The effect of deficit irrigation with treated wastewater on sweet corn: experimental and modelling study using SALTMED model

This study investigated the impact of using treated wastewater and deficit irrigation on yield, water productivity, dry matter and soil moisture availability. The experiment included six treatments of deficit irrigation with treated wastewater during the 2010 and 2011 seasons and two deficit irrigation treatments combined with 3 organic amendment levels during the 2012 season. The experimental and SALTMED modelling results indicated that regulated deficit irrigation when applied during vegetative growth stage could stimulate root development, increase water and nutrient uptake and subsequently increase the yield. The organic amendment has slightly improved yield under full irrigation but had relatively small effect under stress conditions. The SALTMED model results supported and matched the experimental results and showed similar differences among the different treatments. The model proved its ability to predict soil moisture availability, yield, water productivity and total dry matter for three growing seasons under several deficit irrigation strategies using treated wastewater. The high values of the coefficient of determination R ² reflected a very good agreement between the model and observed values. The SALTMED model results generally confirm the model’s ability to predict sweet corn growth and productivity under deficit irrigation strategies in the semi-arid region.     

Yield and water productivity of five chickpea varieties under supplemental irrigation in contrasting years

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crops in the world, cultivated on a wide range of environments. In Mediterranean regions, it is traditionally grown as a spring-sown rainfed crop, very dependent on rainfall. In this situation, supplemental irrigation can improve significantly the crop yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the improvement on chickpea crop yield and water productivity (WP) of five chickpea varieties with supplemental irrigation, in the Mediterranean conditions, with both dry and wet years. Field tests were carried out over two cropping seasons, in Southern Portugal, using three kabuli-type and two desi-type chickpea varieties and four irrigation treatments, corresponding to 100, 50, 25 % of crop irrigation requirements (IR) and rainfed. The results show that all chickpea varieties responded to supplemental irrigation with the increase in grain and biomass yield. However, the magnitude of individual chickpea response depends on the year and the genotype. In 2009, a dry year, the highest WP values were attained at the 50 % IR treatment, whereas in 2010, a wet year, it was the rainfed treatment that showed the highest WP values. The Elixir variety showed the best grain yields and water productivity.     

Validation and testing of the AquaCrop model under full and deficit irrigated wheat production in Iran

Accurate crop development models are important tools in evaluating the effects of water deficits on crop yield or productivity and predicting yields to optimize irrigation under limited available water for enhanced sustainability and profitable production. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of United Nations addresses this need by providing a yield response to water simulation model (AquaCrop) with limited sophistication. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the AquaCrop model for its ability to simulate wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) performance under full and deficit water conditions in a hot dry environment in south of Iran, to study the effect of different scenarios of irrigation (crop growth stages and depth of water applied) on wheat yield. The AquaCrop model was evaluated with experimental data collected during the three field experiments conducted in Ahvaz. The AquaCrop model was able to accurately simulate soil water content of root zone, crop biomass and grain yield, with normalized root mean square error (RMSE) less than 10%. The analysis of irrigation scenarios showed that the highest grain yield could be obtained by applying four irrigations (200 mm) at sowing, tillering, stem elongation and flowering or grain filing stages for wet years, four irrigations (200 mm) at sowing, stem elongation and flowering stages for normal years and six irrigations (300 mm) at sowing, emergence, tillering, stem elongation, flowering and grain filing stages for dry years. The least amount of irrigation water to provide enough water to response to evaporative demand of environment and to obtain high WUE for wet, normal and dry years were 100, 200 and 250 mm, respectively.     

Improving agricultural water management in the semi-arid region of Brazil: experimental and modelling study

Agricultural practice in the semi-arid region of Brazil is highly dependant on irrigation. As access to water is limited in the region, there is a need to guarantee its efficient use, especially in small-scale farming schemes. Models adequately calibrated for semi-arid conditions and for typical crops are useful tools for analysis of on-farm strategies to improve water use efficiency. A physically based agrohydrological model, SALTMED, is calibrated and validated for carrots (Daucus carota L., Brasília variety) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), two of the main crops in small-scale irrigated agriculture in the northeast of Brazil. SALTMED is also calibrated for castor beans (Ricinus communis L.) under rainfed conditions. The results demonstrated the suitability of the SALTMED model for simulating soil water dynamics and crop yield in the area. Predicted time series of soil water content and matric potential of root zone showed good agreement with observed values, as shown graphically and statistically. Using the calibrated and validated model, management scenarios were analysed in terms of applied irrigation water, irrigation frequency, soil and crop types. Impact of climate change on the irrigation water requirements was also briefly analysed for possible changes in annual temperature using two different emission scenarios. Analysis of possible impact of climate change on temperature related to two emission scenarios on the area showed an increase around 11% of the crop water requirement for carrots and cabbage, for the low emission scenario, and around 17% for the high emission scenario. The analysis of management scenarios indicated possible over-irrigation in the area. The simulation showed that the deficit irrigation was a useful water-saving strategy for the region. The simulations also indicated that irrigation frequency affected crop water use and differed according to the soil type.     

RZWQM2模型对河北坝上地区大白菜模拟适用性评价

为明析根区水质模型(RZWQM2)对河北坝上地区蔬菜作物的适用性,以该地区膜下滴灌大白菜为研究对象,建立模型运行的气象、土壤及作物数据库,模拟2018年和2019年大白菜生育期内田间土壤水分动态变化、作物株高变化及最终产量,并通过实测值进行对比分析.结果表明:①经过对该模型参数的校准,得到各土层(20 cm、40 cm...     

Growth and yield of soybeans under wet soil culture and conventional furrow irrigation in south-eastern Australia

Summary An experiment was conducted to determine the growth and yield responses of two soybean cultivars (Ridley and Sab40) grown on raised beds with continuous water applied in furrows (wet soil culture, WSC), and with conventional furrow irrigation applied at soil water deficits of 35 mm (F) and 70 mm (I). The early growth and leaf area development of both cultivars was reduced by both waterlogging (WSC) and water stress (1) effects compared to the frequently irrigated (F) treatment. Both cultivars acclimated to the WSC conditions and resumed active growth rates comparable to the F treatment. Excessive dry matter accumulation into leaves and stems of Ridley under WSC resulted in severe lodging and significantly reduced grain yield compared to Ridley under F irrigation. The physiological analysis presented showed that under WSC Ridley had a substantially lower light use efficiency compared the F irrigated crop during reproductive growth. It is hypothesised that lodging during this period reduced photosynthate supply as a result of detrimental changes in the pattern of leaf illumination throughout the canopy. The cultivar Sab40 did not lodge under WSC and grain yield was not significantly different from the F irrigated treatment.Further studies on the response of lodging resistant cultivars and different sowing time by plant arrangements to WSC are required to fully assess this technique under commercial conditions. More importantly, studies on soybean production in relation to crop water use and deep drainage losses on a range of soil types are needed to demonstrate that irrigation water applied is used as efficiently as conventional methods.     

Assessment of the FAO AquaCrop model in the simulation of rainfed and supplementally irrigated maize, sugar beet and sunflower

Farming in Serbia is traditionally rainfed. Analyses show that drought events of varying severity are frequent in this region, although there is no specific pattern. There is a distinct need for an objective assessment of the impact of drought on strategic field crops, to solve the dilemma whether irrigation is required or not. For this reason, and based on available field data, the FAO AquaCrop water driven model was selected to simulate yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) for three major field crops (maize, sunflower, and sugar beet), under two scenarios: (1) natural water supply and adequate supply of nutrients, and (2) supplementary irrigation and adequate supply of nutrients. The experiments presented here were conducted between 2000 and 2007 in northern Serbia, where chernozem soil is prevalent. Data of 2003 cropping seasons were used for local calibration, whereas the remaining years for validation. Results were such that local calibration resulted in very minor changes of AquaCrop coefficients (e.g., maize basal crop coefficient, sunflower harvest index, etc.). Simulated maize yield levels exhibited the greatest departure from measured data under irrigation conditions (−3.6 and 3.3% during an extremely dry and an extremely wet year, respectively). Simulated sunflower yield levels varied by less than 10% in 8 out of 10 comparisons. The most extreme variation was noted during the extremely wet year. The difference between simulated and measured values in the case of sugar beet was from −10.2 to 12.2%. Large differences were noted only in two or three cases, under extreme climatic conditions. Statistical indicators - root mean square error (RMSE) and index of agreement (d) - for all three crops suggested that the model can be used to highly reliably assess yield and IWUE. This conclusion was derived based on low values of RMSE and high values of d (in the case of maize and sugar beet 0.999 for both yield and IWUE, and in the case of sunflower 0.999 for yield and 0.884 for IWUE). It is noteworthy that under wet conditions, the model suggested that sunflower and sugar beet do not require irrigation, as confirmed by experimental research. These data are significant because they show that the AquaCrop model can be used in impartial decision-making and in the selection of crops to be given irrigation priority in areas where water resources are limited.     

基于SIMDual_Kc模型估算非充分灌水条件下冬小麦蒸散量

为研究关中冬小麦植株蒸腾和土壤蒸发规律,利用2 a冬小麦小区控水试验实测数据,率定和验证了双作物系数SIMDual_Kc模型在关中地区的适用性.用大型称重式蒸渗仪的实测蒸散量值(或水量平衡法计算值)与模型模拟值进行对比.结果表明:SIMDualKc模型可较准确地模拟关中不同水分条件下冬小麦蒸散量,且模拟精度较高.模型估算的平均绝对误差为0.643 3 mm/d.模型估算的冬小麦初期、中期和后期的基础作物系数分别为0.35,1.30,0.20.另外,模型还可以较准确地估算不同水分供应条件下的土壤水分胁迫系数、土壤蒸发量和植株蒸散量.冬小麦整个生育期,土壤蒸发主要发生在作物生育前期,中期较低,后期略微增大;植株蒸腾主要发生在作物快速生长期和生长中期,整个生育期中呈先增大后减小的趋势.     

Exploring options for water savings in lowland rice using a modelling approach

Water-saving irrigation regimes are needed to deal with a reduced availability of water for rice production. Two important water-saving technologies at field scale are alternately submerged–nonsubmerged (SNS) and flush irrigated (FI) rice. SNS allows dry periods between submerged soil conditions, whereas FI resembles the irrigation regime of an upland crop. The effects of these regimes on the water balance and water savings were compared with continuously submerged (CS) and rainfed (RF) regimes.The crop growth model ORYZA2000 was used to calculate seasonal water balances of CS, SNS, FI, and RF regimes for two locations: Tuanlin in Hubei province in China from 1999 to 2002 during summer seasons and Los Baños in the Philippines in 2002–2003 during dry seasons. The model was first parameterized for site-specific soil conditions and cultivar traits and then evaluated using a combination of statistical and visual comparisons of observed and simulated variables. ORYZA2000 accurately simulated the crop variables leaf area index, biomass, and yield, and the soil water balance variables field water level and soil water tension in the root zone.Next, a scenario study was done to analyse the effect of water regime, soil permeability, and groundwater table depth on irrigation requirement and associated rice yield. For this study historical weather data for both sites were used.Within seasons, the amount of irrigation water application was higher for CS than for any of the water-saving regimes. It was found that groundwater table depth strongly affected the water-yield relationship for the water-saving regimes. Rainfed rice did not lead to significant yield reductions at Tuanlin as long as the groundwater table depth was less than 20 cm. Simulations at Los Baños with a more drought tolerant cultivar showed that FI resulted in higher yields than RF thereby requiring only 420 mm of irrigation.The soil type determined the irrigation water requirement in CS and SNS regimes. A more permeable soil requires around 2000 mm of irrigation water whereas less permeable, heavy soil types require less than half of this amount. We conclude that water savings can be considerable when water regimes are adapted to soil characteristics and rainfall dynamics. To further optimize water-saving regimes in lowland rice, groundwater table dynamics and soil permeability should be taken into account.     

温室膜下滴灌条件下黄瓜经济灌溉制度及其下限值的研究

以温室黄瓜为试验材料,采用膜下滴灌,对最适宜作物生长的温度、水分胁迫指数和干物质转化因子3个作物生长模型参数进行了率定,并以此为依据分析确定了膜下滴灌黄瓜的经济灌溉制度。结果表明:采用经济灌溉制度比实际灌水有显著的增产增收效果,产量和效益分别增加2.54t/hm~2和2.36万元/hm~2,节约灌溉水量7.59%;在经济灌溉条件下灌水前土壤含水率(0~60cm)随时间的变化幅度较作物生长期土壤含水率的变化幅度小得多,取各次灌水前土壤含水率的平均值作为作物经济灌溉的灌水下限值,对于本研究中的黄瓜,其值为0.240。按照该灌水下限值灌水,可使温室膜下滴灌黄瓜单位面积的灌溉效益最大。     

Simulation of water dynamics and irrigation scheduling for winter wheat and maize in seasonal frost areas

Continuous cropping of winter wheat and summer maize is the main cropping pattern in North China Plain lying in a seasonal frost area. Irrigation scheduling of one crop will influence soil water regime and irrigation scheduling of the subsequent crop. Therefore, irrigation scheduling of winter wheat and maize should be studied as a whole. Considering the meteorological and crop characteristics of the area lying in a seasonal frost area, a cropping year is divided into crop growing period and frost period. Model of simultaneous moisture and heat transfer (SMHT) for the frost period and model of soil water transfer (SWT) for the crop growing period were developed, and used jointly for the simulation of soil water dynamics and irrigation scheduling for a whole cropping year. The model was calibrated and validated with field experiment of winter wheat and maize in Beijing, China. Then the model was applied to the simulation of water dynamics and irrigation scheduling with different precipitation and irrigation treatments. From the simulation results, precipitation can meet the crop water requirement of maize to a great extent, and irrigation at the seeding stage may be necessary. Precipitation and irrigation had no significant influence on evaporation and transpiration of maize. On the other hand, irrigation scheduling of winter wheat mainly depends on irrigation standard. Irrigation at the seeding stage and before soil freezing is usually necessary. For high irrigation standard, four times of irrigation are required after greening. While for medium irrigation, only once (rainy year) or twice (medium and dry years) of irrigation is required after greening. Transpiration of winter wheat is very close for high and medium irrigation, but it decreases significantly for low irrigation and will result in a reduction of crop yield. Irrigation with proper time and amount is necessary for winter wheat. Considering irrigation quota and crop transpiration comprehensively, medium irrigation is recommended for the irrigation of winter wheat in the studying area, which can reduce the irrigation quota of over 150 mm with little water stress for crop growth.     

设施茄子滴灌土壤水分运动数值模拟及验证分析

基于非饱和土壤水动力学理论及根系吸水模型,建立地面滴灌土壤水分运动数学模型,应用HYDRUS-2D模型模拟全生育期不同灌水处理条件下设施茄子滴灌土壤水分动态变化,结果表明：土壤含水量模拟值与实测值之间具有较好的一致性,所建地面滴灌土壤水分运动数学模型能较好地反映滴灌条件下茄子土壤水分运动规律。     

The soil water balance of rainfed and irrigated oats,Italian rye grass and rye using the CropSyst model

Crop growth models have been used in simulating the soil water balance for purposes of irrigation management and yield predictions. The application of CropSyst, a cropping systems simulation model, was evaluated for Cedara, South Africa. Simulations included soil water balance of fallow land and rainfed and irrigated winter crops [oats (Avena sativa), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and rye (Secale cereale)]; and irrigation scheduling of the winter crops. Soil, plant, weather and management inputs were used for the soil water balance simulations. Model crop parameters were used from past experiments or obtained from model documentation, with a slight modification to account for varietal differences. The fallow land soil water simulations were more accurate for dry than for wet soil. For all three winter crops, the model consistently over-estimated the soil water content in the upper layers, with a good agreement for the deeper layers until a large precipitation event occurred to which the model responded more slowly than that observed. Simulations using model-scheduled irrigation based on 0.4 and 0.6 maximum allowable depletion criteria indicated that the observed applied irrigation in the field was more than that required. Soil water depletion and accumulated transpiration simulations were similar in both the observed and model-scheduled irrigations, but total soil evaporation and percolation were greater in the case of the observed than the model-scheduled irrigations. Irrigation scheduling using crop growth models may assist in avoiding over- or under-application of irrigation applications by ensuring efficient utilization of rain and irrigation.     

不同水肥作用下西藏青稞生长动力学机制与模拟研究

【目的】构建西藏高原地区多因子作用下的青稞动态生长模型。【方法】于2016─2017年在西藏农牧学院农田水利试验场,监测了不同水分和氮素状态下的青稞动态生长过程,基于方差分析法研究了水分和氮素对青稞动态过程的交互作用,在此基础上构建了包括4个自由度、描述土壤水分和氮素对春青稞干物质形成以及累积过程函数关系,构建了多因子作用条件下的青稞动态关系模型,分别采用2016年和2017年的试验资料对模型进行了参数率定和验证。【结果】西藏高原地区青稞动态生长过程受到了多种因素的影响,青稞的干物质增量和累积量与土壤水分和氮素投入量表现出非线性响应关系;采用偏相关系数能够有效地反映青稞的产量与干物质指标关系。模拟不同水分和氮素条件下的青稞生长过程与实测结果相比,全生育内Nash-Sutcliffe系数平均值为0.873;5%的显著水平下,不存在系统性偏差。【结论】构建的青稞动态生长关系模型能够描述西藏地区气候和土壤条件对青稞生长动态过程影响机理,具有较高的模拟精度。     

Crop coefficient, yield response to water stress and water productivity of teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)

In the semi-arid region of Tigray, Northen Ethiopia a two season experiment was conducted to measure evapotranspiration, estimate yield response to water stress and derive the crop coefficient of teff using the single crop coefficient approach with simple, locally made lysimeters and field plots. During the experiment we also estimated the water productivity of teff taking into account long-term rainfall probability scenarios and different levels of farmers’ skills. During the experimental seasons (2008 and 2009), the average potential evapotranspiration of teff ranged from 260 to 317 mm. The total seasonal water requirement of teff was found to lower in contrast to the assumptions of regional agronomists that teff water requirement is comparable to that of wheat and barley (375 mm). The average single crop coefficient values (k_c) for the initial, mid and late season stages of teff were 0.8-1, 0.95-1.1 and 0.4-0.5, respectively. The seasonal yield response to water stress was 1.04, which indicates that teff exhibits a moderately sensitive and linear response to water stress. The results suggest that teff is likely to give significantly higher grain yield when a nearly optimal water supply is provided. The study showed that, in locations where standard equipment is not affordably available, indicative (rough) crop evapotranspiration values can be obtained by using field plots and employing locally made lysimeters. The difference in economic water productivity (EWP) and the crop water productivity (CWP) for teff were assessed under very wet, wet, normal, dry and very dry scenarios. In addition two groups of farmers were evaluated, a moderately (I) and a highly skilled (II) group. The results showed that higher EWP and CWP were obtained under very wet scenario than very dry scenario. There was also a 22% increase in EWP and CWP under group II compared to group I farmers. The increase was due to a 22% reduction in unwanted water losses achieved through use of improved technology and better irrigation skills. Both EWP and CWP can be used to evaluate the pond irrigation water productivity (IWP) for a given climate, crop and soil type, and skill and technology level of the farmer. For special crops like teff extra criteria may be needed in order to properly evaluate the pond irrigation water productivity. During the experimental seasons, a high IWP for teff was attained when about 90% of the optimal water need of the crop was met. IWP can be used as an indicator as how much supplementary irrigation has to be applied in relation to the rainfall and other sources of water supply in order to assure greatest yield from a total area. However, the supplemental irrigation requirement of the crops may vary with season due to seasonal rainfall variability.     

不同灌水量对绿洲玉米生长动态及子粒灌浆特征的影响研究

为探明不同灌水量对玉米生长动态与子粒灌浆特征的影响,研究分析了不同灌水量下绿洲春玉米不同生育期株高、干物质积累和干物质生产率变化动态及子粒灌浆特征。结果表明,不同灌水处理玉米株高均随生长而增加,但其生长速度有所不同,进入灌浆期玉米株高增加明显减慢,且随灌水量的增加而增加。合理有效的限量灌水不仅有利于玉米干物质积累并保持较高的干物质生产率,而且玉米籽粒平均灌浆时间相对缩短,平均灌浆速率相应增加。     

Assessing the response of chickpea (Cicer aeritinum L.) yield to irrigation water on two soils in Punjab (India): A simulation analysis using the CROPMAN model

Shrinking water resources in northwest India calls for diversification from a rice–wheat cropping system to low-water-requiring crops and development of water-efficient technologies in Punjab state. Chickpea, because of its lower water demand (evapotranspiration) and irrigation requirement has been identified as a suitable alternate crop to wheat. Simulations, averaged over 18 years, using the CROPMAN model indicated that the yield of chickpea on coarse- to medium-textured soils was higher in a rice–chickpea cropping system compared with maize–chickpea and mung–chickpea systems because of increased availability of water. Yield response of chickpea to irrigation depended upon soil texture, the timings and number of irrigations. The optimum yield (2 t ha⁻¹) on coarse- to medium-textured soils after rice can be obtained with one heavy pre-plant and two post-plant irrigations, i.e., one in mid-February and one in mid-March synchronizing irrigations with flowering and grain development stages. Grain yield with irrigation water followed a quadratic function and linear with evapotranspiration. Water use efficiency and evapotranspiration was curvilinear. Grain yield was significantly sensitive to water stress during the pod setting to grain development period irrespective of soil texture.     

基于SWAP模型的春玉米咸水非充分灌溉模拟

为了探究石羊河流域适宜春玉米生长的咸水非充分灌溉模式,应用SWAP模型模拟不同灌溉模式下的土壤水盐平衡、春玉米相对产量和相对水分利用效率,并预测了较长时期土壤水盐动态变化规律.研究结果表明:灌溉水矿化度为0.71 g/L和3.00 g/L的春玉米最优灌溉模式为生育期内灌4次水,灌溉定额均为408 mm,2种灌溉模式均能达到节约灌溉用水、提高作物产量和水分利用效率以及减少土体盐分累积量的目的.较长时期土壤水盐动态变化规律模拟结果表明:在冬灌条件下,春玉米最优灌溉模式下的土壤水分和盐分能够在模拟期内保持相对平稳的状态;在不同年份,相同土层土壤含水率随着土层深度的增加而增大,0.71 g/L的淡水灌溉土壤盐分主要累积在40~80 cm土层,3.00 g/L的微咸水灌溉土壤盐分主要累积在10~40 cm土层;5 a的模拟结果表明0.71 g/L和3.00 g/L的水持续灌溉5 a,不会引起土壤次生盐渍化.     

Numerical evaluation of subsurface trickle irrigation with brackish water

In this study, an assessment for a proposed irrigation system in the El-Salam Canal cultivated land, Egypt, was conducted. A numerical model (HYDRUS-2D/3D) was applied to investigate the effect of irrigation amount, frequency, and emitter depth on the wetted soil volume, soil salinity levels, and deep percolation under subsurface trickle irrigation (SDI) of tomato growing with brackish irrigation water in three different soil types. The simulations indicated that lower irrigation frequency increased the wetted soil volume without significant increase in water percolates below the plant roots. Deep percolation decreased as the amount of irrigation water and emitter depth decreased. With the same amount of irrigation water, the volume of leached soil was larger at lower irrigation frequency. The salinity of irrigation water under SDI with shallow emitter depth did not show any significant effect on increasing the soil salinity above tomato crop salt tolerance. Based on the results, it appears that the use of SDI with brackish irrigation water is an effective method for growing tomato crop in El-Salam Canal cultivated land especially with shallow emitter depth.     

河套灌区节水灌溉对土壤盐分累积规律的模拟研究

在内蒙古河套实施农业节水对引黄灌区水资源可持续利用具有非常重要的意义。通过河套灌区土壤水盐动态的原位监测,并应用水盐运移和作物耦合模型HYDRUS-EPIC对不同灌溉条件下葵花土壤盐分累积规律进行分析。研究结果表明:现状滴灌条件下葵花生育期土壤表层(0~10cm)盐分呈累积趋势,全盐含量分别比传统地面灌溉和等量地面灌高115%和37%;葵花生育期0~100cm增加的全盐量(ΔC)滴灌比传统地面灌溉高305%,比等量地面灌溉低23%,淋洗是灌区滴灌不可或缺的抑盐措施;滴灌条件下葵花的产量比传统地面灌小6.5%;滴灌产量比等量地面灌高11.7%,增产效果明显。