Determining reference values for stem water potential and maximum daily trunk shrinkage in young apple trees based on plant responses to water deficit

The use of plant water status indicators such as midday stem water potential (Ψ_stem) and maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) in irrigation scheduling requires the definition of a reference or threshold value, beyond which irrigation is necessary. These reference values are generally obtained by comparing the seasonal variation of plant water status with the environmental conditions under non-limiting soil water availability. In the present study an alternative approach is presented based on the plant’s response to water deficit. A drought experiment was carried out on two apple cultivars (Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Mutsu’ and ‘Cox Orange’) in which both indicators (Ψ_stem and MDS) were related to several plant physiological responses. Sap flow rates, maximum net photosynthesis rates and daily radial stem growth (DRSG) (derived from continuous stem diameter variation measurements) were considered in the assessment of the approach. Depending on the chosen plant response in relationship with Ψ_stem or MDS, the obtained reference values varied between −1.04 and −1.46 MPa for Ψ_stem and between 0.17 and 0.28 mm for MDS. In both cultivars, the approach based on maximum photosynthesis rates resulted in less negative Ψ_stem values and smaller MDS values, compared to the approaches with sap flow and daily radial stem growth. In the well-irrigated apple trees, day-to-day variations in midday Ψ_stem and MDS were related to the evaporative demand. These variations were more substantial for MDS than for midday Ψ_stem.     

Farmer participation in irrigation management: The case of Doroodzan Dam Irrigation Network, Iran

The importance of farmer participation in system design and management has been emphasized in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting farmer participation in irrigation management using survey research. The study was conducted in Doroodzan Dam Irrigation Network in Fars province, Iran. Multistage stratified random sampling was used to collect data from 270 farmers as the research sample. Results reveal that farmers’ attitudes toward participation in irrigation management, attitudes toward personnel of the State Water Authority and the Agricultural Extension Service Centers (AESCs), family size, the problem perception, dependence on the dam for water, and educational background have influenced their participation in irrigation management. By contrast, contact with information sources, animal units, sociability, age and agricultural experience did not affect farmers’ participation. Moreover, based on farmers’ perspectives, unequal water distribution among farms, dissatisfaction with Water Authority operators and high water fees and charges were the main problems and obstacles toward farmer participation in irrigation management.     

Analysis of return flows in a tank cascade system in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, irrigation reservoirs (tanks) are usually connected sequentially and form cascades along the landscape. A study was carried out in the Anuradhapura District in the dry zone of Sri Lanka to understand the role of return flows in such tank cascade systems. The water balance of a tank cascade system was estimated using hydrological data collected over a one-year period. The system was extended about 25 km along a river composed of three small reservoirs having the command area of 31, 55, and 55 ha, respectively. In this system, about 46% of seepage water from tanks entered the paddy fields of the command area. The crop consumed part of the water and the rest returned to the downstream tank through the drainage canals. Percolation loss in the command areas was low (3.6 mm/day) since a considerable portion of the percolation returned to the downstream tank. These results showed that return flows, which are generally disregarded in the water budget, contributed considerably to the water supply of the tank cascade system.     

氮肥运筹模式对冬小麦氮素吸收利用的影响

为给小麦高产、高效、无污染及可持续生产提供合理的氮肥运筹技术和理论依据, 以烟农19为材料,在大田条件下,研究了不同施氮量和基追比例对土壤小麦系统氮素积累及分配的影响。结果表明,施氮可提高0~100 cm土体内的全氮含量。在小麦越冬前, 0~40 cm土层中NO3-N含量随氮肥用量和基肥比例的增加显著增加;起身期到拔节期,施氮量为180和240 kg·hm-2且基肥∶拔节肥∶孕穗肥为3∶5∶2处理的0~40 cm土层内NO3-N含量下降,而施氮量为240 kg·hm-2且基肥∶拔节肥为7∶3和5∶5的处理及施氮量为300 kg·hm-2且基肥∶拔节肥为7∶3的处理则显著增加;拔节期到成熟期,随施氮量的增加,0~60 cm土层速效氮增加幅度有所提高。孕穗肥可明显提高灌浆期的植株全氮含量。因此,在240 kg·hm-2 施氮水平、基肥∶拔节肥∶孕穗肥为3∶5∶2条件下,施氮既能减少土壤硝态氮累积量,又能有效降低土壤硝态氮污染地下水的可能性。     

雨养和灌溉条件下施氮量对小麦干物质积累和产量的影响

为给冀东地区小麦高产栽培提供技术参考,以高蛋白质品种京冬8号和低蛋白质品种宝麦38为材料,设置0、120、240和360kg·hm-2三个施氮水平,研究了在灌溉和雨养条件下氮素营养对冬小麦干物质积累和产量形成的调控效应。结果表明,适量施氮提高了小麦干物质积累量、结实小穗数和穗粒数,促进了叶片、茎和鞘的花前贮存干物质在花后向籽粒中的转移,但过量施氮则抑制灌溉条件下营养器官花前贮存干物质在花后向籽粒的转移。施氮量对千粒重的影响因基因型和土壤水分状况不同而差异。随施氮量的增加,在雨养和灌溉条件下京冬8号千粒重分别呈降低和增加趋势,宝麦38千粒重均呈下降趋势。适当施氮可促进分蘖和分蘖成穗。与雨养栽培相比,灌溉可促进小麦干物质积累,增加穗数和延长灌浆时间,提高籽粒产量。随着施氮量的增加,两品种的氮肥生产效率和氮肥农学效率均降低。宝麦38和京冬8号籽粒产量达到最高的施氮量在雨养条件下均为120kg·hm-2,在灌溉条件下分别为120和240kg·hm-2。从产量和氮肥利用效率综合来看,宝麦38的适宜施氮量为120kg·hm-2,京冬8号的适宜施氮量为120~240kg·hm-2。     

不同灌水次数和施氮量对冬小麦群体动态和产量的影响

为了明确灌水次数和施氮量对高产冬小麦群体动态和产量的影响,分别于2006-2007、2007-2008年度在保定市和藁城市用当地冬小麦推广品种河农822和石新616研究了不同灌水次数(在保证底墒基础上全生育期灌0、1、2和3水,分别用W0、W1、W2和W3表示)和施氮量(0、112.5和225 kg/ha,分别用N0、N1和N2表示)对小麦群体动态和产量的影响.结果表明,2006-2007年度灌水次数和施氮量对小麦总茎(穗)数的影响较显著.W1、W2和W3的成穗数显著高于W0,W1、W2、W3之间差异不显著.3个施氮水平间各生育时期的总茎数均差异显著,且随施氮量增加而增大.大部分生育时期不同灌水次数的LAI差异不显著,而不同施氮量的LAI差异显著,N2的LAI显著高于N1和N0.灌水次数对穗数和千粒重影响显著,施氮量对穗数和穗粒数影响显著,以致灌水次数和施氮量对小麦产量的主效应均达到显著标准.4种灌水水平的产量以W3最高,W0最低;3个施氮量中N1产量最高,N0最低.灌水次数和施氮量对小麦产量和各产量构成因素的交互作用显著,W0和W1条件下产量随施氮量增加而提高,而W2和W3条件下N1产量最高,且与N0差异显著.2007-2008年度试验中,灌水次数和施氮量对各生育时期的总茎数、LAI和产量的影响均不显著.根据本研究结果可知,在河北平原地区常年降水(小麦全生育期100 mm左右)和中等肥力条件下全生育期灌溉3次,施氮量为N 112.5～225 kg/ha以及丰水降雨年份和较高肥力条件下全生育期灌溉1或2次,相应地施氮225或112.5 kg/ha,可以分别取得较理想的产量.     

Effects of Irrigation and Straw Mulching on Microclimate Characteristics and Water Use Efficiency of Winter Wheat in North Chinas

Abstract

In North China, irrigation is required to obtain a high yield from winter wheat; this results in rapid aquifer depletion. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influencing mechanisms of irrigation and straw mulching in preserving the soil moisture. Maize straw (3?5 cm) was mulched immediately after sowing winter wheat, and irrigation water was supplied at 60 mm, controlled by using a flow meter, during the jointing, heading, or milking stages of the crop. The results revealed that irrigation decreased the eddy thermal diffusivity, sensible heat flux, and soil heat flux, but increased the latent heat flux. In contrast, straw mulching enhanced the eddy thermal diffusivity and sensible heat flux, but decreased the latent heat flux. Straw mulching increased the soil temperature at 5 cm depth form January to February, but decreased the soil temperature before January and after February. There were no significant differences in the total evapotranspiration between mulched and non-mulched treatments, however, there was a statistically significant difference in the evapotranspiration among the different growing seasons. Straw mulching reduced the evapotranspiration from the seeding stage to the regrowing stage, and the evapotranspiration with mulching was less than that non-mulching 47.4 mm. Further, straw mulching significantly reduced the number of spikes in the crop. Both irrigation and straw mulching increased the number of kernels, but had no visible effects on the thousand kernel weight. These results indicate that straw mulching may decrease the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat in North China.     

灌溉模式对不同密度小麦群体质量和产量的影响

为明确灌溉模式对不同密度小麦群体的调控效应,在大田条件下设置了不灌水（W0）、灌1水（W1j,拔节期灌水;W1b,孕穗期灌水）、灌2水（W2,拔节期和孕穗期灌水）、灌3水（W3,拔节期、孕穗期和灌浆期灌水）5种灌溉模式和基本苗180万.hm-2（D1）、300万.hm-2（D2）、450万.hm-2（D3）3种密度的二因素试验,研究了灌溉模式对不同密度小麦群体质量指标和产量的影响。结果表明,在灌溉拔节水的基础上增加灌溉显著提高了群体总茎数、叶面积指数和成穗率,三个指标基本上均表现为W3〉W2〉W1j〉W1b〉W0。花后干物质积累量高低表现为W2〉W1j〉W1b〉W3〉W0。产量则随着灌溉次数的增多呈低-高-低的变化趋势,表现为W2〉W3〉W1b〉W1j〉W0。密度从D1增加到D3,总茎数、叶面积指数和干物质积累量显著增加,籽粒产量则呈低-高-低的变化趋势。因此在春季降雨较少的条件下,灌溉模式W2即灌拔节水和孕穗水,就可以满足小麦正常生长发育、群体合理构建和高产的需要,其适宜密度为300万.hm-2基本苗。     

Transferring water from irrigation to higher valued uses: a case study of the Zhanghe irrigation system in China

The Zhanghe irrigation system (ZIS) is located in the Yangtze River Basin approximately 200 km west of Wuhan in Hubei Province. The reservoir was designed for multiple uses—irrigation, flood control, domestic water supply, industrial use, aquaculture, and hydropower. Over a period of more than 30 years a steadily increasing amount of water has been transferred from irrigation to other uses. Activities on the part of government, irrigation system managers, and farmers made this transfer possible with only modest decline in rice production. Most important factor was the steady increase in rice yields. The water pricing system provided an incentive for ZIS to reduce irrigation releases. With the steady decline in releases, farmers were forced to find ways to save water. Farmers improved existing ponds and built new ones to store water (improved infrastructure). Access to pond water on demand facilitated the adoption of alternate wetting and drying (technology) particularly in dry years. The establishment of volumetric pricing (price policy) and water user associations (institutions) may also have provided incentives for adoption of AWD, but more research is needed to establish their impact. These activities taken together can be seen as potentially complementary measures. Farmers received no direct compensation for the transfer of water, but recently farm taxes have been reduced or altogether abolished. Further reduction in water releases from the ZIS reservoir could adversely affect rice production in normal or dry years.     

单株穗数对玉米后期物质生产的影响

以多穗型玉米农华103为材料,研究单株穗数对玉米后期物质生产的影响。结果表明:单株穗数越多,玉米后期干物质积累量越大,穗部干物质积累量越大,穗部干物质占后期干物质积累总量比例越大,去穗植株的单个果穗性状均优于未去穗植株对应位置上的果穗性状。