Compatibility of root growth and tuber production of potato cultivars with dynamic and static water‐saving irrigation managements

The important root characteristics of root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) generally differ among irrigation managements and potato cultivars. The objective of this study was to investigate the RLD and RMD variations and their functional relationships with gross potato tuber yield for two commercial potato cultivars, Agria and Sante, under different irrigation strategies. Full irrigation and water‐saving irrigation strategies, deficit and partial root drying irrigations, were applied statically (S) and dynamically (D) based on daily crop evapotranspiration. Results showed that SPRD had significantly greater RLD (3.64 cm/cm³) and RMD (132.7 μg/cm³) than other irrigation treatments. Between the potato cultivars, Agria had significantly larger values of RLD (3.50 cm/cm³) and RMD (138.7 μg/cm³) than Sante. The functional relationship between the root growth characteristics and tuber yield showed that under water‐saving irrigations, Agria increased root mass at the expense of gross tuber yield but Sante increased root mass to maintain larger gross tuber yields. However, Agria produced more roots and gross tuber yield than Sante, and it is concluded that Agria is a more drought‐tolerant potato cultivar, which is recommended for tuber production in regions where water might be scarce. It was shown that larger root production in potatoes was associated with improved tolerance to water stress.     

SW—Soil and Water: Determination of Infiltration Rate for Every-other Furrow Irrigation

Surface irrigation, including every-other and ordinary furrow irrigation is used more than pressurized irrigation due to the low cost and energy requirements. However, more precise selection of design parameters for efficient design of surface irrigation is required for higher irrigation efficiency and the accurate prediction of the infiltration rate is of prime importance. Furthermore, the infiltration parameters may be different in ordinary and every-other furrow irrigation in different inflow rates. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the parameters of Lewis–Kostiakov infiltration equation in ordinary and every-other furrow irrigation with different inflow rates based on the data obtained in the advancing stage (method I) and in both advancing and storage stages (method II). The results indicated that the Lewis–Kostiakov equation should be modified for furrow irrigation with different inflow rates Q by multiplication of Q^γ except for the first irrigation in which Q multiplication is not needed. However, the value of exponent γ is lower when all data from the advancing and storage stages (method II) are used for calculation of the infiltration parameters. It is also concluded that the infiltration parameters for every-other furrow irrigation are higher than those for ordinary furrow irrigation. Furthermore, the data from the advancing and storage stages (method II) are more appropriate for the calculation of infiltration parameters than the data from the advancing stage (method I), due to the fact that in method II, data were calculated from complete furrow irrigation including advancing and storage stages.     

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.     

Yield, water and nitrogen-use response of rice to zeolite and nitrogen fertilization in a semi-arid environment

Water scarcity and soil nitrogen (N) loss are important limitations for agricultural production in semi-arid region especially for rice production. Zeolite (Z) as a soil conditioner can be used to retrain water and nitrogen in near-surface soil layer in lowland rice production system. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of different application rates of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and nitrogen on rice yield, yield components, soil nitrogen, water use, water productivity in a silty clay soil in 2004 and 2005. Zeolite was only applied in the first year. In order to study the long-term and continuous effect of zeolite on the objectives of the study, no zeolite was applied in the second year and the study was conducted on the same land as the first year. Zeolite and N were applied at rates of 0, 2, 4, and 8 t ha⁻¹ and 0, 20, 40, and 80 kg ha⁻¹, respectively in 2004. In 2005, each plot received the same amount of N as received in 2004. It is concluded that by decreasing N application rates, higher Z application rate is needed to improve grain yield. Highest grain yield was obtained at N application rate of 80 kg ha⁻¹ and Z application rate of 4 t ha⁻¹. Higher grain yield was mostly attributed to lower unfilled grain percentage and higher 1000-grain weight that were a result of higher N application rate and N retention in soil due to Z application. Nitrogen and Z applications resulted in higher grain protein contents and nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE). Based on these results and due to higher N retention in soil under Z application, improved grain yield quality, nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), and nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) could be obtained at Z application rate of 8 t ha⁻¹ and N application rate of 80 kg ha⁻¹ or more. However, this was not satisfied for NUE. Moreover, it is found that at higher N application rates lower Z application rates are needed to effectively retain soil residual mineral nitrogen. Furthermore, at N application rates of 80 kg ha⁻¹ or more, Z application increased soil water retention and resulted in lower seasonal water use and higher water productivity. In general, it was concluded that the effect of Z application in retaining soil N was also effective in the second year.     

Effect of various phosphorus and calcium concentrations on potato seed tuber production

Although the effects caused in plants by the calcium (Ca)–phosphorus (P) interaction in calcareous soils are well documented, very few studies report on such effects in nutritive solutions or hydroponic cultivation. In a sand and perlite (1:1 volume) hydroponic system, effects of various P (21, 42, and 63 ppm) and Ca (120, 180, and 240 ppm) concentrations on potato tuberization were studied. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted. For maximum tuber yield and tuber number production, 21 and 42 ppm P was sufficient, respectively. Increase in P and Ca concentrations in nutrient solutions in early growing season resulted in an increase in shoot and root weight, leaf area, and shoot length linearly, but tuber yield and tuber number did not follow this trend. The maximum tuber specific gravity and total solid percent were also observed in 42 ppm P. The highest tuber number and tuber yield were observed in 120 ppm Ca concentration.     

Relative salt tolerance of pistachio cultivars

Summary

The effects of four soil NaCl levels (0, 1 600, 3 200, and 4 800 μg g^?1) on the growth, chemical composition and plant water relationships of pistachio cvs Badami, Fandoghi and Kale-ghoochi were studied in an arid calcareous soil in a glasshouse experiment. Fandoghi was less tolerant to NaCl salinity probably because of higher uptake and/or transport of CI and Na ions, lesser osmoregulatory ability, and greater reductions in the top and root dry weights with respect to the CI concentration in the soil saturation extract. The 50% reduction in the top and root dry weights were obtained, respectively, at an electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECe) of 9.3 and 10.0 mmhos cm^?1 for ‘Badami’, 7.9 and 7.9 mmhos cm^?1 for ‘Fandoghi’ and 9.6 and 10.0 mmhos cm^?1 for ‘Kaleghoochi’. Growth of tops and roots was stopped, respectively, at ECe values of 18.7 and 20.6 mmhos cm^?1 for ‘Badami’; 15.9 and 15.5 mmhos cm^?1 for ‘Fandoghi’, and 19.2 and 20.4 mmhos cm^?1 for ‘Kale-ghoochi’.     

Estimation of yield and dry matter of rapeseed using logistic model under water salinity and deficit irrigation

The inadequacy of most models to simulate crop growth and yield is due to complexity, difficulty to understand, and lack of input data. Therefore, several simple crop growth models are presented to reduce these failures. In this investigation, yield and aboveground dry matter (DM_above) of rapeseed were simulated by two logistic growth models that were based on days after planting (DAP) and growing degree days (GDD) under water salinity and deficit irrigation, in a 2-year experiment. Data of first and second year were used for calibration and validation of the model, respectively. The coefficients of logistic function were determined as a function of irrigation water salinity and sum of applied water and rainfall in spring of the first year. Results indicated that logistic function based on GDD-predicted DM_above during growing season more accurately than logistic function based on DAP. Furthermore, seed yield of rapeseed was estimated based on harvest index with a good accuracy. Therefore, logistic function based on GDD that is based on the cumulative heat units can be used for different weather conditions and planting dates to determine rapeseed DM_above and yield under water salinity and deficit irrigation.     

Interactive Effect of Soil Salinity and Water Stress on Growth and Chemical Compositions of Pistachio Nut Tree

ABSTRACT

The effects of three sodium chloride (NaCl) levels (0, 1200, and 2400 mg kg^{? 1} soil) and three irrigation intervals (3, 7, and 14 d) on the growth and chemical composition of two Pistacia vera rootstocks (‘Sarakhs’ and ‘Qazvini’) were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Eight-week-old pistachio seedlings were gradually exposed to salt stress which afterward, water stress was initiated. At any irrigation interval, plant height and shoot and root dry weights of both rootstocks were reduced with increasing salinity. However, increasing irrigation intervals alleviated the adverse effects of soil salinity. A negative relationship observed between relative shoot growth and electrical conductivity of soil saturation extract (EC_e) confirmed the above findings. Under 3-d irrigation interval, the EC_e required to cause a 50% growth reduction was lower than those under 7- and/or 14-d irrigation intervals. Shoot and root chemical analyses indicated that the salinity as well as irrigation regime affected the concentration and distribution of sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), and chloride (Cl^?) in pistachio. The concentration of Na⁺, K⁺ and C1^? ions increased with a rise in NaCl level, and was generally declined with increasing irrigation interval. Based on plant height, shoot and root dry weights and the concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, and C1^? in the plant tissues, at lowest irrigation intervals ‘Sarakhs’ shows a higher sensitivity to soil salinity than ‘Qazvini’, but with increasing irrigation interval, ‘Sarakhs’ and ‘Qazvini’ can be classified as resistant and sensitive to salinity, respectively.     

Determination of the potential evapotranspiration and crop coefficient for saffron using a water-balance lysimeter

Agriculture is the major consumer of water and it is possible to decrease water consumption in this sector by proper irrigation scheduling. Irrigation scheduling is based on crop water requirements. Saffron is an important crop in Iran. The main purpose of this study was to determine the potential evapotranspiration and crop coefficient for saffron using single and dual crop coefficients, in Badjgah region, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Three water-balance lysimeters were used for this experiment in a two-year study. Total saffron potential evapotranspiration values were 523 and 640 mm in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. The maximum evapotranspiration rates for saffron were 4.5 and 6.1 mm d^?1 in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. Based on the results of this study, different saffron growing stages for evapotranspiration were 30, 40, 70 and 60 days. Crop coefficient (K _c) values for the initial, mid- and late-season growth stages were 0.41–0.45, 0.93–1.05 and 0.29–0.31 in both years, respectively. Basal crop coefficient (K _cb) values for the initial, mid- and late-season growth stages were 0.15–0.16, 0.41–0.65 and 0.15–0.17 in both years, respectively.