Subsurface soil water redistribution on the South African Tukulu, also referred as the Cutanic Luvisols in other countries, was evaluated following single run irrigation （20, 40, 80 and 160 L/min inflow rates） in 90...Subsurface soil water redistribution on the South African Tukulu, also referred as the Cutanic Luvisols in other countries, was evaluated following single run irrigation （20, 40, 80 and 160 L/min inflow rates） in 90 m furrows. Changes in soil water content （SWC） at three horizons were monitored using neutron water meter. Measurements were made every 10 m starting 5 m from the furrow inlet for 455 h. HYDRUS-2D software was used to estimate soil hydraulic parameters through inverse optimization algorithms for redistribution at the inlet, midpoint and furrow end. Optimized model parameters compared with initial estimates recorded satisfactory agreement between measured and predicted soil water content, despite spatial variability. Effective hydraulic conductivity （Keff） for 0-600 mm and 0-850 mm profile flow domains demonstrated linearity with SWC although inconsistencies under field conditions were inevitable. The underlying layer restricted gravity and augmented redistribution with Keff assuming a steeper gradient than normal. Conversion of KCff and soil water content into a ratio assisted in quantifying rate of redistribution at 0-600 mm and 0-850 mm profile depth. Vertical redistribution was found to be limited within the upper 600 mm depth thus providing the opportunity to develop furrow irrigation with confidence that water productivity is optimized.展开更多
Current arable land and increasing food demand necessitates the practice of double and multiple cropping systems with inclusion of ultra-fast maize hybrids, which are characterized by smaller size, fewer leaves per pl...Current arable land and increasing food demand necessitates the practice of double and multiple cropping systems with inclusion of ultra-fast maize hybrids, which are characterized by smaller size, fewer leaves per plant, lower leaf area and fewer self-shading problems, under irrigation. In this context, a field experiment was conducted for two successive cropping seasons 2008/2009 to 2009/2010 at Kenilworth Experimental Station to evaluate the effect of row spacings and plant density on growth. Three row spacing （0.225, 0.45 and 0.90 m） and five plant densities （5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 plants m^-2） were used. Treatments were combined in a factorial combination and laid out in a completely randomized design with replications consisting of five single plants randomly selected from each treatment for destructive sampling. Growth factors reacted differently to row spacing by plant density. At crop establishment, growth indicators were not significantly affected by either main effects or a combination thereof. However, at the end of the vegetative phase, almost all growth indicators reached a maximum and were significantly affected by treatment interactions. Growth analysis showed that there was an interaction effect of row spacing by plant density on plant height, dry matter （DM） accumulation, leaf area index （LAI）, crop growth rate （CGR） and net assimilation rate （NAR） of maize. Therefore, the current investigation demonstrated that a row spacing of 0.45 m or 0.90 m with a plant density of 10 plants m^-2 was optimum for the selected ultra-fast maize hybrid under irrigation.展开更多
The performance of micro flood irrigation （MFI） under different inflow rates was evaluated on 90 m closed ended furrows in the South African Tukulu soil. A single irrigation was used to characterise the surface and ...The performance of micro flood irrigation （MFI） under different inflow rates was evaluated on 90 m closed ended furrows in the South African Tukulu soil. A single irrigation was used to characterise the surface and subsurface soil water distribution from the 20, 40, 80 and 160 L/min inflow rates treatments. Neutron access tubes were installed to a depth of 1 m at every 10 m distance interval starting at 5 m from the furrow inlet. Soil water content measurements were taken using the WaterMan neutron water meter. The HYDRUS-2D software was also used to provide insight on irrigated furrows soil water content and subsurface water distribution. The 20 L/min produced a stream flow that could advance up to the 60 m furrow distance. The stream flow from the rest of the inflow rates were able to reach the furrow end with the 180 L/min recording the fastest advance time of 23 min. The 20 L/min and 40 L/min had recession period of less than 7 min while the 80 L/rain and 160 L/min lasted more than an hour. Distribution uniformity （DU） at longer furrow distances was the highest from the 80 L/min and 160 L/min with the 20 L/min and 40 L/min recorded similar performances at shorter distances. The 40 L/rain was one of the smaller inflow rates that recorded the highest DU of 0.96 for the generated average infiltrated depth of the 30 m long furrow and therefore should be adopted for furrow distances of less than 60 m on the Tukulu soil.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of surface treatments to quantify the partitioning of rainwater falling on the runoff strips and basins as well as to determine the fraction of rainwater av...The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of surface treatments to quantify the partitioning of rainwater falling on the runoff strips and basins as well as to determine the fraction of rainwater available to intercept by maize canopy and infiltrate into the root zone. The rainfall canopy interception （RCI） was estimated as a function of basin leaf area ratio per rain event. The runoffrainfall （RR） ratio was determined for both a single rainfall event and the whole growing season. Infiltration ratio of basin to runoff area was analysed for every unit millimeter of water that infiltrate in the runoff section, some additional of water will infiltrate in the basin area. The plateau value of RCI-rainfall relationships rendered about double in the wider （1.0-1.1 mm） compared to the narrow runoff strips （0.5-0.6 mm）. Statistically, the combined surface treatments （RSL x ML） affected the RR ratio with higher efficiency in bare 1 m runoff （27%） and the lower efficiency group （〈 10%） is associated with the widest runoff length covered with mulch. Variations in fractions of rainwater that can infiltrate into basins and runoffareas can lead one to select alternative strategies for water harvesting techniques.展开更多
文摘Subsurface soil water redistribution on the South African Tukulu, also referred as the Cutanic Luvisols in other countries, was evaluated following single run irrigation （20, 40, 80 and 160 L/min inflow rates） in 90 m furrows. Changes in soil water content （SWC） at three horizons were monitored using neutron water meter. Measurements were made every 10 m starting 5 m from the furrow inlet for 455 h. HYDRUS-2D software was used to estimate soil hydraulic parameters through inverse optimization algorithms for redistribution at the inlet, midpoint and furrow end. Optimized model parameters compared with initial estimates recorded satisfactory agreement between measured and predicted soil water content, despite spatial variability. Effective hydraulic conductivity （Keff） for 0-600 mm and 0-850 mm profile flow domains demonstrated linearity with SWC although inconsistencies under field conditions were inevitable. The underlying layer restricted gravity and augmented redistribution with Keff assuming a steeper gradient than normal. Conversion of KCff and soil water content into a ratio assisted in quantifying rate of redistribution at 0-600 mm and 0-850 mm profile depth. Vertical redistribution was found to be limited within the upper 600 mm depth thus providing the opportunity to develop furrow irrigation with confidence that water productivity is optimized.
文摘Current arable land and increasing food demand necessitates the practice of double and multiple cropping systems with inclusion of ultra-fast maize hybrids, which are characterized by smaller size, fewer leaves per plant, lower leaf area and fewer self-shading problems, under irrigation. In this context, a field experiment was conducted for two successive cropping seasons 2008/2009 to 2009/2010 at Kenilworth Experimental Station to evaluate the effect of row spacings and plant density on growth. Three row spacing （0.225, 0.45 and 0.90 m） and five plant densities （5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 plants m^-2） were used. Treatments were combined in a factorial combination and laid out in a completely randomized design with replications consisting of five single plants randomly selected from each treatment for destructive sampling. Growth factors reacted differently to row spacing by plant density. At crop establishment, growth indicators were not significantly affected by either main effects or a combination thereof. However, at the end of the vegetative phase, almost all growth indicators reached a maximum and were significantly affected by treatment interactions. Growth analysis showed that there was an interaction effect of row spacing by plant density on plant height, dry matter （DM） accumulation, leaf area index （LAI）, crop growth rate （CGR） and net assimilation rate （NAR） of maize. Therefore, the current investigation demonstrated that a row spacing of 0.45 m or 0.90 m with a plant density of 10 plants m^-2 was optimum for the selected ultra-fast maize hybrid under irrigation.
文摘The performance of micro flood irrigation （MFI） under different inflow rates was evaluated on 90 m closed ended furrows in the South African Tukulu soil. A single irrigation was used to characterise the surface and subsurface soil water distribution from the 20, 40, 80 and 160 L/min inflow rates treatments. Neutron access tubes were installed to a depth of 1 m at every 10 m distance interval starting at 5 m from the furrow inlet. Soil water content measurements were taken using the WaterMan neutron water meter. The HYDRUS-2D software was also used to provide insight on irrigated furrows soil water content and subsurface water distribution. The 20 L/min produced a stream flow that could advance up to the 60 m furrow distance. The stream flow from the rest of the inflow rates were able to reach the furrow end with the 180 L/min recording the fastest advance time of 23 min. The 20 L/min and 40 L/min had recession period of less than 7 min while the 80 L/rain and 160 L/min lasted more than an hour. Distribution uniformity （DU） at longer furrow distances was the highest from the 80 L/min and 160 L/min with the 20 L/min and 40 L/min recorded similar performances at shorter distances. The 40 L/rain was one of the smaller inflow rates that recorded the highest DU of 0.96 for the generated average infiltrated depth of the 30 m long furrow and therefore should be adopted for furrow distances of less than 60 m on the Tukulu soil.
文摘The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of surface treatments to quantify the partitioning of rainwater falling on the runoff strips and basins as well as to determine the fraction of rainwater available to intercept by maize canopy and infiltrate into the root zone. The rainfall canopy interception （RCI） was estimated as a function of basin leaf area ratio per rain event. The runoffrainfall （RR） ratio was determined for both a single rainfall event and the whole growing season. Infiltration ratio of basin to runoff area was analysed for every unit millimeter of water that infiltrate in the runoff section, some additional of water will infiltrate in the basin area. The plateau value of RCI-rainfall relationships rendered about double in the wider （1.0-1.1 mm） compared to the narrow runoff strips （0.5-0.6 mm）. Statistically, the combined surface treatments （RSL x ML） affected the RR ratio with higher efficiency in bare 1 m runoff （27%） and the lower efficiency group （〈 10%） is associated with the widest runoff length covered with mulch. Variations in fractions of rainwater that can infiltrate into basins and runoffareas can lead one to select alternative strategies for water harvesting techniques.
