the Earth's atmosphere in the next 5, 15 and 20 years. The fertilizer application was divided into three levels: application of NH₃NO₃ (250 kg h m⁻²), NH₄HCO₃ (500 kg h m⁻²) and no fertilizer. Irrigation was divided into two levels: with 90 mm irrigation in the growth period and without irrigation. They can be combined as eight treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times. The results showed that elevated CO₂ concentration owing to CO₂ application leads to remarkable increase in leaf area index (LAI) and shoot biomass, and also generates the higher value of leaf area duration (LAD) that can benefit the photosynthesis in the growth stage and yield increase in crop compared than the no CO₂ application treatment. When CO₂ concentration elevated by 14.5, 40 and 54.5 μmol mol⁻¹ with irrigation and fertilization, correspondingly, the grain yield increased by 6.3, 13.1 and 19.8%, respectively, whereas without irrigation and fertilization, the grain yield increased by only 4.2% when CO₂ concentration increased to 40 μmol mol⁻¹. Meanwhile, irrigation and fertilization can result in larger and deeper root system and have significantly positive influences on higher value of root/shoot (R/S) and water use efficiency. The grain yields in irrigation, irrigation plus NH₃NO₃ application and irrigation plus application of NH₄HCO₃ treatments are 73.4, 148.0 and 163.6% higher than that of no-irrigated and no-fertilized treatment, suggesting that both irrigation and fertilizer application contribute to remarkable increase of crop yield. In all treatments, the highest water use efficiency (WUE, 7.24 kg h m⁻² mm⁻¹) and grain yield (3286 kg h m⁻²) consistently occurred in the treatment with 90 mm irrigation plus fertilizer NH₄HCO₃ and elevated CO₂ concentration (54.5 μmol mol⁻¹), suggesting that this combination has an integrated beneficial effect on improving WUE and grain yield of spring wheat. These results may offer help to maintain and increase the crop yields in semi-arid areas.     

Nitrate leaching in a silage maize field under different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer rates

Quantification of the interactive effects of nitrogen (N) and water on nitrate (NO₃) loss provides an important insight for more effective N and water management. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer levels on nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) leaching in a silage maize field. The experiment included four irrigation levels (0.7, 0.85, 1.0, and 1.13 of soil moisture depletion, SMD) and three N fertilization levels (0, 142, and 189 kg N ha⁻¹), with three replications. Ceramic suction cups were used to extract soil solution at 30 and 60 cm soil depths for all 36 experimental plots. Soil NO₃-N content of 0-30 and 30-60-cm layers were evaluated at planting and harvest maturity. Total N uptake (NU) by the crop was also determined. Maximum NO₃-N leaching out of the 60-cm soil layer was 8.43 kg N ha⁻¹, for the 142 kg N ha⁻¹ and over irrigation (1.13 SMD) treatment. The minimum and maximum seasonal average NO₃ concentration at the 60 cm depth was 46 and 138 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Based on our findings, it is possible to control NO₃ leaching out of the root zone during the growing season with a proper combination of irrigation and fertilizer management.     

Optimization of yield and water-use of different cropping systems for sustainable groundwater use in North China Plain

A groundwater crisis is going on in the North China Plain (NCP), due to the excessive water consumption of the traditional winter wheat (WW)/summer maize (SM) double cropping system (two harvests in one year). In order to improve the water use efficiency in this particular cropping system and to evaluate the sustainability of water usage in Chinese agroecosystems, two field experiments were conducted from October 2004 to September 2006 at two sites of the North China Plain. The field experiments included four treatments: (1) farmers’ practice (FP) with two harvests in one year (WW/SM rotation), (2) FP with reduced input (RI) of water and nitrogen (WW/SM rotation), (3) three harvests in two years (TW, 1st year: WW/SM; 2nd year: spring maize), and (4) continuous spring-maize monoculture (CS) with one harvest per year (spring maize). In the treatments RI, TW and CS, the amount and timing of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization was optimized using TDR based soil moisture measurements and the N_min-method, respectively. Data showed that the utilization efficiency of irrigation water can be improved by optimizing soil water management compared to the traditional water management (FP). However, the groundwater net consumption required for RI still surpassed 300 mm yr⁻¹. Both FP and RI, still overused groundwater resources. The groundwater consumption in the continuous spring maize (CS) was on average 139 mm yr⁻¹. Therefore, the CS system can show the potential to use groundwater sustainably in the long term. Water usage of the TW treatment was in between the water usage of the other treatments. The grain yields in the double cropping systems (FP and RI) were higher than that in the two other systems (TW and CS). But the CS treatment showed the higher W_UE than others.     

Polyacrylamide coated Milorganite™ and gypsum for controlling sediment and phosphorus loads

The application of polymer for controlling erosion and the associated nutrient transport has been well documented. However, comparatively less information is available on the effect of polymer application together with soil amendments. In this study, the effect of polyacrylamide (PAM) in combination with surface application of gypsum and Milorganite™ (MILwaukee ORGAnic NITtrogEn) biosolid for reducing sediment and phosphorus transport under laboratory rainfall simulations was investigated. The treatments considered were bare soil, gypsum, Milorganite™, gypsum + Milorganite™, PAM-coated gypsum and PAM-coated Milorganite™. Application rates for gypsum and Milorganite™ were 392 kg ha⁻¹ (350 lb/acre) and 726 kg ha⁻¹ (650 lb/acre), respectively. The PAM was coated on gypsum and Milorganite™ at an application rate of 11.2 kg ha⁻¹ (10 lb/acre) and 22.4 kg ha⁻¹ (20 lb/acre), respectively. Rain simulation experiments were conducted using a rainfall intensity of 6.0 cm h⁻¹ for 1 h on a 10% slope. Surface runoff was collected continuously from each soil box over 10 min intervals and leachate was collected continuously over the 60 min simulation. The reduction in runoff or in leachate for all treatments was not significantly different from the bare soil control. The sediment loss for PAM coated Milorganite™ was reduced by 77%, when compared to bare soil. However, the sediment loss was not significantly reduced for any other treatment compared to bare soil. The PAM-coated gypsum was not effective for erosion control in our study, and there appears to be a correlation between effectiveness and prill size. However, the gypsum (coated and uncoated) contributed about half of the dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) export (in the runoff) compared to bare soil. The PAM-coated Milorgante™ reduced the DRP and total phosphorus (TP) export to 0.3-0.5 times that of Milorganite™ and to levels similar to bare soil. The decreased sediment and phosphorus export for the PAM-coated Milorganite™ treatment is a signal for a potential management practice for controlling erosion and nutrient transport in fertilized agricultural landscapes.     

Modelling uptake of Na and Cl by tomato in closed-cycle cultivation systems as influenced by irrigation water salinity

The aim of the present investigation was to simulate the uptake concentrations (weights of ion per volume of water absorbed) of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in hydroponic tomato crops as a function of the NaCl concentration in the root zone. An empirical model was calibrated and validated, which can be incorporated into on-line operating decision support systems aimed at optimizing the nutrient supply and minimizing the discharge of drainage solution in tomato crops grown in closed-cycle hydroponic systems. Three experiments were conducted, of which one was carried out to calibrate the model using irrigation water with NaCl concentration ranging from 0 to 14.7 mol m⁻³ while the other two experiments were commissioned to validate the model within either a low (0.5-2 mol m⁻³) or a high (1.2-12 mol m⁻³) concentration range. The model could successfully predict the uptake concentration of Na⁺, but Cl⁻ could not be simulated by this model at external Cl⁻ concentrations lower than 10 mol m⁻³. The results indicate that Na⁺ is excluded actively and effectively by the tested tomato cultivar even at low external Na⁺ concentrations, while Cl⁻ is readily taken up at low concentrations, particularly during the initial growing stages. Due to the efficient exclusion of Na⁺ by tomato, the Na⁺ concentration in the root environment increased rapidly to extremely high levels even when the Na⁺ concentration in the irrigation water was relatively low. These results indicate that tomato genotypes characterized by high salt-exclusion efficiency, require irrigation water with a very low NaCl concentration, if they are grown in closed hydroponic systems and the drainage water is not flushed periodically. To maintain Na⁺ at levels lower than 19 mol m⁻³ in the root zone of the tomato hybrid ‘Formula’ in closed hydroponics, a maximum acceptable Na⁺ concentration of 0.53 mol m⁻³ was estimated for the irrigation water.     

Monitoring and modelling draining and resident soil water nitrate concentrations to estimate leaching losses

Quantifying nitrogen (N) losses below the root zone is highly challenging due to uncertainties associated with estimating drainage fluxes and solute concentrations in the leachate. Active and passive soil water samplers provide solute concentrations but give limited information on water fluxes. Mechanistic models are used to estimate leaching, but require calibration with measured data to ensure their reliability. Data from a drainage lysimeter trial under irrigation in which soil profile nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentrations were monitored using wetting front detectors (passive sampler) and ceramic suction cups (active sampler) were compared to NO₃⁻ concentrations in draining and resident soil water as simulated by the research version of the Soil Water Balance model (SWB-Sci). SWB-Sci is a daily time-step, cascading soil water and solute balance model that provides draining NO₃⁻ concentrations by accounting for incomplete solute mixing. As hypothesized, suction cup concentrations aligned closely with resident soil water concentrations, while wetting front detector concentrations aligned closely with draining soil water NO₃⁻ concentrations. These results demonstrate the power of combining monitoring and modelling to estimate NO₃⁻ leaching losses. Access to measured draining and resident NO₃⁻ concentrations, especially when complemented with modelled fluxes, can contribute greatly to achieving improved production and environmental objectives.     

Carbon and nitrogen cycling in a tropical Brazilian soil cropped with sugarcane and irrigated with wastewater

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in agro-systems can be altered as a consequence of treated sewage effluent (TSE) irrigation. The present study evaluated the effects of TSE irrigation over 16 months on N concentrations in sugarcane (leaves, stalks and juice), total soil carbon (TC), total soil nitrogen (TN), NO₃⁻-N in soil and nitrate (NO₃⁻) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil solution. The soil was classified as an Oxisol and samplings were carried out during the first productive crop cycle, from February 2005 (before planting) to September 2006 (after sugarcane harvest and 16 months of TSE irrigation). The experiment was arranged in a complete block design with five treatments and four replicates. Irrigated plots received 50% of the recommended mineral N fertilization and 100% (T100), 125% (T125), 150% (T150) and 200% (T200) of crop water demand. No mineral N and irrigation were applied to the control plots. TSE irrigation enhanced sugarcane yield but resulted in total-N inputs (804-1622 kg N ha⁻¹) greater than exported N (463-597 kg N ha⁻¹). Hence, throughout the irrigation period, high NO₃⁻ concentrations (up to 388 mg L⁻¹ at T200) and DOC (up to 142 mg L⁻¹ at T100) were measured in soil solution below the root zone, indicating the potential of groundwater contamination. TSE irrigation did not change soil TC and TN.     

Identification of irrigation and N management practices that contribute to nitrate leaching loss from an intensive vegetable production system by use of a comprehensive survey

Considerable NO₃⁻ contamination of underlying aquifers is associated with greenhouse-based vegetable production in south-eastern Spain, where 80% of cropping occurs in soil. To identify management factors likely to contribute to NO₃⁻ leaching from soil-based cropping, a survey of irrigation and N management practices was conducted in 53 commercial greenhouses. For each greenhouse: (i) a questionnaire of general irrigation and N management practices was completed, (ii) amounts of N applied in manure were estimated; and for one crop in each greenhouse: (a) irrigation volume was compared with ETc calculated using a mathematical model and (b) total amount of applied fertiliser N was compared with crop N uptake. Total irrigation during the first 6 weeks after transplanting/sowing was generally excessive, being >150 and >200% of modelled ETc in, respectively, 68 and 60% of greenhouses. During the subsequent period, applied irrigation was generally similar to modelled ETc, with only 12% of greenhouses applying >150% of modelled ETc. Large irrigations prior to transplanting/sowing were applied in 92% of greenhouses to leach salts and moisten soil. Volumes applied were >20 and >40 mm in, respectively, 69 and 42% of greenhouses. Chemical soil disinfectants had been recently applied in 43% of greenhouses; associated irrigation volumes were >20 and >40 mm in, respectively, 78 and 48% of greenhouses conducting disinfection. Nitrogen and irrigation management were generally based on experience, with very little use of soil or plant analysis. Large manure applications were made at greenhouse construction in 98% of greenhouse, average manure and N application rates were, respectively, 432 m³ ha⁻¹ and 3046 kg N ha⁻¹. Periodic manure applications were made in 68% of greenhouses, average application rates for farmyard and pelleted manures were, respectively, 157 and 13 m³ ha⁻¹ (in 55 and 13% of greenhouses); the average N rate was 947 kg N ha⁻¹. Manure N was not considered in N fertiliser programs in 74% of greenhouses. On average, 75% of fertiliser N was applied as NO₃⁻. Applied fertiliser N was >1.5 and >2 times crop N uptake in, respectively, 42 and 21% of crops surveyed. The survey identified various management practices likely to contribute to NO₃⁻ leaching loss. Large manure applications and experiential mineral N management practices, based on NO₃⁻ application, are likely to cause accumulation of soil NO₃⁻. Drainage associated with: (i) the combined effect of large irrigations immediately prior to and excessive irrigations for several weeks following transplanting/sowing and (ii) large irrigations for salt leaching and soil disinfection, is likely to leach accumulated NO₃⁻ from the root zone. This study demonstrated that surveys can be very useful diagnostic tools for identifying crop management practices, on commercial farms, that are likely to contribute to appreciable NO₃⁻ leaching.     

Nitrate leaching assessment in a long-term experiment under supplementary irrigation in humid Argentina

Applying high rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to crops has two major disadvantages: (1) the low N fertilizer use efficiency and (2) the loss of N by leaching, which may cause groundwater nitrate (NO₃⁻) pollution, especially in humid areas.The objectives of this study were to adjust and validate the LEACH-W model simulations with data observed in the field; to quantify nitrate concentrations in the soil solution; to estimate N loss by leaching; and to determine the moments during the year when greatest nitrate transport events occur beyond the rooting profile.A randomized complete block design with four replications was established on a typic Argiudoll. Crop fertilization treatments consisted of three N rates (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha⁻¹) using urea and ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) as the N source. Corn (Zea mays L.) was planted and ceramic soil-water suction samplers were installed to depths of 1, 1.5 and 2 m. Drainage was estimated by the LEACH-W model, which adjusted very well the actual volume of water in the soil profile. Nitrogen losses were statistically analyzed as repeated measure data, using the PROC MIXED procedure.Losses of nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) during the study increased as the rate of N applied increased. At all depths studied, statistically significant higher values were found for 200 N compared to 100 N and 0 N, and for 100 N compared to 0 N (p < 0.001).The greatest NO₃⁻-N losses through leaching occurred during crop growth. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between cropping and fallow in the three treatments and depths studied for seasons 4 and 5; these two seasons produced the highest drainage volumes at all depths.     

Crop yield responses to climate change in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China

Global climate change may impact grain production as atmospheric conditions and water supply change, particularly intensive cropping, such as double wheat-maize systems. The effects of climate change on grain production of a winter wheat-summer maize cropping system were investigated, corresponding to the temperature rising 2 and 5 °C, precipitation increasing and decreasing by 15% and 30%, and atmospheric CO₂ enriching to 500 and 700 ppmv. The study focused on two typical counties in the Huang-Huai-Hai (3H) Plain (covering most of the North China Plain), Botou in the north and Huaiyuan in the south, considering irrigated and rain-fed conditions, respectively. Climate change scenarios, derived from available ensemble outputs from general circulation models and the historical trend from 1996 to 2004, were used as atmospheric forcing to a bio-geo-physically process-based dynamic crop model, Vegetation Interface Processes (VIP). VIP simulates full coupling between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, and other energy and water transfer processes. The projected crop yields are significantly different from the baseline yield, with the minimum, mean (±standardized deviation, SD) and maximum changes being −46%, −10.3 ± 20.3%, and 49%, respectively. The overall yield reduction of −18.5 ± 22.8% for a 5 °C increase is significantly greater than −2.3 ± 13.2% for a 2 °C increase. The negative effect of temperature rise on crop yield is partially mitigated by CO₂ fertilization. The response of a C3 crop (wheat) to the temperature rise is significantly more sensitive to CO₂ fertilization and less negative than the response of C4 (maize), implying a challenge to the present double wheat-maize systems. Increased precipitation significantly mitigated the loss and increased the projected gain of crop yield. Conversely, decreased precipitation significantly exacerbated the loss and reduced the projected gain of crop yield. Irrigation helps to mitigate the decreased crop yield, but CO₂ enrichment blurs the role of irrigation. The crops in the wetter southern 3H Plain (Huaiyuan) are significantly more sensitive to climate change than crops in the drier north (Botou). Thus CO₂ fertilization effects might be greater under drier conditions. The study provides suggestions for climate change adaptation and sound water resources management in the 3H Plain.     

Sensitivity analysis and field testing of the RISK-N model in the Central Valley of Chile

We present the results from a sensitivity analysis and a preliminary short-term, site-scale performance assessment of the analytical soil and groundwater nitrate transport RISK-N. The study was carried out in the Central Valley of Chile, on a 2.6 ha corn (Zea mays L.) field underlain by a shallow unconfined aquifer during the cropping season 2000–2001. Nitrogen levels in soils as well as NO₃⁻–N irrigation water and groundwater concentrations were monitored through the crop-growing period, the latter by a network of 16 monitoring wells. A sensitivity analysis shows that both the nitrate flux from the vadose zone and NO₃⁻–N groundwater concentration are mainly influenced by the initial soil nitrogen levels, water input, and soil porosity. Also, simulated groundwater NO₃⁻–N levels are sensitive to changes on the saturated zone denitrification constant. An additional analysis further reveals the significance of the latter parameter, in conjunction with the amount of applied nitrogen fertilizer. We obtained a good agreement between observed average and simulated values. While the model performs well when spatially averaged values are used (root mean square error, RMSE = 1.4 mg l⁻¹ of NO₃⁻–N), the prediction error increases (RMSE = 1.9 mg l⁻¹ of NO₃⁻–N) when the concentration in each well is considered. This fact could be explained by the time and space scale of the experiment and the characteristics of the RISK-N model. The model is easy to use and seems appropriate for mid- and long-term studies of nitrogen contamination in groundwater for agricultural conditions in the Central Valley of Chile and under limited field data availability conditions. However, it needs to be tested for longer periods and under different climatic conditions, soil types, and aquifer characteristics, before its range of applicability can be fully established and recognized.     

Effect of tile effluent on nutrient concentration and retention efficiency in agricultural drainage ditches

Tile drainage is a common water management practice in many agricultural landscapes in the Midwestern United States. Drainage ditches regularly receive water from agricultural fields through these tile drains. This field-scale study was conducted to determine the impact of tile discharge on ambient nutrient concentration, nutrient retention and transport in drainage ditches. Grab water samples were collected during three flow regimes for the determination of soluble phosphorus (SP), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentrations and their retention in three drainage ditches. Measured nutrient concentration indicated lower SP and NH₄⁺-N, and greater NO₃-N concentrations in tile effluents compared to the ditch water. Net uptake lengths were relatively long, especially for NO₃-N, indicating that nutrients were generally not assimilated efficiently in these drainage systems. Results also indicated that the study reaches were very dynamic showing alternating increases or decreases in nutrient concentration across the flow regimes. The drainage ditches appeared to be nutrient-rich streams that could potentially influence the quality of downstream waters.     

Tolerance of young (Ceratonia siliqua L.) carob rootstock to NaCl

One-year-old carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) rootstock was grown in fertilised substrate to evaluate the effects of NaCl salinity stress. The experiment consisted of seven treatments with different concentrations of NaCl in the irrigation water: 0 (control), 15, 30, 40, 80, 120 and 240 (mmol L⁻¹), equivalent to electrical conductivities of 0.0, 1.5, 2.9, 3.9, 7.5, 10.9 and 20.6 dS m⁻¹, respectively. Several growth parameters were measured throughout the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, pH, extractable P and K, and the electrical conductivity of the substrate were assessed in each salinity level. On the same date, the mineral composition of the leaves was compared. The carob rootstock tolerated 13.4 dS m⁻¹ for a period of 30 days but after 60 days the limit of tolerance was only 6.8 dS m⁻¹. Salt tolerance indexes were 12.8 and 4.5 for 30 and 60 days, respectively. This tolerance to salinity resulted from the ability to function with concentrations of Cl⁻ and Na⁺ in leaves up to 24.0 and 8.5 g kg⁻¹, respectively. Biomass allocation to shoots and roots was similar in all treatments, but after 40 days the number of leaves was reduced, particularly at the larger concentrations (120 and 240 mmol NaCl L⁻¹). Leaves of plants irrigated with 240 mmol NaCl L⁻¹ became chlorotic after 30 days exposure. However, concentrations of N, P, Mg and Zn in leaves were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by salinity. Apparently, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ were the key nutrients affected in the response of carob rootstocks to salinity. Plants grown with 80 and 120 mmol L⁻¹ of NaCl contained the greatest K⁺ concentration. Na⁺/K⁺ increased with salinity, due to an elevated Na⁺ content but K⁺ uptake was also enhanced, which alleviated some Na⁺ stress. Ca²⁺ concentration in leaves was not reduced under salinity. Salinization of irrigation water and subsequent impacts on agricultural soils are now common problems in the Mediterranean region. Under such conditions, carob seems to be a salt as well as a drought tolerant species.     

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate concentrations in discharge from two agricultural catchments in Eastern Ontario

Subsurface tile discharge from two agricultural catchments near Ottawa, Ont., were monitored for a 6-year period to determine the influence agricultural management has on runoff pollution. After changing from hay to continuous maize with annual applications of manure at an average rate of 228 m³/ha (570 kg/ha of N), flow-weighted mean NO₃-N concentrations from a 4 ha catchment increased from 2 to 19 mg/l. Over the same period, flow-weighted NO₃-N concentrations from a 137 ha catchment which was rotated from continuous maize with recommended fertilizer input, to alfalfa with low fertilizer input, decreased from over 10 mg/l to under 7 mg/l.Groundwater extracted from wells in the 4 ha catchment indicated concentrations of NO₃-N, NH₄-N, PO₄-P and K at 6 m depth remained essentially unchanged during the study.     

The effect of system innovations on water productivity in subsistence rainfed agricultural systems in semi-arid Tanzania

Rainfed subsistence farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa generally obtain low crop yields as a result of highly erratic rainfall seasons. This paper presents results of research conducted to test the effects of improvements in farming techniques for subsistence rainfed systems. The research was carried out in the Makanya catchment of northern Tanzania where rainfall of less than 600 mm a⁻¹ and spread over two agricultural seasons per year is clearly insufficient to support staple food crops under the present farming systems in the area. The research sought to prove that, with improved efficiency in tillage techniques, grain yields can improve even under the existing challenging hydro-climatic conditions. The research tested farming system innovations (SIs) at four sites located within a spatial distance of 10 km where a combination of runoff diversion (RD), on-site rain water harvesting (WH) and conservation tillage (CT) were compared against the traditional farming methods of hand-hoeing under strict rainfed conditions (Control). For RD, runoff generated from natural storms was directed into infiltration pits dug along the contour with the excavated soil deposited upward of the trenches (fanya juus). The impact of these techniques on maize yields under different SIs was investigated.The results showed that the innovations resulted in increased maize grain yields of up to 4.8 t ha⁻¹ compared against current averages of less than 1 t ha⁻¹. The average productivity of the available water over four seasons was calculated to range between 0.35 and 0.51 kg m⁻³. For the SIs that were tested, the distribution of yields within a cultivated strip showed variations with better yields obtained on the down slope side of the cultivated strip where ponding effects resulted in higher water availability for infiltration and storage. However, due to the large seasonal climate variability, statistical analysis did not show significant differences in the yields (p < 0.05) between different cultivation techniques.The study showed that there is scope to improve grain yields with the little available rainfall through the adoption of techniques which promote water availability and retention within the field. The re-partitioning of water within the field creates mitigation measures against the impact of dry spells and allows alternative cropping in addition to the traditional maize cultivated in the rainfall seasons.     

Identification of nitrate leaching hot spots in a large area with contrasting soil texture and management

Identification of nitrate (NO₃) leaching hot spots is important in mitigating environmental effect of NO₃. Once identified, the hot spots can be further analyzed in detail for evaluating appropriate alternative management techniques to reduce impact of nitrate on groundwater. This study was conducted to identify NO₃ leaching hot spots in an approximately 36,000 ha area in Serik plain, which is used intensively for agriculture in the Antalya region of Southern Turkey. Geo-referenced water samples were taken from 161 wells and from the representative soils around the wells during the period from late May to early June of 2009. The data were analyzed by classical statistics and geostatistics. Both soil and groundwater NO₃-N concentrations demonstrated a considerably high variation, with a mean of 10.2 mg kg⁻¹ and 2.1 mg L⁻¹ NO₃-N for soil and groundwater, respectively. The NO₃-N concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 102.5 mg L⁻¹ in well waters and from 1.89 to 106.4 mg kg⁻¹ in soils. Nitrate leaching was spatially dependent in the study area. Six hot spots were identified in the plain, and in general, the hot spots coincided with high water table, high sand content, and irrigated wheat and cotton. The adverse effects of NO₃ can be mitigated by switching the surface and furrow irrigation methods to sprinkler irrigation, which results in a more efficient N and water use. Computer models such as NLEAP can be used to analyze alternative management practices together with soil, aquifer, and climate characteristics to determine a set of management alternatives to mitigate NO₃ effect in these hot spot areas.     

Nitrate-N loadings through subsurface environment to agricultural drainage ditches in two flat Midwestern (USA) watersheds

A study was conducted to understand the contributions of tile flow and baseflow to total nitrate-N (NO₃-N) loadings in two subsurface (tile)-drained watersheds, namely the Big Ditch (BD) and the Upper Embarras River (UER) watersheds in Illinois. Two stream sections were selected in the watersheds and rectangular cutthroat flumes were installed at the upstream and downstream ends of the stream sections to calculate the flow mass balance for separating baseflow. The stream section at BD site had two tile outlets draining into it. The stream section at UER watershed did not have any tile drain. Tile flow was also measured along with stream flow. Water samples were collected not only from the stream sections using auto-samplers but also manually from the tile drains. Average baseflow rates per unit lengths of the stream sections at BD and UER sites were 3.5 × 10⁻⁰⁴ and 9.4 × 10⁻⁰⁵ m² s⁻¹, respectively. At BD site, for six study periods, the percentages of baseflow and tile flow contributions of NO₃-N loads within the stream section were 90 and 10%, respectively. Annual NO₃-N contributions by the upstream subwatersheds for BD and UER stream sections were 61,819 and 16,155 kg, respectively. Annual NO₃-N loss from these two subwatersheds within BD and UER watersheds was 42.9 and 7.0 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. For the stream section at BD site, baseflow seemed to play a more important role than tile flow in raising the NO₃-N concentration level in the stream water. Land use seemed to play a major role in the significant difference in NO₃-N concentrations at the two subwatersheds upstream from the project sites. Nitrate-N loadings primarily depended on precipitation, antecedent moisture condition (AMC), fertilizer application time, and evapotranspiration (ET).     

Evaluation of the VegSyst model with muskmelon to simulate crop growth, nitrogen uptake and evapotranspiration

Like many intensive vegetable production systems, the greenhouse-based system on the south-eastern (SE) Mediterranean coast of Spain is associated with considerable NO₃⁻ contamination of groundwater. Drip irrigation and sophisticated fertigation systems provide the technical capacity for precise nutrient and irrigation management of soil-grown crops which would reduce NO₃⁻ leaching loss. The VegSyst crop simulation model was developed to simulate daily crop biomass production, N uptake and crop evapotranspiration (ET_c). VegSyst is driven by thermal time and consequently is adaptable to different planting dates, different greenhouse cooling practices and differences in greenhouse design. It will be subsequently incorporated into a practical on-farm decision support system to enable growers to more effectively use the advanced technical capacity of this horticultural system for optimal N and irrigation management.VegSyst was calibrated and validated for muskmelon grown in Mediterranean plastic greenhouse in SE Spain using data of four melon crops, two grown in 2005 and two in 2006 using two management strategies of water and N management in each year. VegSyst very accurately simulated crop biomass production and accurately simulated crop N uptake over time. Model performance in simulating dry matter production (DMP) over time was better using a double radiation use efficiency (RUE) approach (5.0 and 3.2 g MJ⁻¹ PAR for vegetative and reproductive growth phases) compared to a single RUE approach (4.3 g MJ⁻¹ PAR). The simulation of ET_c over time, was very accurate in the two 2006 muskmelon crops and somewhat less so in the two 2005 crops. The error in the simulated final values, expressed as a percentage of final measured values was −1 to 6% for DMP, 2-11% for crop N uptake, and −11 to 6% for ET_c. VegSyst provided effective simulation of DMP, N uptake and ET_c for crops with different planting dates. This model can be readily adapted to other crops.     

Quality of groundwater for irrigation in tropical karst environment: The case of Yucatán, Mexico

The Yucatán Peninsula has the largest reserve of water in Mexico. It is generally believed that groundwater is of good quality although its agricultural quality has been scarcely studied. The aims of this study were to identify and characterize zones with distinctive groundwater qualities for agricultural use in Yucatán. Water samples were collected at 113 supply wells. The concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, Cl⁻ and the electric conductivity (EC) were determined. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), potential salinity (PS) and effective salinity (ES) were also calculated. A geostatistical analysis by kriging interpolation was performed. ES, PS and SAR as well as Na⁺, EC, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, and Ca²⁺ were selected to make maps, in accordance with the values of semivariogram and values of cross-validation. The map of the ES was taken as the base to make the map of zones of agricultural quality groundwater. The quality of karstic groundwater in the state of Yucatán cannot be recommended for agriculture in Zones I (EC and ES), II (EC, Chlorides, PS and ES) and III (EC, sulfates and ES); in Zones IV and V the water is of medium quality and in the Zone VI, water is considered good for agricultural use. This information will be relevant in decision-making for government's agricultural and environmental planning.