The effects of aeration and irrigation regimes on soil CO_2 and N_2O emissions in a greenhouse tomato production system

Aerated irrigation has been proven to increase crop production and quality, but studies on its environmental impacts are sparse. The effects of aeration and irrigation regimes on soil CO2 and N2O emissions in two consecutive greenhouse tomato rotation cycles in Northwest China were studied via the static closed chamber and gas chromatography technique. Four treatments, aerated deficit irrigation（AI1）, non-aerated deficit irrigation（CK1）, aerated full irrigation（AI2） and non-aerated full irrigation（CK2）, were performed. The results showed that the tomato yield under aeration of each irrigation regime increased by 18.8% on average compared to non-aeration, and the difference was significant under full irrigation（P〈0.05）. Full irrigation significantly increased the tomato yield by 23.9% on average in comparison to deficit irrigation. Moreover, aeration increased the cumulative CO2 emissions compared to non-aeration, and treatment effects were significant in the autumn-winter season（P〈0.05）. A slight increase of CO2 emissions in the two seasons was observed under full irrigation（P〉0.05）. There was no significant difference between aeration and non-aeration in soil N2O emissions in the spring-summer season, whereas aeration enhanced N2O emissions significantly in the autumn-winter season. Furthermore, full irrigation over the two seasons greatly increased soil N2O emissions compared to the deficit irrigation treatment（P〈0.05）. Correlation analysis indicated that soil temperature was the primary factor influencing CO2 fluxes. Soil temperature, soil moisture and NO3^- were the primary factors influencing N2O fluxes. Irrigation coupled with particular soil aeration practices may allow for a balance between crop production yield and greenhouse gas mitigation in greenhouse vegetable fields.

Root length density distribution and associated soil water dynamics for tomato plants under furrow irrigation in a solar greenhouse

Furrow irrigation is a traditional widely-used irrigation method in the world. Understanding the dynamics of soil water distribution is essential to developing effective furrow irrigation strategies, especially in water-limited regions. The objectives of this study are to analyze root length density distribution and to explore soil water dynamics by simulating soil water content using a HYDRUS-2D model with consideration of root water uptake for furrow irrigated tomato plants in a solar greenhouse in Northwest China. Soil water contents were also in-situ observed by the ECH_2O sensors from 4 June to 19 June and from 21 June to 4 July, 2012. Results showed that the root length density of tomato plants was concentrated in the 0–50 cm soil layers, and radiated 0–18 cm toward the furrow and 0–30 cm along the bed axis. Soil water content values simulated by the HYDRUS-2D model agreed well with those observed by the ECH_2O sensors, with regression coefficient of 0.988, coefficient of determination of 0.89, and index of agreement of 0.97. The HYDRUS-2D model with the calibrated parameters was then applied to explore the optimal irrigation scheduling. Infrequent irrigation with a large amount of water for each irrigation event could result in 10%–18% of the irrigation water losses. Thus we recommend high irrigation frequency with a low amount of water for each irrigation event in greenhouses for arid region. The maximum high irrigation amount and the suitable irrigation interval required to avoid plant water stress and drainage water were 34 mm and 6 days, respectively, for given daily average transpiration rate of 4.0 mm/d. To sum up, the HYDRUS-2D model with consideration of root water uptake can be used to improve irrigation scheduling for furrow irrigated tomato plants in greenhouses in arid regions.