Subsurface drip irrigation of onions: Effects of drip tape emitter spacing on yield and quality

Improved irrigation water use efficiency is an important component of sustainable agricultural production. Efficient water delivery systems such as subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) can contribute immensely towards improving crop water use efficiency and conserving water. However, critical management considerations such as choice of SDI tube, emitter spacing and installation depth are necessary to attain improved irrigation efficiencies and production benefits. In this study, we evaluated the effects of subsurface drip tape emitter spacing (15, 20 and 30 cm) on yield and quality of sweet onions grown at two locations in South Texas—Weslaco and Los Ebanos. Season-long cumulative crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was 513 mm in Weslaco and 407 mm at Los Ebanos. Total crop water input (rain + irrigation) at Weslaco was roughly equal to ETc (92% ETc) whereas at Los Ebanos, water inputs exceeded ETc by about 35%. Onion yields ranged from 58.5 to 70.3 t ha⁻¹ but were not affected by drip tube emitter spacing. Onion pungency (pyruvic acid development) and soluble solids concentration were also not significantly influenced by treatments. Crop water use efficiency was slightly higher at Weslaco (13.7 kg/m³) than at Los Ebanos (11.7 kg/m³) partly because of differences in total water inputs resulting from differences in irrigation management. The absence of any significant effects of drip tape emitter spacing on onion yield may be due to the fact that irrigation was managed to provide roughly similar irrigation amounts and optimum soil moisture conditions in all treatments.     

Cotton management in a compacted subsurface microirrigated coastal plain soil of the southeastern US

A loamy sand Acrisol (Aquic Hapludult) that had been microirrigated for 6 years became so severely compacted that it had root limiting values of soil cone index in the Ap horizon and a genetic hardpan below it. Deep and surface tillage systems were evaluated for their ability to alleviate compaction. Deep tillage included subsoiling or none. Both deep tillage treatments were also surface tilled by disking, chiseling, or not tilling. Subsoiling was located in row or between rows to avoid microirrigation tubes (laterals) that were buried under every other mid row or every row. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was planted in 0.96-m wide rows. Cotton yield was improved by irrigation from 485 to 1022 kg ha⁻¹ because both 2001 and 2002 were dry years. Tillage loosened the soil by an average of 0.5–1.3 MPa; but compacted zones remained outside tilled areas. Subsoiling improved yield by 131 kg ha⁻¹ when performed in row where laterals were placed in the mid rows; but subsoiling did not improve yield when it was performed in mid rows. For subsurface irrigation management in these soils, the treatment with laterals buried under every other mid row was able to accommodate in-row subsoiling which improved yield; and this treatment was just as productive as and had been shown to be less expensive to install than burying laterals under every row.     

肥水管理新技术—肥灌

肥灌(Fertigation)就是通过灌溉系统为植物提供营养物质的过程。Fertigation以微灌系统为基础,典型的微灌系统由水源、首部枢纽、输配水管网、灌水器以及流量、压力控制部件和量测仪表等组成。Fertigation所用的肥料应全是水溶性的化合物或液体肥料。Fertigation能够减少水分和养分损失,降低总需水量,提高养分利用率。     

Multicriteria analysis for design of microirrigation systems. Application and sensitivity analysis

This paper presents a practical application of the DSS MIRRIG for the design of a microirrigation system for a citrus orchard in Algarve (Portugal). Several alternatives were considered using different emitter types (drippers, sprayers, pressure-compensating and non-pressure compensating emitters), different pipe sizes and layouts with and without pressure regulation valves, as well as different pressure head and discharge at the upstream end of the systems. This application is described and the ranking of alternative designs is analysed using the weights given by the farmer to the hydraulic, economic and environmental criteria. An analysis of impacts resulting from selecting different weights is presented aimed at understanding the sensitivity of the model in relation to those criteria. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is performed to test the robustness of the algorithms used for ranking with respect to changes in concordance and discordance threshold values, which show that the values selected by the model are those providing for a more clear ranking of design alternatives.     

Design of microirrigation laterals on nonuniform slopes

A method for designing microirrigation laterals on nonuniform slopes was developed using the finite element method. Six representative nonuniform slope patterns were discussed in detail. The design principle was implemented based on the results of computer simulations. It was found that a single lateral is suitable for Pattern I while paired laterals are better for Patterns II ∼ VI in most cases. The diameter of a single lateral or paired laterals may have two solutions for a required uniformity of water application and the length may have multiple solutions. When the required average emitter discharge, required uniformity of water application, and one parameter (either length or diameter) of a single lateral or paired laterals are given, the unknown parameter, best submain position (paired laterals) and operating pressure head can be accurately designed using personal computers. The design procedures are described. Received: 2 November 1995     

城市绿化滞污水微灌技术应用

探讨了城市绿化带污水微灌技术的污水处理工艺及微灌系统设计方法，通过应实例分析了该技术的应用效益。     

Quantitation of cotton fibre-quality variations arising from boll and plant growth environments

Crop growth simulation models used to manage cultural inputs and to improve yields of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., do not address fibre quality, a major determinant of cotton fibre price and end-use. Fibre maturation simulations require rapid, reproducible methods for fibre quality quantitation at the boll or locule level. Combination of fibre quality mapping by fruiting site with quality quantitation by an electron-optical particle sizer provided replicated, reproducible data suitable for use in predictive models and quantitative studies of fibre quality variations attributable to genotype and growth environment. The efficacy and potential of this unique fusion of agronomic and textile technologies were examined through comparisons of three 1992 fibre quality database subsets from the US Southeastern Coastal Plain and Mississippi Delta. Comparisons of ‘Pee Dee 3’ fibre quality, on a locule-by-locule basis at positions 1 and 2 on main-stem nodes 5 through 18, revealed that fibre length, cross-sectional area, and physical maturity varied among fruiting sites. Subsurface microirrigation applied during an early-season drought increased fibre yield by 40%, significantly increased fibre fineness, and decreased fibre maturity indicators. Fibre length variations were compared between ginning methods and among nine genotypes grown in the Coastal Plain. Irrigation-related reductions in physical fibre maturity, found in the Coastal Plain, were contrasted with chronological maturities of ‘DPL5415’ and ‘DES119’ fibre harvested 21, 28, 35, 42, or 56 days post-anthesis in the Mississippi Delta. Fibre-quality mapping with particle-sizing represents a powerful, new tool for constructing fibre development simulations essential for improving cotton fibre quality and processing outcome.