Soil water and salt distribution under furrow irrigation of saline water with plastic mulch on ridge

Furrow irrigation when combined with plastic mulch on ridge is one of the current uppermost wa- ter-saving irrigation technologies for arid regions. The present paper studies the dynamics of soil water-salt trans- portation and its spatial distribution characteristics under irrigation with saline water in a maize field experiment. The mathematical relationships for soil salinity, irrigation amount and water salinity are also established to evaluate the contribution of the irrigation amount and the salinity of saline water to soil salt accumulation. The result showed that irrigation with water of high salinity could effectively increase soil water content, but the increment is limited com- paring with the influence from irrigation amount. The soil water content in furrows was higher than that in ridges at the same soil layers, with increments of 12.87% and 13.70% for MMF9 （the treatment with the highest water salinity and the largest amount of irrigation water） and MMF1 （the treatment with the lowest water salinity and the least amount of irrigation water） on 27 June, respectively. The increment for MMF9 was gradually reduced while that for MMF1 increased along with growth stages, the values for 17 August being 2.40% and 19.92%, respectively. Soil water content in the ridge for MMF9 reduced gradually from the surface layer to deeper layers while the surface soil water content for MMF1 was smaller than the contents below 20 cm at the early growing stage. Soil salinities for the treatments with the same amount of irrigation water but different water salinity increased with the water salinity. When water salinity was 6.04 dS/m, the less water resulted in more salt accumulation in topsoil and less in deep layers. When water salinity was 2.89 dS/m, however, the less water resulted in less salt accumulation in topsoil and salinity remained basically stable in deep layers. The salt accumulation in the ridge surface was much smaller than that in the furrow bottom under this technology, which was quite different from traditional furrow irrigation. The soil salinities for MMF7, MMF8 and MMF9 in the ridge surface were 0.191, 0.355 and 0.427 dS/m, respectively, whereas those in the furrow bottom were 0.316, 0.521 and 0.631 dS/m, respectively. The result of correlation analysis indicated that compared with irrigation amount, the irrigation water salinity was still the main factor influ- encing soil salinity in furrow irrigation with plastic mulch on ridge.

Alternate Furrow Irrigation: A Practical Way to Improve Grape Quality and Water Use Efficiency in Arid Northwest China

Field experiments were conducted for two years to investigate the benefits of alternate furrow irrigation on fruit yield, quality and water use efficiency of grape （Vitis vinifera L. cv. Rizamat） in the arid region of Northwest China. Two irrigation treatments were included, i.e., conventional furrow irrigation （CFI, two root-zones were simultaneously irrigated during the consecutive irrigation） and alternate partial root-zone furrow irrigation （AFI, two root-zones were alternatively irrigated during the consecutive irrigation）. Results indicate that AFI maintained similar photosynthetic rate （Pn） but with a reduced transpiration rate when compared to CFI. As a consequence, AFI improved water use efficiency based on evapotranspiration （WUEEr, fruit yield over water consumed） and irrigation （WUE~, fruit yield over water irrigated） by 30.0 and 34.5%, respectively in 2005, and by 12.7 and 17.7%, respectively in 2006. AFI also increased the edible percentage of berry by 2.91-4.79% significantly in both years. Vitamin C （Vc） content content of berry was increased by 25.6-37.5%, and tritrated acidity （TA） was reduced by 9.5-18.1% in AFI. This resulted in an increased total soluble solid content （TSS） to TA ratio （TSS/TA） by 11.5-16.7% when compared to CFI in both years. Our results indicate that alternate furrow irrigation is a practical way to improve grape fruit quality and water use efficiency for irrigated crops in arid areas.

Stem flow of seed-maize under alternate furrow irrigation and double-row ridge planting in an arid region of Northwest China

Maize is widely planted throughout the world and has the highest yield of all the cereal crops. The arid region of North- west China has become the largest base for seed-maize production, but water shortage is the bottleneck for its long-term sustainability. Investigating the transpiration of seed-maize plants will offer valuable information for suitable planting and irrigation strategies in this arid area. In this study, stem flow was measured using a heat balance method under alternate furrow irrigation and double-row ridge planting. Meteorological factors, soil water content （e）, soil temperature （Ts） and leaf area （LA） were also monitored during 2012 and 2013. The diurnal stem flow and seasonal dynamics of maize plants in the zones of south side female parent （SFP）, north side female parent （NFP） and male parent （MP） were investigated. The order of stem flow rate was： SFP〉MP〉NFP. The relationships between stem flow and influential factors during three growth stages at different time scales were analyzed. On an hourly scale, solar radiation （Rs） was the main driving factor of stem flow. The influence of air temperature （Ta） during the maturity stage was significantly higher than in other periods. On a daily scale, Rs was the main driving factor of stem flow during the heading stage. During the filling growth stage, the main driving factor of NFP and MP stem flow was RH and Ts, respectively. However, during the maturity stage, the environ- mental factors had no significant influence on seed-maize stem flow. For different seed-maize plants, the main influential factors were different in each of the three growing seasons. Therefore, we identified them to accurately model the FP and MP stem flow and applied precision irrigation under alternate partial root-zone furrow irrigation to analyze major factors affecting stem flow in different scales.

Field performance of alternate wetting and drying furrow irrigation on tomato crop growth, yield, water use efficiency, quality and profitability

Sustainable irrigation method is now essential for adaptation and adoption in the areas where water resources are limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to test the performance of alternate wetting and drying furrow irrigation（AWDFI） on crop growth, yield, water use efficiency（WUE）, fruit quality and profitability analysis of tomato. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with six treatments replicated thrice during the dry seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Irrigation water was applied through three ways of furrow： AWDFI, fixed wetting and drying furrow irrigation（FWDFI） and traditional（every） furrow irrigation（TFI）. Each irrigation method was divided into two levels： irrigation up to 100 and 80% field capacity（FC）. Results showed that plant biomass（dry matter） and marketable fruit yield of tomato did not differ significantly between the treatments of AWDFI and TFI, but significant difference was observed in AWDFI and in TFI compared to FWDFI at same irrigation level. AWDFI saved irrigation water by 35 to 38% for the irrigation levels up to 80 and 100% FC, compared to the TFI, respectively. AWDFI improved WUE by around 37 to 40% compared to TFI when irrigated with 100 and 80% FC, respectively. Fruit quality（total soluble solids and pulp） was found greater in AWDFI than in TFI. Net return from AWDFI technique was found nearly similar compared to TFI and more than FWDFI. The benefit cost ratio was viewed higher in AWDFI than in TFI and FWDFI by 2.8, 8.7 and 11, 10.4% when irrigation water was applied up to 100 and 80% FC, respectively. Unit production cost was obtained lower in AWDFI compared to TFI and FWDFI. However, AWDFI is a useful water-saving furrow irrigation technique which may resolve as an alternative choice compared with TFI in the areas where available water and supply methods are limited to irrigation.

Water Consumption and Maize Yield for Alternative Furrow Irrigation in Western Heilongjiang Province

Aiming at less and un-uniform distribution rainfall problems, the serious draught in spring, low crop production and water efficiency in sandy soil area of Heilongjiang Province, the experiment of alternative furrow irrigation was conducted in Dumeng County in 2009. The purpose of the experiment was to find the water consumption law and its influence on maize yield. The results showed that the highest water consumption was during the heading stage and the highest daily consumption of water was during the filling stage. The stimulation effect of alternative furrow irrigation on yield was obvious in the appropriate irrigation level. The best irrigation pattern for the highest yield was as follows： the seedling stage was 325 m3. hm^-2; the jointing stage was 400 m3-hm^-2; and the filling stage was 288 m3- hm-2. The water consumption during each growing period was that the seedling was 38.85 mm; the jointing was 108.11 mm; the heading was 124.39 ram; the filling was 88.96 ram; the milk was 60.21 ram; and the harvesting was 47.89 mm.

Soil Water Distribution and Irrigation Uniformity Under Alternative Furrow Irrigation

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the spatial-temporal distribution and the uniformity of soil water under alternative furrow irrigation in spring maize field in Cansu Province. Results showed that during the crop growing season, alternative drying and wetting furrows could incur crops to endure a water stress. thus the adsorptive ability of root system could be enhanced. As there was no zero flux plane between irrigated furrows and non-irrigated furrows under alternative furrow irrigation, lateral infiltration of water was obviously increased, thus decreasing the deep percolation. Compared with the conventional irrigation, although the water consumption in alternative furrow irrigation was reduced, the uniformity of soil water was not obviously affected.

Effects of plastic sheet on water saving and yield under furrow irrigation method in semi-arid region

The increasing demand of water in the country highlights the need to introduce low-input and water saving technologies for agricultural sustainability and crop production,mainly in semi-arid region.A study was conducted to minimize deep percolation losses from the furrow bottom under two different irrigation treatments viz.(1)furrow bottom with plastic sheet(T1)and(2)furrow bottom without plastic Sheet(T0).The physical and chemical analyses of soil profile were taken at a depth of 0-80 cm before and after crop harvesting.The dry density of soil slightly increased(0.01 g/cm^(3))under both treatments,while soil pH decreased under T1.The average yield was 8332 kg/hm^(2) and 7575 kg/hm^(2),with 21.56 m^(3) and 31.09 m^(3) total volume of irrigation water applied under T1and T0,respectively.The saving percentages of water under treatments were 52.22% and 31.00% under T1 and T0 respectively as compared to the saving of water under traditional irrigation practice.Overall,better performance,in terms of crop production and water saving,was obtained with use of plastic sheet integrated with bottom of furrows.Hence,it is suggested that the furrow irrigation method with plastic sheet may be used to preventing moisture and minimize deep percolation losses from furrow bottom.

Measuring and modeling two-dimensional irrigation infiltration under film-mulched furrows

Furrow irrigation with film-mulched agricultural beds is being promoted in the arid region of northwest China because it improves water utilization. Two-dimensional infiltration patterns under film-mulched furrows can provide guidelines and criteria for irrigation design and operation. Our objective was to investigate soil water dynamics during ponding irrigation infiltration of mulched furrows in a cross-sectional ridge-furrow configuration, using laboratory experiments and mathematical simulations. Six experimental treatments, with two soil types （silt loam and sandy loam）, were investigated to monitor the wetting patterns and soil water distribution in a cuboid soil chamber. Irrigation of mulched furrows clearly increased water lateral infiltration on ridge shoulders and ridges, due to enhancement of capillary driving force. Increases to both initial soil water content （SWC） and irrigation water level resulted in increased wetted soil volume. Empirical regression equations accurately estimated the wetted lateral distance （Rl） and downward distance （Rd） with elapsed time in a variably wetted soil medium. Optimization of model parameters followed by the Inverse approach resulted in satisfactory agreement between observed and predicted cumulative infiltration and SWC. On the basis of model calibration, HYDRUS-2D model can accurately simulate two-dimensional soil water dynamics under irrigation of mulched furrows. There were significant differences in wetting patterns between unmulched and mulched furrow irrigation using HYDRUS-2D simulation. The Rd under the mulched furrows was 32.14% less than the unmulched furrows. Therefore, film-mulched furrows are recommended in a furrow irrigation system.

The fate of fertilizer N applied to cotton in relation to irrigation methods and N dosage in arid area

Quantitative information on the fate and efficiency of nitrogen （N） fertilizer applied to coarse textured calcareous soils in arid farming systems is scarce but, as systems intensify, is essential to support sustainable ag- ronomic management decisions. A mesh house study was undertaken to trace the fate of N fertilizer applied to cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L. cv., Huiyuan701） growing on a reconstructed profile （0-100 cm） of a calcareous （〉15% CaCQ） sandy loam soil. Two irrigation methods （drip irrigation, DI; and furrow irrigation, FI） and four N ap- plication rates （0, 240, 360 and 480 kg/hm2, abbreviated as No, N240, N360, and N480, respectively） were applied. 15N-labelled urea fertilizer was applied in a split application. DI enhanced the biomass of whole plant and all parts of the plant, except for root; more fertilizer N was taken up and mostly stored in vegetative parts; N utilization efficiency （NUE） was significantly greater than in FI. N utilization efficiency （NUE） decreased from 52.59% in N240 to 36.44% in N480. N residue in soil and plant N uptake increased with increased N dosage, but recovery rate decreased consis- tently both in DI and Fl. Plant N uptake and soil N residue were greater in DI than in FI. N residue mainly stayed within 0-40 cm depth in DI but within 40-80 cm depth in Ft. FI showed 17.89% of N leached out, but no N leaching occurred in DI. N recovery rate in the soil-plant system was 75.82% in DI, which was markedly greater than the 55.97% in FI. DI exhibited greater NUE, greater residual N in the soil profile and therefore greater N recovery rate than in FI; also, N distribution in soil profile shallowed in DI, resulting in a reduced risk of N leaching compared to FI; and enhanced shoot growth and reduced root growth in DI is beneficial for more economic yield formation. Com- pared to furrow irrigation, drip irrigation is an irrigation method where N movement favors the prevention of N from being lost in the plant-soil system and benefits a more efficient use of N.

Irrigation erosion of irrigated soils in the foothills of southern Kazakhstan

Abstract： This paper presented the results from the study of irrigation erosion of irrigated lands in southern Ka- zakhstan. The main purpose of the work is the conservation of the fertility of irrigated soils, and then the soils of the upper, middle and lower sections of the slopes at the experimental site were studied. Based on field investigations, authors studied the water resistance of aggregates of gray-brown soils and light gray soils before and after irrigation and qualitative indicators of changes in physical and chemical properties of structured soils in irrigation were de- termined by conventional methods of soil research. The results indicated that the changes in the physical properties of soils by using polymeric compounds created a fundamentally new opportunity to control water erosion of soils.

Effect of Irrigation Method and Non-Uniformity of Irrigation on Potato Performance and Quality

Potato growth, yield, and quality under improved irrigation methods and non-uniformity of their irrigation applications are important to enhance water management in arid regions. A field experiment was conducted in 2014 spring and fall growing seasons using potato (Solanum tuberosum) grown in northern Egypt at Shibin El Kom, Menofia, Egypt to evaluate potato response to furrow or trickle irrigation. A Randomized Split-Plot Design with irrigation method randomly distributed and non-uniformity of irrigation applications evaluated along either irrigation furrow or trickle lateral as dependent variables measured at the 3rd, 13th, 23rd, 33rd, 43rd and 53rd m along the 55 m irrigation line. Traditional (TF) and partial (PF) furrows as well as trickle point (TP) and line (TL) sources were used as irrigation methods. Each treatment was repeated three times. For a 33rd m treatment, seasonal optimum water use by potato was 328, 234, 269 and 292 mm over 118 days in spring and 200, 164, 178 and 186 mm over 122 days in fall under TF, PF, TP and TL irrigation methods, respectively. Potato tuber yield and quality were significantly affected by growing season (S), irrigation method (I) and non-uniformity of irrigation application (U). Tuber yield, total soluble solid (TSS) and leaf area index (LAI) were significantly affected by I and U, and their interaction I * U;harvest index (HI) was not affected by I but U. Except for TSS by S * I and HI by U * I and S * I, results showed no significant differences. Moreover, tuber weight, number and marketable yield were significantly affected by S, I, U and I * U interaction, except medium tuber size and culls by S. A given 33rd treatment under partial furrow and trickle irrigation, relative to that of traditional furrow, enhanced tuber yield and improved quality in both growing seasons. In non-un- iform irrigation application over two growing seasons, potato crop response was developed under varied irrigation methods. Tuber yields were significantly affected in a linear relationship (r2 ≥ 0.75) by either water deficit or excessive water under irrigation methods.

Nitrification and Denitrification Processes in Rice (Oryza Sativa), with an Emphasis on Reduced Water Irrigation Regimes in USA

The nitrogen cycle is the basis for understanding nitrogen dynamics in soil fertility and ecosystem health. Nitrification and denitrification are key nitrogen cycle components that influence nitrogen uptake in food crops, thus critical to food security. Rice (Oryza sativa) is comparatively unique in that the nitrification-denitrification sequence is a perceived loss of available nitrogen for plant uptake and the production of nitrous oxide (N2O) has severe implications in climate change. This review focuses on recent research involving nitrification and denitrification, with an emphasis on rice. The review also focuses on the emerging irrigation strategies associated with furrow irrigation and alternating wetting-drying irrigation. With growing global interest in reducing irrigation water application, new research paradigms are emerging to perfect these reduced water applications systems to guarantee food security and farm profitability.

N_(x)O emissions in response to the irrigation lower limits under different irrigation modes in a lettuce field

Irrigation has a significant impact on N_(x)O(N_(2)O and NO)emissions from cultivated land,yet the N_(2)O or NO emission among the irrigation lower limits under different irrigation modes has not been well compared.In an irrigated lettuce field,three DR(drip irrigation)lower limits were designed,including 75%(DR1),65%(DR2)and 55%(DR3)field capacity,and one FI(furrow irrigation)lower limit(65%field capacity).The N_(2)O and NO emission fluxes and soil nitrogen(N)forms were determined,and the linear correlation between these indicators was analyzed.Results showed that under the same irrigation regime,the N_(2)O and NO emissions from furrow irrigation treatment increased by 36.8%and 45.2%respectively compared to that from drip irrigation treatment.The cumulative N_(2)O and NO emissions under DR3 were 30.2%and 28.6%higher than under DR1,respectively.Moreover,DR1 was also the lowest among the four treatments in soil-N concentration.The N_(2)O and NO emission fluxes were more correlated to soil NH_(4)^(+)-N(r=0.88 and 0.76)or NO_(2)^(-)-N(r=0.90 and 0.80)concentration than soil-N and soluble organic N,indicating that N_(2)O and NO were mainly produced by the soil nitrification process.When the irrigation regime was the same,N_(2)O and NO emissions were lower with drip irrigation than with furrow irrigation.Besides,drip irrigation with small quota but high frequency reduced N_(2)O and NO emission compared to that with large quota but low frequency.

Nexus of Climate Change and USA Mid-South Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i>L.) Production

Climate change is manifesting across the USA Mid-South and is impacting agricultural productivity, including the production of rice. This manuscript is a review of pertinent global literature concerning the effect of increasing temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations involving: 1) rice growth and development with an emphasis on spikelet sterility, 2) water availability for irrigation with the specter of aquifer overdraft and emerging water management technologies intended to improve water use efficiency, 3) the soil-plant continuum related to greenhouse gas emission and research avenues supporting agronomic practices that limit these emissions, and 4) region wide assessment of the economic and agronomic indicators to infer changes in the agricultural infrastructure and markets. Based on the global literature review and specific circumstances for USA Mid-South rice production, explicit proposals to mitigate and alleviate climate change are proposed. Key climate change mitigation proposals include: 1) support irrigation technologies that limit water usage and reduce methane emissions, 2) support soil carbon enhancement and newly emerging soil health agronomic practices, 3) achieve a greater usage of remote sensing activities to detect, in real time, field stresses, 4) support rice breeding activities that benefit furrow irrigation and provide heat tolerance, and 5) coordinate a rice region wide consensus to achieve farm gate activities that address climate change.