Optimum soil water content sensors placement for surface drip irrigation scheduling in layered soils

2018 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos X. Soulis ◽  
Stamatios Elmaloglou
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Layered Soils ◽  
Surface Drip Irrigation

Evapotranspiration Measurement and Irrigation Scheduling for Several Tropical Fruit Crops Using the EnviroScan System

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 549f-550
Author(s):  
Mongi Zekri ◽  
Bruce Schaffer ◽  
Stephen K. O'Hair ◽  
Roberto Nunez-Elisea ◽  
Jonathan H. Crane
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Use ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
Tropical Fruit

In southern Florida, most tropical fruit crops between Biscayne and Everglades National Parks are irrigated at rates and frequencies based on experience and observations of tree growth and fruit yield rather than on reliable quantitative information of actual water use. This approach suggests that irrigation rates may be excessive and could lead to leaching of agricultural chemicals into the groundwater in this environmentally sensitive area. Therefore, a study is being conducted to increase water use efficiency and optimize irrigation by accurately scheduling irrigation using a very effective management tool (EnviroScan, Sentek Environmental Innovations, Pty., Kent, Australia) that continuously monitors soil water content with highly accurate capacitance multi-sensor probes installed at several depths within the soil profile. The system measures crop water use by monitoring soil water depletion rates and allows the maintenance of soil water content within the optimum range (below field capacity and well above the onset of plant water stress). The study is being conducted in growers' orchards with three tropical fruit crops (avocado, carambola, and `Tahiti' lime) to facilitate rapid adoption and utilization of research results.

Effects of textural layering on water regimes in sandy soils in a desert-oasis ecotone, Northwestern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengpeng Sun ◽  
Wenzhi Zhao ◽  
Hu Liu ◽  
Yongyong Zhang ◽  
Hong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Northwestern China ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Layered Soils ◽  
Water Regimes ◽  
Desert Oasis

<p>Textural layering of soil plays an important role in distributing and regulating resources for plants in many semiarid and arid landscapes. However, the spatial patterns of textural layering and the potential effects on soil hydrology and water regimes are poorly understood, especially in arid sandy soil environments like the desert-oasis ecotones in northwestern China. This work aims to determine the distribution of textural layered soils, analyze the effects of different soil-textural configurations on water regimes, and evaluate which factors affect soil water infiltration and retention characteristics in such a desert-oasis ecotone. We measured soil water content and mineral composition in 87 soil profiles distributed along 3 transects in the study area. Constant-head infiltration experiments were conducted at 9 of the soil profiles with different texture configurations. The results showed that textural layered soils were patchily but extensively distributed throughout the study area (with a combined surface area percentage of about 84%). Soil water content in the profiles ranged from 0.002 to 0.27 g/cm<sup>3</sup> during the investigation period, and significantly and positively correlated with the thickness of a medium-textured (silt or silt loam) layer (<em>P</em> < 0.001). The occurrence of a medium-textured layer increased field capacity (FC) and wilting point (WP), and decreased available water-holding capacity in soil profiles. Burial depth of the medium-textured layer had no clear effects on water retention properties, but the layer thickness tended to. In textural layered soils, smaller water infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration, and shallower depths of wetting fronts were detected, compared with homogeneous sand profiles. The thickness and burial depth of medium-textured layers had obvious effects on infiltration, but the magnitude of the effects depended on soil texture configuration. The revealed patterns of soil textural layering and the potential effects on water regimes may provide new insight into the sustainable management of rainfed vegetation in the desert-oasis ecotones of arid northwestern China and other regions with similar environments around the world.</p>

scholarly journals Investigating the Proper Application Rate of Nitrogen under Mulched Drip Irrigation to Improve the Yield and Quality of Tomato in Saline Soil

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 293
Author(s):  
Jifeng Zhang ◽  
Zhenhua Wang ◽  
Bihang Fan ◽  
Yusheng Hou ◽  
Yunqing Dou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
N Application ◽  
Tomato Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Mulched Drip Irrigation

Xinjiang is one of the most prolific tomato-planting areas in China. Here, we carried out a two-year (2017–2018) field experiment in Xinjiang to study the effects of different nitrogen (N) application rates on the spatial distribution of water and salt in the root zone, as well as their impacts on the yield and quality of tomatoes under mulched drip irrigation. The ideal ranges of N application rates for tomato yield and quality were examined under different salinity levels. Results indicated that soil water content and salinity increased with soil depth. Soil water content was closely related to soil salinity but not to N. Among the tested application rates, tomato yield was highest under the medium-high N (225–300 kg/ha) and low salt (4 g/kg) treatment. Under the highest salt level (10 g/kg), the low nitrogen treatment (150 kg/ha) was better than the high N treatment (300 kg/ha) at boosting tomato yield. Moreover, we found that salinity had a stronger effect on tomato quality than N. Based on these results, we were able to recommend ideal ranges for N (155–201 kg/ha) and salt (3.56–5.59 g/kg) while both are present in the soil.

Multiscaling analysis of Soil Water Content during irrigation events. Comparison between surface and subsurface drip irrigation

Geoderma ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 382 ◽  
pp. 114777
Author(s):  
Leonor Rodríguez-Sinobas ◽  
Sergio Zubelzu ◽  
Juan J. Martín-Sotoca ◽  
Ana M. Tarquis
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Subsurface Drip Irrigation ◽  
Subsurface Drip

Soil Water Measurement as Basis to Optimize Irrigation Scheduling: A Review

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 553f-554
Author(s):  
A.K. Alva ◽  
A. Fares
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
The Impact

Supplemental irrigation is often necessary for high economic returns for most cropping conditions even in humid areas. As irrigation costs continue to increase more efforts should be exerted to minimize these costs. Real time estimation and/or measurement of available soil water content in the crop root zone is one of the several methods used to help growers in making the right decision regarding timing and quantity of irrigation. The gravimetric method of soil water content determination is laborious and doesn't suite for frequent sampling from the same location because it requires destructive soil sampling. Tensiometers, which measure soil water potential that can be converted into soil water content using soil moisture release curves, have been used for irrigation scheduling. However, in extreme sandy soils the working interval of tensiometer is reduced, hence it may be difficult to detect small changes in soil moisture content. Capacitance probes which operate on the principle of apparent dielectric constant of the soil-water-air mixture are extremely sensitive to small changes in the soil water content at short time intervals. These probes can be placed at various depths within and below the effective rooting depth for a real time monitoring of the water content. Based on this continuous monitoring of the soil water content, irrigation is scheduled to replenish the water deficit within the rooting depth while leaching below the root zone is minimized. These are important management practices aimed to increase irrigation efficiency, and nutrient uptake efficiency for optimal crop production, while minimizing the impact of agricultural non-point source pollutants on the groundwater quality.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Soil Water Content Measurements with Capacitance Probes to Support Irrigation Scheduling in a “Red Beaut” Japanese Plum Orchard

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1757
Author(s):  
Sandra Millán ◽  
Carlos Campillo ◽  
Antonio Vivas ◽  
María José Moñino ◽  
Maria Henar Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Stem Water Potential ◽  
Japanese Plum

Advances in electromagnetic sensor technologies in recent years have made automated irrigation scheduling a reality through the use of state-of-the-art soil moisture sensing devices. However, correct sensor positioning and interpretation of the measurements are key to the successful implementation of these management systems. The aim of this study is to establish guidelines for soil moisture sensor placement to support irrigation scheduling, taking into account the physiological response of the plant. The experimental work was carried out in Vegas Bajas del Guadiana (Extremadura, Spain) on a drip-irrigated experimental orchard of the early-maturing Japanese plum cultivar “Red Beaut”. Two irrigation treatments were established: control and drying. The control treatment was scheduled to cover crop water needs. In the drying treatment, the fruit trees were irrigated as in control, except in certain periods (preharvest and postharvest) in which irrigation was suspended (drying cycles). Over 3 years (2015–2017), a series of plant parameters were analyzed in relation to the measurements provided by a battery of frequency domain reflectometry probes installed in different positions with respect to tree and dripper: midday stem water potential (Ψstem), sap flow, leaf stomatal conductance, net leaf photosynthesis and daily fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation. After making a comparison of these measurements as indicators of plant water status, Ψstem was found to be the physiological parameter that detected water stress earliest. The drying cycles were very useful to select the probe positions that provided the best information for irrigation management and to establish a threshold in the different phases of the crop below which detrimental effects could be caused to the crop. With respect to the probes located closest to the drippers, a drop in the relative soil water content (RSWC) below 0.2 would not be advisable for “non-stress” scheduling in the preharvest period. When no deficit irrigation strategies are applied in the postharvest period, the criteria are similar to those of preharvest. However, the probes located between the dripper at 0.15 and 0.30 m depth provide information on moderate water stress if the RSWC values falls below 0.2. The severe tree water stress was detected below 0.1 RSWC in probes located at 60 cm depth from this same position.

scholarly journals Effects of Textural Layering on Water Regimes in Sandy Soils in a Desert-Oasis Ecotone, Northwestern China

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengpeng Sun ◽  
Wenzhi Zhao ◽  
Hu Liu ◽  
Yongyong Zhang ◽  
Hong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Northwestern China ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Layered Soils ◽  
Water Regimes ◽  
Desert Oasis

Textural layering of soil plays an important role in distributing and regulating resources for plants in many semiarid and arid landscapes. However, the spatial patterns of textural layering and the potential effects on soil hydrology and water regimes are poorly understood, especially in arid sandy soil environments like the desert-oasis ecotones in northwestern China. This work aims to determine the distribution of textural layered soils, analyze the effects of different soil-textural configurations on water regimes, and evaluate which factors affect soil water infiltration and retention characteristics in such a desert-oasis ecotone. We measured soil water content and mineral composition in 87 soil profiles distributed along three transects in the study area. Constant-head infiltration experiments were conducted at 9 of the soil profiles with different texture configurations. The results showed that textural layered soils were patchily but extensively distributed throughout the study area (with a combined surface area percentage of about 84%). Soil water content in the profiles ranged from 0.002 to 0.27 g/cm3 during the investigation period, and significantly and positively correlated with the thickness of a medium-textured (silt or silt loam) layer (p < 0.001). The occurrence of a medium-textured layer increased field capacity and wilting point and decreased available water-holding capacity in soil profiles. Burial depth of the medium-textured layer had no clear effects on water retention properties, but the layer thickness tended to. In textural layered soils, smaller water infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration, and shallower depths of wetting fronts were detected, compared with homogeneous sand profiles. The thickness and burial depth of medium-textured layers had obvious effects on infiltration, but the magnitude of the effects depended on soil texture configuration. The revealed patterns of soil textural layering and the potential effects on water regimes may provide new insight into the sustainable management of rainfed vegetation in the desert-oasis ecotones of arid northwestern China and other regions with similar environments around the world.

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