Effects of deficit irrigation with saline water on spring wheat growth and yield in arid Northwest China

Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to study the effects of deficit irrigation with saline water on spring wheat growth and yield in an arid region of Northwest China. Nine treatments included three salinity levels sl, s2 and s3 （0.65, 3.2, and 6.1 dS/m） in combination with three water levels wl, w2 and w3 （375, 300, and 225 mm）. In 2008, for most treatments, deficit irrigation showed adverse effects on wheat growth; meanwhile, the effect of saline irrigation was not apparent. In 2009, growth parameters of wl treatments were not always optimal under saline irrigation. At 3.2 and 6.1 dS/m in 2008, the highest yield was obtained by wl treatments, however, in 2009, the weight of 1,000 grains and wheat yield both followed the order w2 〉 wl 〉 w3. In this study, spring wheat was sensitive to water deficit, especially at the booting to grain-filling stages, but was not significantly affected by saline irrigation and the combination of the two factors. The results demonstrated that 300-mm irrigation water with a salinity of less than 3.2 dS/m is suitable for wheat fields in the study area.

Effects of irrigation water salinity on soil salt content distribution,soil physical properties and water use efficiency of maize for seed production in arid Northwest China

In order to explore the use of groundwater resources,field experiments were conducted for three consecutive years during 2012-2014 in the Shiyang River basin of Northwest China.Irrigation was conducted using four different water salinity levels that were arranged in a split plot design.These four water salinity levels were s0,s3,s6 and s9(0.71,3,6 and 9 g/L,respectively).The soil salt content,soil bulk density,soil porosity,saturated hydraulic conductivity,plant height,leaf area index and yield of maize for seed production were measured for studying the effects of saline water irrigation on soil salt content distribution,soil physical properties and water use efficiency.It was observed that higher salinity level of irrigation water and long duration of saline water irrigation resulted in more salt accumulation.Compared to initial values,the soil salt accumulation in 0-100 cm soil layer after three years of experiments for s0,s3,s6 and s9 was 0.189 mg/cm3,0.654 mg/cm3,0.717 mg/cm3 and 1.135 mg/cm3,respectively.Both greater salt levels in the irrigation water and frequent saline water irrigation led to greater soil bulk density,but poorer soil porosity and less saturated hydraulic conductivity.The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased with increase in soil bulk density,but increased with improvement in soil porosity.It was noted that the maize height,leaf area index and maize yield gradually decreased with increase in water salinity.The maize yield decreased over 25%and the water use efficiency also gradually declined when irrigated with water containing 6 g/L and 9 g/L salinity levels.However,maize yield following saline water irrigation with 3 g/L decreased less than 20%and the decline in water use efficiency was not significant during the three-year experiment period.The results demonstrate that irrigation with saline water at the level of 6 g/L and 9 g/L in the study area is not suitable,while saline water irrigation with 3 g/L would be acceptable for a short duration together with salt leaching through spring irrigation before sowing.

Effect of Irrigation with Saline Water on Soil Water-Salt Dynamics and Maize yield in Arid Northwest China

An experiment was conducted in non-weighing lysimeters to study the effect of irrigation with saline water on water movement and salt accumulation and maize yield. The experiment was carried out in northwest China,both sufficient and insufficient irrigation were applied in the first year,and only sufficient treatments in the second year. Irrigation with solute concentration of 9 g·L-1 and 6 g·L-1 led to salt accumulation about 6-8 dS·m-1 in certain depths,even downwards to 160 cm received about 4 dS·m-1 for 9 g·L-1 and 2 dS·m-1 for 6 g·L-1,which was two times more than initial. Salt-affected water extracted from soil behaved as low evapotranspiration under sufficient irrigation,and more water was left in the soil. Yield of spring maize was not affected when saturated soil paste electrical conductivity did not exceeded 1.2 dS·m-1.

Integrated uncertain models for runoff forecasting and crop planting structure optimization of the Shiyang River Basin,north-west China

To improve the accuracy of runoff forecasting,an uncertain multiple linear regression(UMLR) model is presented in this study. The proposed model avoids the transfer of random error generated in the independent variable to the dependent variable, as this affects prediction accuracy. On this basis, an inexact two-stage stochastic programming(ITSP) model is used for crop planting structure optimization(CPSO) with the inputs that are interval flow values under different probabilities obtained from the UMLR model. The developed system, in which the UMLR model for runoff forecasting and the ITSP model for crop planting structure optimization are integrated, is applied to a real case study. The aim of the developed system is to optimize crops planting area with limited available water resources base on the downstream runoff forecasting in order to obtain the maximum system benefit in the future. The solution obtained can demonstrate the feasibility and suitability of the developed system, and help decision makers to identify reasonable crop planting structure under multiple uncertainties.

Modeling water and heat transfer in soil-plant-atmosphere continuum applied to maize growth under plastic film mulching

Based on our previous work modeling crop growth (CropSPAC) and water and heat transfer in the soilplant- atmosphere continuum (SPAC), the model was improved by considering the effect of plastic film mulching applied to field-grown maize in North-west China. In CropSPAC, a single layer canopy model and a multi-layer soil model were adopted to simulate the energy partition between the canopy and water and heat transfer in the soil, respectively. The maize growth module included photosynthesis, growth stage calculation, biomass accumutation, and participation. The CropSPAC model coupled the maize growth module and SPAC water and heat transfer module through leaf area index (LAI), plant height and soil moisture condition in the root zone. The LAI and plant height were calculated from the maize growth module and used as input for the SPAC water and heat transfer module, and the SPAC module output for soil water stress conditions used as an input for maize growth module. We used γS, the representation of evaporation resistance, instead of the commonly used evaporation resistance γS0 to reflect the change of latent heat flux of soil evaporation under film mulching as well as the induced change in energy partition. The model was tested in a maize field at Yingke irrigation area in North-west China. Results showed reasonable agreement between the simulations and measurements of LAI, above-ground biomass and soil water content. Compared with the original model, the modified model was more reliable for maize growth simulation under film mulching and showed better accuracy for the LAI (with the coefficient of determination R^2= 0.92, the root mean square of error RMSE = 1.23, and the Nush-Suttclife efficiency Ens = 0.87), the above-ground biomass (with R^2 = 0.96, RMSE= 7.17 t·ha^-1 and Ens = 0.95) and the soil water content in 0-1 m soil layer (with R^2 =0.7& RMSE = 49.44 mm and Ens = 0.26). Scenarios were considered to simulate the influence of future climate change and film mulching on crop growth, soil water and heat conditions, and crop yield. The simulations indicated that the change of LAI, leaf biomass and yield are negatively correlated with temperature change, but the growing degree-days, evaporation, soil water content and soil temperature are positively correlated with temperature change. With an increase in the ratio of film mulching area, the evaporation will decrease, while the impact of film mulching on crop transpiration is not significant. In general, film mulching is effective in saving water, preserving soil moisture, increasing soil surface temperature, shortening the potential growth period, and increasing the potential yield of maize.

Risk analysis methods of the water resources system under uncertainty

The main characteristic of the water resources system(WRS)is its great complexity and uncertainty,which makes it highly desirable to carry out a risk analysis of the WRS.The natural environmental,social economic conditions as well as limitations of human cognitive ability are possible sources of the uncertainties that need to be taken into account in the risk analysis process.In this paper the inherent stochastic uncertainty and cognitive subjective uncertainty of the WRS are discussed first,from both objective and subjective perspectives.Then the quantitative characterization methods of risk analysis are introduced,including three criteria(reliability,resiliency and vulnerability)and five basic optimization models(the expected risk value model,conditional value at risk model,chance-constrained risk model,minimizing probability of risk events model,and the multi-objective optimization model).Finally,this paper focuses on the various methods of risk analysis under uncertainty,which are summarized as random,fuzzy and mixed methods.A more comprehensive risk analysis methodology for the WRS is proposed based on the comparison of the advantages,disadvantages and applicable conditions of these three methods.This paper provides a decision support of risk analysis for researchers,policy makers and stakeholders of the WRS.

Uncertain and multi-objective programming models for crop planting structure optimization

Crop planting structure optimization is a signi ficant way to increase agricultural economic bene fits and improve agricultural water management. The complexities of fluctuating stream conditions, varying economic pro fits, and uncertainties and errors in estimated modeling parameters, as well as the complexities among economic, social, natural resources and environmental aspects, have led to the necessity of developing optimization models for crop planting structure which consider uncertainty and multi-objectives elements. In this study,three single-objective programming models under uncertainty for crop planting structure optimization were developed, including an interval linear programming model, an inexact fuzzy chance-constrained programming(IFCCP) model and an inexact fuzzy linear programming(IFLP) model. Each of the three models takes grayness into account. Moreover, the IFCCP model considers fuzzy uncertainty of parameters/variables and stochastic characteristics of constraints, while the IFLP model takes into account the fuzzy uncertainty of both constraints and objective functions. To satisfy the sustainable development of crop planting structure planning, a fuzzy-optimizationtheory-based fuzzy linear multi-objective programming model was developed, which is capable of re flecting both uncertainties and multi-objective. In addition, a multiobjective fractional programming model for crop structure optimization was also developed to quantitatively express the multi-objective in one optimization model with the numerator representing maximum economic bene fits and the denominator representing minimum crop planting area allocation. These models better re flect actual situations,considering the uncertainties and multi-objectives of crop planting structure optimization systems. The five models developed were then applied to a real case study in MinqinCounty, north-west China. The advantages, the applicable conditions and the solution methods of each model are expounded. Detailed analysis of results of each model and their comparisons demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of the models developed, therefore decision makers can choose the appropriate model when making decisions.