Optimization of Tensiometer-Based Drip Irrigation Scheduling and Its Effect on Growth, Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Author(s):  
Anant Bahadur ◽  
Jagdish Singh
HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 988B-988
Author(s):  
Lincoln Zotarelli ◽  
Johannes Scholberg ◽  
Michael Dukes ◽  
Hannah Snyder ◽  
Eric Simonne ◽  
...  

On sandy soils, potential N contamination of groundwater resources associated with intensively managed vegetables may hamper the sustainability of these systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between irrigation system design/scheduling and N fertilization rates on zucchini production and potential N leaching. Zucchini was planted during Fall 2005 using three N fertilizer rates (73, 145, 217 kg/ha) and four different irrigation approaches. Irrigation scheduling included surface-applied drip irrigation and fertigation: SUR1 (141 mm applied) and SUR2 (266 mm) using irrigation control system (QIC) that allowed time-based irrigation (up to five events per day) and a threshold setting of 13% and 15% volumetric water content (VWC), respectively; Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) using a QIC setting of 10% VWC (116 mm) combined with surface applied fertigation; and a control treatment with irrigation applied once daily (424 mm). Leacheate volumes were measured by drainage lysimeters. Nitrate leaching increased with irrigation rate and N rate and measured values ranged from 4 to 42 kg N/ha. Use of SDI greatly reduced nitrate leaching compared to other treatments. SDI and SUR1 treatments had no effect on yields (29 Mg/ha). However, SDI had a 15% and 479% higher water use efficiency (WUE) compared to SUR1 and the fixed irrigation duration treatment. Application of N in excess of intermediate N-rate (standard recommendation) did not increase yield but yield was reduced at the lowest N-rate. It is concluded that combining sensor-based SDI with surface applied fertigation resulted similar or higher yields while it reduced both water use and potential N leaching because of improved nutrient retention in the active root zone.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 981C-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Zotarelli ◽  
Johannes Scholberg ◽  
Michael Dukes ◽  
Hannah Snyder ◽  
Rafael Munoz-Carpena ◽  
...  

Several practices have been adopted to minimize water use and potential N leaching of vegetable production systems, including use of drip irrigation, plastic mulch, and fertigation. However, these practices may not be adequate on sandy soils with poor water and nutrient retention capacities. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the interactive effects of irrigation practices and fertilizer rates on yield, fertilizer requirements, and N-leaching of pepper and tomato production systems. Bell pepper and tomato were planted on plastic mulched to evaluate the effects of three nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (154, 192, 288 kg·ha -1 N for pepper vs. 166, 208, and 312 kg·ha-1 N for tomato) and three irrigation scheduling methods were evaluated. Depending on sensor readings, soil moisture sensor (SMS) irrigation treatments allowed up to five watering events per day where as for the fixed duration treatment irrigation was applied once a day. For tomato, the effect of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) was also evaluated. Compared to TIME, use of SMS control system reduced water use by 29& to 44% and 37% to 66% for tomato and pepper, respectively. Tomato yield was significantly higher on SMS and SDI treatments compared to TIME treatments. For pepper yield and biomass accumulation were not affected by irrigation treatments. The average yields were 24.6 and 27.8 Mg·ha-1 of fresh marketable fruits for pepper and tomato, respectively. Nitrogen rate did not affect yield and optimal yield N rate did not affect yield for either crop. On average, SMS treatments increased irrigation water use efficiency 2–3 times compared to TIME treatments for both tomato and pepper.


Author(s):  
M.M. Kadasiddappa ◽  
V. Praveen Rao

Water is the prime natural resource, which is often costly and limiting input particularly in arid and semi arid regions, hence needs judicious use to reap the maximum benefit from this limiting resource. Indian farmers are now finding ways to shift from traditional practices to more modern technologies for crop production. Of late, drip irrigation is receiving better appreciation, acceptance, and adaption and plays an important role in saving the water in water scarce areas. It enables the efficient use of limited water with higher water use efficiency. Adaptation of drip irrigation in rabi maize which is one of the amenable crop for drip irrigation system is gaining momentum because of its higher productivity coupled with higher price. Irrigation application can be reduced by 50 to 80 per cent with drip irrigation compared to surface irrigation. Further, drip irrigation has the potential for improving two of the most common contributing factors to N leaching – over fertilization and over irrigation. Therefore, optimum irrigation levels with suitable method would help in enhancing the economic yield as well as water use efficiency of maize crop.


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